Buffers and pH in Ecology

An acid has a pH

• higher than 7

• lower than 7

• 7

• greater than 14

a base has a pH of

• lower than 7

• higher than 7

• 7

• it only has a pOH

the more H+ ions the

• stronger the acid

• weaker the acid

• it neutralizes

Human blood has a pH between 7.35 and 7.45. Which of the following best describes human blood?

• strongly acidic
• slightly acidic
• strongly basic
• slightly basic

When dissolved in water, acids produce:

• bases
• salts
• hydrogen ions
• hydroxide ions

Buffer is defined as

• ability to resist pH change
• ability to prevent pH from decreasing
• ability to resist a pH increase
• ability to resist pH change when small amount of acid added

What might happen if buffers did not exist within the human body?

• Our blood and other bodily fluids might become too acidic or basic for enzymes to function

• Our stomach acid would not be able to break down food.

• We would not be able to process glucose within our cells.

• We would not be able to inhale oxygen into our lungs.

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How is our body able to maintain a consistent pH (acidity level) even when the food we consume can be very acidic?

• Buffers in our body resist a change in pH

• Our diets naturally have a constant pH

• Water is resistant to a change in pH

Answer explanation

Buffers are solutions that resist changes in pH

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Why would a potato have a buffering system?

• To survive if its environment changes

• To change its pH to match the environment

• To keep the pH of the potato low

• To keep the pH very acidic

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NGSS.HS-LS1-3

The flask on the right contains ___________ because it has a lot of OH-

• ACID

• BASE

• NEUTRAL WATER