What is the pH of salt?
In this brief guide, we’ll address the search query: “What is the pH of salt?” Also, we’ll explore what salt is, what pH is, provide some examples of acid and alkaline substances, discuss what pH our cells have, and what are the effects of having a pH that is too low or too high.
What is the pH of salt?
The pH of salt is approximately 7, teetering on neutral. This is because table salt (sodium chloride) is a neutral base; it has very weak acidity and alkalinity.
To properly assess the pH of salt, it should be diluted in a solution of distilled water, and then it can be measured with a strip of pH paper, or a digital pH meter. The water will only reflect the pH of the dissolved substance, as it is distilled (as pure as water gets) and no chemical reactions will be carried out.
What is salt?
Most often, salt alludes to table salt, which is the common name we’ve given to sodium chloride.
However, chemically, an inorganic simple salt, is a compound made up of two elements, which are bound by an ionic bond, and often, one element is a metal, and the other is a non-metal.
One element has a positive charge (cation), whilst the other has a negative charge (anion).
It should be noted that there are various types of salts, depending on how many elements make up a molecule, what type of compounds (combinations of elements) make up a salt, and whether the end product is acid or alkaline.
What is pH?
The pH scale is a means to measure a substance’s acidity or alkalinity. The two letters are an acronym/abbreviation of the term power of hydrogen or potential of hydrogen.
Mathematically, this scale is logarithmic and its established formula alludes to the concentration of ions of hydrogen found in a solution. The lower the concentration of Hydrogen ions (H+), the higher the pH value will be.
pH is an essential measurement in many sciences and disciplines such as chemistry, biology, pharmacology, medicine, agronomy, material science, and analytic processes.
What are some examples of acid and alkaline substances?
There are many acid and alkaline substances, and some can even be found as naturally occurring.
An acid is a substance that donates positive H+ ions into a solution, while an alkaline substance receives these ions.
Strong acids are the ones located on the far left end of the pH scale, and these can include: hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, etc.
Strong bases are located on the far right end of the pH scale, and these can include hydroxides combined with ammonium, lithium, sodium, potassium calcium, etc.
Both of these substance types (on either far end of a pH scale) are caustic, meaning that if they’re handled poorly and without the necessary protection equipment, they can inflict chemical burns on a person’s skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.
These substances should therefore only be handled by professionals who know what precautions to take and are familiarized with the safety sheets.
What pH do our cells have?
The cells in a person’s body tend to have pH levels between 7.0-7-4. Of course, this is an average estimate, as some parts of a person’s body can have different pH levels, in accordance with the necessary bodily functions an organ has to carry out.
For example, muscle cell function differs from that of a liver cell’s. The latter oxidizes fatty acids, and muscle cells group together into fibrous tissue that contracts and enables movement.
Ergo, the conditions in which these cells operate may be slightly different from one another.
The pH of our cells is a subject that is often subject to misapprehension, especially with products and notions that alkaline cells are healthier, and alkaline water has benefits, though these claims lack solid scientific evidence.
What are the effects of having a pH that is too low or too high?
The effects of having a pH level that is too low or too high can be serious, and potentially life-threatening.
As our cells work within a limited pH range and have specialized mechanisms that maintain homeostasis (a chemical balance), having a pH that is too high or too low is indicative of malfunctioning in both cellular and metabolic nature.
A person with acidosis (the medical term for having a low body pH) is at serious risk of dying, and medically speaking, a pH equal to or lower than 6.8 is deadly (incompatible with life).
Acidosis symptoms include vomiting, exhaustion, dizziness, strained, rapid breathing, anxiety, decreased oxygen blood flow, etc. Many things can trigger acidosis, and to ascertain which course of treatment is most appropriate, a doctor will engage in a thorough examination of a patient’s history.
A person with alkalosis (the medical term for having a hostile pH above 7.45), is also at risk and may experience anxiety, tremors, muscle spasms, dizziness, agitated and strained breathing, disorientation, and even slip into a coma.
We encourage our readers to prioritize their health and if they have a condition that puts them at risk for either acidosis or alkalosis, they should regularly visit their general practitioner, who will prescribe treatment and provide indications for the safeguarding of their patient health.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we’ve addressed the search query: “What is the pH of salt?” Also, we’ve explored what salt is, what pH is, provide some examples of acid and alkaline substances, discuss what pH our cells have, and what are the effects of having a pH that is too low or too high.
References
https://blog.isa.org/what-are-the-essentials-of-ph-in-industrial-applications
https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-Makes-Something-Acidic-or-Alkaline.aspx
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326975#risk-factors
