FINAL PAPER CHAPTER 1 to 3

Chapter I Introduction
A.) Background of the Study:

The Acids, bases and salts in the pH range are among the most important chemical compounds used by chemists. For instance, hydrochloric, phosphoric and citric are acids used to make mineral stain removers, toilet bowl cleaners, metal cleaners and rust removers. A variety of maintenance chemicals contain these compounds. Alkali maintenance chemicals like degreasers, oven cleaners and drain openers contain bases such as Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), Sodium Metasilicate (Na2SiO3), Ammonium Hydroxide (NH3(aq)). Special salts like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, ammonium ethoxysulfate are formulated into carpet shampoos, hand soaps and carwash detergents to provide more efficient cleaning.
What is a pH buffer? A buffer is a solution in which the acid and the base are being controlled. By adding a certain amount of the buffer, it can easily change the pH level of the solution. Its pH changes very little when a small amount of strong acid or base is added to it and thus it is used to prevent changes in the pH of a solution.
These buffer solutions are very useful in different chemical applications in which the pH value are being kept at a constant level. Every buffer that is made has a certain buffer capacity, and buffer range. The buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base that can be added before the pH begins to change significantly. It can also be defined as the quantity of strong acid or base that must be added to change the pH of one liter of solution by one pH unit. The buffer range is the pH range where a buffer effectively neutralizes added acids and bases, while maintaining a relatively constant pH.
The pH range is a critical measurement. Almost all important aspects of life depends upon it. For example, human blood is basic with a pH between 7.3 and 7.5. Acidosis occurs if the pH of blood drops below 7.3. Alkalosis occurs if the blood pH rises above 7.5. Death will occur if blood pH goes below 7.0 or above 7.8. Our life depends upon a balanced and buffered blood pH.
The pH of a cleaning product does not note its cleaning performance, durability or strength. It simply indicates the concentration of hydrogen or hydroxide ions in it. For example, the performance of a cleaning product cannot be determined simply by knowing the pH of the product. A common misconception about cleaning products suggests that a higher pH in some certain products means superior cleaning.

B.) Statement of the Problem:
a.) Main Objective: To prove that egg shell is an effective pH buffer that can control any possible solutions.
b.) Sub-Problem:
a.) To provide an alternative that would be effective as an substantial material used to increase the Hydrogen power of a substance that could boost its strength, durability and performance.
b.) To discover a new ingredient and method for increasing the pH of a certain substance could be used on scientifical or industrial mean.

C.) Hypotheses:
1.) Main Objective:
a.) Null Hypothesis: Egg Shell is not an effective pH buffer.
b.) Alternative Hypothesis: Egg shell is an effective pH buffer in any possible solutions.

2.) Sub-Problem:
a.) Null Hypothesis: The egg shell could not be possible effective alternative for strengthening the performance of the solution as it was bufferized.
Alternative Hypothesis: The egg shell could be possible effective alternative for strengthening the performance of the solution as it was bufferized.

D.) Significance of the Study:
This study aims to provide an alternative and a more-organic way on how to control acid and base range of a solution. The importance of making an egg shell as ph buffer is to be able to maintain the constant level of the ph value in different chemical solutions with the use of the common things that can be found in our house which is cheaper and convenient.
Egg shells could be treated as calcium carbonate neutralizer to an acidic substance usually in soil and in the water to remove impurities and pollutants which may affect the components in the water. The egg shells are about 60% calcium carbonate (CaCO3) so are an effective neutralizer to an acidic substance usually for soil.

