• Question: what the definition of neutralise

    Asked by arora to Lauren, Marisol, Michael, Sarah, Sophie on 16 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Marisol Collins

      Marisol Collins answered on 16 Nov 2016:

      Neutralise can mean different things, but for me as a scientist in biology, I would define it as doing something to change an acid or an alkali to a neutral pH (this would be a pH of 7, like water). An example of why it would be useful to neutralise an acid in my job as a vet is when animals are suffering from stomach problems because they are producing too much stomach acid.
      Animals and humans produce stomach acid to help them digest the food they eat, but sometimes they produce too much, and it can damage the lining of the stomach itself and create painful ulcers. We can help to neutralise some of this acid by giving a medication that is an alkali – the opposite to an acid – and this will reduce the acidity level (pH) in the stomach to less harmful levels, to allow the lining of the stomach to recover.

      Marisol 🙂

    • Photo: Michael Rivera

      Michael Rivera answered on 17 Nov 2016:

      Marisol gave a great answer!

      It might surprise you, but chemistry is used a lot in archaeology too. Sometimes when bones are buried in the ground, the soil itself can be a little bit acidic or a little bit alkaline. We do not want the pH to be either too high or too low, because that will affect the bones appear. Too alkaline, and the bones become really white and have a funny texture. Too acidic, and the bones will dissolve away, leaving nothing for archaeologists to look at. So archaeologists ideally want to see a neutral pH of 7 in the soil, so that we can do our research successfully.

      Michael 🙂

    • Photo: Lauren Burt

      Lauren Burt answered on 17 Nov 2016:

      Hey!

      This links to your other questions about the pH scale AND indicators, a great subject. Marisol and Sarah explain neutralisation really well!

      Lauren

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