Do you already know what the pH scale is?

• Show me!

• Try to draw it out!

• Include the numbers and what is considered “acid” or “base.”

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The Sweet & Sour of pH

Does it effect the food you eat?

How can it effect scuba divers?

What is the pH of your bodily fluids like blood?

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pH is used to measure of how acidic or alkaline

something is.

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What is the range of the pH scale?

The pH scale ranges from 0-14.

0 is the most acidic.

14 is the most basic.

7 is neutral.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

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What are Examples of Acids (< 7.0)?

1. Stomach acid ~ 2.0

2. Vinegar ~ 6.0

3. Soda ~ 4.0

4. Coffee ~ 4.0

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What are Examples of Bases (> 7.0)?

1. Ammonia waste ~ 12.0

2. Milk of Magnesia ~ 10.5

3. Intestinal Fluid ~ 8.0

4. Blood ~ 7.5

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What is a buffer? Buffers are weak

acids or weak bases.

Buffers prevent the pH from changing

too much.

pH in Your Everyday Life

• Watch the video on pH

• Provide one example of how a change in pH (human/animal/soil etc) can have a negative impact on a system.

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Rock climbers don’t get oxygen at high elevations. Their

blood gets too basic.

Blood has buffers to keep the pH at 7.4.

What Other Activities May Interfere with Oxygen and

Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Blood?

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Scuba Diving and Blood pH Levels

•Watch the following video clip on the Dangers of Scuba Diving.

•Be prepared to explain how scuba diving can interfere with the normal chemistry of your blood.

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Independent Research

• Reading on pH levels effected by scuba diving and other activities.

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