Unit 3, Lesson 9
Lesson 9 - Acids, Bases and the Concept of pH
Student Performance Objectives
1. Define the meaning of pH and explain the pH scale.
2. Explain why each unit of change of pH is a 10-fold change in hydrogen ion concentration.
3. Explain the importance of the low pH of gastric juice.
4. Explain the importance of the stomach's mucus coating and the importance of sodium
bicarbonate secretion by the pancreas in the normal course of digestion.
5. Explain what a buffer is and give 2 examples.
Lesson Outline
A. The concept of the hydrogen ion and hydroxyl ion as ionization products of water.
B. An acid as a hydrogen ion (proton) donor.
C. A base (alkali) as a proton accepter.
D. The pH scale
1. Extending from 0-14, as logarithmic scale so that one unit difference in pH
is a 10 fold
difference in hydrogen ion concentration (or acidity). pH 7 as the neutral
point. To
see the pH of natural substances, go to http://www.johnkyrk.com/pH.html
2. DEMONSTRATION: the point is to demonstrate the differences in pH of natural
substances. Using a pH meter and/or pH paper determine the pH of freshly distilled
water, distilled water, vinegar, dilute HCl, lemon juice, soda of some type,
milk, sea
water, milk-of-magnesia, Clorox, soap solution, Windex, ammonia. The students
keep
a chart of the tested substances. Ask the students how we survive since we
ingest
foods and beverages of such widely varying pH.
Explain that the stomach is an acid vat much more powerful than any acid
content
in foods we eat and that this acid destroys most microorganisms and dissolves
minerals out of our food. Explain how important it is for the stomach to be
coated with
mucus to protect it from our own secreted acid. Then in the small intestine,
sodium
bicarbonate from the pancreas neutralizes the stomach's hydrochloric acid.
3. If the students have a background from previous chemistry you can explain pH
more
deeply.
a. Since one in every 10 million water molecules, in pure water, is ionized
into
H+ and OH-, then the actual concentration of H+ in pure water is 0.0000001
molar or 10-7 M.
b. Since pH is technically defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen
ion
concentration, then -log [.0000001] = 7.
4. Concept of a buffer - chemical solutions that resist changes in pH and which
help to
establish the pH of the solution. Examples: proteins, bicarbonate buffer,
phosphate
buffer, hemoglobin buffer.