They can be used to be put in the soil for the improvement of farming materials such as fertilizers and other materials that would greatly affect the advancement of efficiency of modern farming as it can used to be an ingredient (processed egg shells) to decrease the acidity of the soil. It can also lead to be an efficient material to reduce industrial run-off which could greatly help also to the betterment of the environment.
Egg shells do not contain magnesium in any significant quantity so not a true replacement for dolomitic lime (CaCO3 +MgCO3). However, because of the lower concentration, you will need a LOT of egg shells to make the same change as using lime. It would greatly help in solidifying the foundations of an infrastructure as its supporting bases.
E.) Definition of Terms:
Alkali- is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal chemical element. Some authors also define an alkali as a base that dissolves in water.
Ammonium Hydroxide (NH3(aq)- Household ammonia is dilute ammonium hydroxide, which is also an ingredient of numerous other cleaning agents, including many window cleaning formulas. In addition to use as an ingredient in cleansers with other cleansing ingredients, ammonium hydroxide in water is also sold as a cleaning agent by itself, usually labeled as simply "ammonia". It may be sold plain, lemon-scented (and typically colored yellow), or pine-scented (green). Commonly available ammonia that has had soap added to it is known as "Cloudy ammonia".
Beaker- is a simple container for stirring, mixing and heating liquids commonly used in many laboratories. Citric (Acid) - Is a weak organic acid with the formula C6H8O7. It is a natural preservative/conservative and is also used to add an acidic or sour taste to foods and drinks.
Erlenmeyer flask- is a type of laboratory flask which features a flat bottom, a conical body, and a cylindrical neck. It is named after the German chemist Emil Erlenmeyer, who created it in 1860.
Graduated cylinder- a piece of laboratory equipment used to measure the volume of a liquid. Graduated cylinders are generally more accurate and precise than laboratory flasks and beakers. However, they are less accurate and precise than volumetric glassware, such as a volumetric flask or volumetric pipette.
Hydrochloric - an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride HCl that is a strong corrosive irritating acid, is normally present in dilute form in gastric juice, and is widely used in industry and in the laboratory.
Litmus Paper- paper stained with litmus, used to indicate the acidity or alkalinity of a substance.
Phosphoric (orthophosphoric acid/phosphoric (V) acid) is a mineral (inorganic) acid having the chemical formula H3PO4. Phosphoric acid has many wide varieties of acid reagent uses including as a rust inhibitor, food additive, dental and orthopedic etchant, electrolyte, flux, dispersing agent, industrial etchant, fertilizer feedstock, and component of home cleaning products.
Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) - is a metallic base. It is very alkaline and is a "strong base", along with sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide and strontium hydroxide.
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) / Lye- an inorganic compound. It is a white solid, and is a highly caustic metallic base and alkali salt. Sodium hydroxide is used in many industries, mostly as a strong chemical base in the manufacture of pulp and paper, textiles, drinking water, soaps and detergents and as a drain cleaner.
Sodium Metasilicate (Na2SiO3) – A well known member of the series of sodium silicates that is also known as liquid glass or water glass.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate- a caustic detergent useful for removing greases; although commonly included in personal care items (shampoos and toothpastes etc.) it can irritate skin and should not be swallowed.
Stirring rod- is a piece of laboratory equipment used to mix chemicals and liquids for laboratory purposes. They are usually made of solid glass, about the thickness and slightly longer than a drinking straw, with rounded ends. Like most laboratory glass, stir rods are made of borosilicate (commonly known as pyrex).
Stopwatch- a handheld timepiece designed to measure the amount of time elapsed from a particular time when activated to when the piece is deactivated.

Triple beam balance- is a typical mechanical balance.
It has a beam which is supported by a fulcrum. On one side is a pan on which the object is placed. On the other side, the beam is split into three parallel beams, each supporting one weight.
Vinegar- a liquid consisting mainly of acetic acid (CH3COOH) and water. The acetic acid is produced by the fermentation of ethanol byacetic acid bacteria. Vinegar is now mainly used as a cooking ingredient, but historically, as the most easily available mild acid, it had a great variety of industrial, medical, and domestic uses, some of which (such as a general household cleanser) are still promoted today.
Water- A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid, H2O, essential for most plant and animal life and the most widely used of all solvents. Freezing point 0°C (32°F); boiling point 100°C (212°F); specific gravity (4°C) 1.0000; weight per gallon (15°C) 8.338 pounds (3.782 kilograms).

F.) Scope and Limitation:

In this section, we will discuss the all the necessary topics covered by our investigatory project. Our study is all about the pH buffer. Our study will be using eggshells for the production of the buffer. The research is limited only to the use of eggshell. The use of other substance is not in the scope of our study. The indications and results of the study is based only in eggshells. The use of other materials will not give a result that is the same with the eggshells. Thus, our study is only suggesting the use of eggshells. The scope of the research is for developmental purposes only. The study is not intended for innovation projects. Our study will be focusing on giving information and facts that could be used for future innovations. Hence, our study could help for future innovations but not directly making such and other research will be needed so as to prove its use in other fields.