Acids and Bases

Acids and Bases are extremely important in living organisms. An organism (such as humans) must keep a balanced pH (from 6-8) to remain at a constant state of normalcy.
Acids:
-Acids have a pH value of 0-6.9.
-They contribute H+ ions into a solution.
-Acids turn litmus paper red.
-They conduct electricity.
-Acids are corrosive.

Bases:
-Bases have a pH value of 7.1-14.
-Bases remove H+ ions from a solution.
-Slippery.
-Bases are caustic.

Acids in water:
H2O + HCI --------> H2O + H+ + Cl-

Bases in water:
H2O + NaOH ---------> H2O + Na+ + OH-

Acids and Bases react very differently when put into a solution. Let's say that you have a glass of water that is half filled with water. If you put an acid into that water, the pH value will lower. The more acidic a solution is, the lower the pH value will be. An example of an acid is vinegar. Now if you take that same cup of water and add a Base to it, the pH value will begin to shoot up! This is because the acids in the water are being canceled out by the bases. Eventually, if you add enough base, you will be able to make the water completely neutral. Of course, if you add more base to the solution, it will become a very basic solution. An example of a basic solution is soap.

Buffers can absorb acidic and basic solutions to a certain extent. This is one of the ways our body and the bodies of other living things remain at a constant state of normalcy. Having our bodies at a too acidic or too basic pH level can be dangerous. It can throw off the balance our body has tried so hard to maintain.