The pH scale measures how acidic or basic (alkaline) a substance is on a scale from 0 to 14. A pH value below 7 indicates acidity, while values above 7 indicate alkalinity. A neutral substance has a pH of 7.
Think of the pH scale as a spectrum of flavors in your favorite drinks. Lemon juice would be at one end with its sour acidity (low pH), water would be right in the middle with its neutral taste (pH 7), and baking soda dissolved in water would be at the other end with its slightly bitter alkalinity (high pH).
Acid Rain: Acid rain refers to rainfall that has become acidic due to the presence of pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. It has a pH value below 5.6 and can harm ecosystems, buildings, and human health.
Buffer: A buffer is a substance or solution that helps maintain a stable pH by resisting changes when an acid or base is added. Buffers play a crucial role in regulating pH levels in biological systems.
Ocean Acidification: Ocean acidification occurs when carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves into seawater, lowering its pH. This process can have detrimental effects on marine life, especially organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons.
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