Acid Base PH Lab
The effect on the pH of Distilled water, Potato Solution and Commercial Buffer, when Hydrochloric acid (0.1 mol/L) and Sodium Hydroxide (0.1 mol/L) is added
Mahima Mandava
Mrs. Haist
September 23rd, 2014
SBI4U1
Background Information:
The pH is the measurement of how acidic or how basic a substance can be. The pH scale is used to measure how acidic or basic a living cell can be. The pH scale ranges from 0-14; 0-6 being acidic, 8-14 being basic and 7 being neutral. There are many factors that could be accounted for that might influence the pH of cells. The location of a cell might affect the pH of it. For example, a cell living in an acidic environment might have a pH level ranging from 0-7. Also cellular metabolism may affect the cytoplasmic pH and as a result also affect the surrounding medium (Biohazard, 2007). Because of the change in pH levels, cells will have to maintain a constant pH because of enzyme activity. Most human enzyme work best with pH ranges of 6-8 (Biohazard, 2007). Some function in acidic environments, such as, stomach enzymes. Cells regulate by controlling their pH levels for proper functions of enzymes.
Problem:
How do acids and bases affect living cells?
Hypothesis:
If the amount of acid/base that is exposed to a living cell increases then the cell’s pH level will remain neutral because of the buffers that are within the living cell. The buffers will be able to neutralize small increasing amounts of acids and bases that are exposed to the cells; thus maintaining the pH levels that are exposed to the cells making it relatively stable (Larsen, n.d.). This is relatively true for the commercial buffer and potato solution that was used in the experiment. As for water, the pH level will also remain constant because as more drops of acid/base are added to the water, it will be able to maintain its pH because water molecules (H2O) can dissociate into hydroxide ions (OH-) and hydrogen ions (H+). Cells can regulate their pH
Mahima Mandava
Mrs. Haist
September 23rd, 2014
SBI4U1
Background Information:
The pH is the measurement of how acidic or how basic a substance can be. The pH scale is used to measure how acidic or basic a living cell can be. The pH scale ranges from 0-14; 0-6 being acidic, 8-14 being basic and 7 being neutral. There are many factors that could be accounted for that might influence the pH of cells. The location of a cell might affect the pH of it. For example, a cell living in an acidic environment might have a pH level ranging from 0-7. Also cellular metabolism may affect the cytoplasmic pH and as a result also affect the surrounding medium (Biohazard, 2007). Because of the change in pH levels, cells will have to maintain a constant pH because of enzyme activity. Most human enzyme work best with pH ranges of 6-8 (Biohazard, 2007). Some function in acidic environments, such as, stomach enzymes. Cells regulate by controlling their pH levels for proper functions of enzymes.
Problem:
How do acids and bases affect living cells?
Hypothesis:
If the amount of acid/base that is exposed to a living cell increases then the cell’s pH level will remain neutral because of the buffers that are within the living cell. The buffers will be able to neutralize small increasing amounts of acids and bases that are exposed to the cells; thus maintaining the pH levels that are exposed to the cells making it relatively stable (Larsen, n.d.). This is relatively true for the commercial buffer and potato solution that was used in the experiment. As for water, the pH level will also remain constant because as more drops of acid/base are added to the water, it will be able to maintain its pH because water molecules (H2O) can dissociate into hydroxide ions (OH-) and hydrogen ions (H+). Cells can regulate their pH
Bibliography: Biohazard. 2007. Cells and pH <http://www.biology-online.org/biologyforum/about11771.html?hilit=Partially+permeable+membrane> Maxs. 2014. Protein Basics <http://www.maxs.com.au/index.php?sectionID=0&pageID=1654>