Which common household substance is a base used for cleaning?
ALemon juice
BVinegar
CAmmonia
DOrange juice
Ammonia is a base commonly found in household cleaning products. It has a high pH and is effective at dissolving grease and grime. Lemon juice, vinegar, and orange juice are all acids.
Question 2 True / False
Eating acidic foods like lemons will make your blood significantly more acidic.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
Your body has powerful buffer systems that maintain blood pH at approximately 7.4 regardless of what you eat. While acidic foods can affect the pH inside your stomach temporarily, they do not significantly change your blood pH. Your kidneys and lungs constantly work to keep blood pH in a very narrow range.
Question 3 Short Answer
What causes acid rain, and why is it harmful to the environment?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Acid rain is caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollutants dissolving in atmospheric moisture to form sulfuric and nitric acids. It harms ecosystems by making lakes and soil more acidic, damaging plants and aquatic life.
Burning fossil fuels releases sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere. These gases react with water vapor to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which fall as rain with a pH below the normal 5.6. This acidic rain can kill fish in lakes, damage forest trees, and erode stone buildings and statues.