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Indigestion
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- Our stomach contains hydrochloric acid which helps us in digesting food.
- But too much acid in the stomach causes indigestion.
- During indigestion the stomach produces too much acid and this causes pain and irritation.
- To get rid of this pain, people use bases called antacids such as milk of magnesia, which contains magnesium hydroxide which neutralises the effect of excessive acid.
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Ant Bite
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- Ant bites inject the acidic liquid (formic acid) into the skin.
- It can be neutralised by the rubbing moist baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate) or calamine solution, which contains zinc carbonate. This showcases the effective use of acid and base reactions to mitigate the effects of ant bites on the skin.
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Soil treatment
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- Plants do not grow well when the soil is either too acidic or too basic.
- Soil Acidification: Excessive use of chemical fertilizers makes the soil acidic.
- Use of Quicklime: When the soil is too acidic, it is treated with bases like quicklime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide).
- When the soil is basic, organic matter (compost) is added to it which releases acids and thus neutralises the basic nature of the soil. This process demonstrates the role of acid and base interactions in adjusting the soil’s pH levels for optimal conditions.
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Factory wastes
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- The wastes of many factories contain acids and the flow of these waste into the water bodies can kill fish and other organisms.
- The factory wastes are, therefore, neutralised by adding basic substances.
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