Water acidity and hardness: how are the key concepts of liquid quality interrelated?

From this article you will learn:

1. The essence of the pH value of water
2. Water pH value
3. The effect of low pH on the human body
4. 3 methods for determining pH
5. Ways to increase the pH value of water

Few people think about the pH value of water, but in vain. This is the main parameter that you need to focus on if you care about health. Water with a low pH has a great effect on the skin, blood composition, immunity and general condition of a person. You may not even be sick with anything, but feel overwhelmed - all this is the effect of water with a low pH value.

To prevent this from happening, we have prepared a cheat sheet for you about the pH level, how to determine it at home without going to the laboratory, and also how to increase it later. Do not neglect the tips and recommendations described below, it is important for your own health.

The essence of the pH value of water

The essence of the hydrogen index of water
A certain content of hydrogen ions in solutions is associated with their acidity and is determined by a value called the hydrogen index of water (pH). A special quantity has been developed to express the hydrogen ion content. This is the logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions, taken with the opposite sign: pH = -log[H+].

For river water, the pH value varies between 6.5–8.5, in rainwater and melted snow – 4.6–6.1, in swamp liquid – 5.5–6.0, in sea water – 7.9–8.3.

According to the established requirements for the composition of water in points of drinking water use, water bodies, in recreation areas and in fishery reservoirs, the pH value cannot go beyond the permissible range of 6.5–8.5.

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Depending on the pH value of water, all natural sources of moisture are divided into seven groups.

Groups of natural waters depending on the pH value:

Ways to lower pH

Natural peat will help lower the pH of the water in the aquarium, but only dark brown peat is suitable. Boil in clean water before adding.

Phosphoric acid, which is often included in commercial products for maintaining acid-base balance, is good at lowering pH.

More popular ways to reduce the pH of water are the use of oak bark or alder inflorescences. They are boiled and pH tests are performed frequently to ensure that the pH in the aquarium does not drop too low.

You can also lower the pH by using peat crumbs or placing driftwood at the bottom.

Water pH value

Norm of water pH
The pH value of human blood is a constant value – 7.41–7.45 – a slightly alkaline environment. The body maintains a blood constant throughout its life with the help of Ca and Mg bicarbonates, which can clearly be seen based on the data in the table above. Moreover, all body secretions are acidic. The body rids itself of acids throughout its life. Urine and sweat are acidic. When we exhale, we release carbon dioxide. Acidification of body fluids, such as lymph, intercellular space, etc., is unacceptable. However, you should not abuse alkaline drinks. These include liquids whose pH value is greater than 8.5 (see table).

Both acidification of the body (acidosis) and alkalization (alkalosis) are equally dangerous, which means it is necessary to maintain that golden mean that is predetermined by nature. To achieve optimal blood counts, we need water with Ca and Mg bicarbonates. This water has an optimal pH value for our body.

When more Ca and Mg ions are supplied with water than is currently necessary, the body removes them and puts them in reserve, in the bones (of course, if the minerals are of organic origin), and takes them out when necessary. However, the body is unable to store Na (sodium) ions. Therefore, long-term consumption of alkaline water based on sodium carbonates and bicarbonates (baking soda) is harmful to health. Alkaline waters also include those obtained on the basis of electroactivation.

Ways to increase pH

A simple way to increase the acidity of water is to add rocks and gravel to the bottom, which raise the pH value. Typically, such stones are recommended for tropical inhabitants.

The photosynthesis process also raises the pH level. If a lot of light enters the aquarium and a large number of plants are planted, the acidity level quickly increases. But it is better not to choose photosynthesis when it is necessary to increase the pH in the aquarium, because this process is not easy to control.

Raising acidity levels with aragonite is much easier. This mineral is rich in calcium and will begin to dissolve at a pH level of 7.8.

Coral sand also increases the pH value, but it dissolves at pH=8.

The effect of low pH on the human body

• Blood supply system

When blood becomes acidic, red blood cells stick together and their activity decreases, as does their ability to deliver oxygen, by 20–30%. But even an increase in blood pH by just 0.15 pH units increases the transfer of oxygen in the blood by up to 60%.

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• The immune system

The influence of low pH on the human body
For immunity, the optimal acidity indicators are considered to be 7.41–7.45. With these indicators, immunity can function fully. At this acidity value, pathogenic microflora is most actively suppressed. All metabolic processes, while maintaining similar pH values ​​in the body, proceed ideally.

• Painful sensations

Pain signals that a decrease in the level of pH in a particular place in the near future may result in acid burns to the cells. If the pain is not caused by injury or infection, it may be a sign of a lack of alkaline water in the area where the pain is felt. In other words, through pain, the body signals the need for alkaline water to neutralize and flush out acidic waste from the dehydrated area.

• Osteoporosis

Our body maintains the required pH level with the help of calcium ions. When there is not enough calcium, it begins to be washed out of bones and joints, which provokes the development of osteoporosis. Because of this, teeth are destroyed, hair falls out, and nails become split. But this process is reversible and treatable.

• Skin condition

Based on the pH value and its effect on the skin, waters are distinguished: acidic (pH 3.5–6.8) causes protein coagulation, thickens the epidermis, and has a tanning effect on the skin; neutral (pH 6.8–7.2); alkaline (pH 7.2–8.5) promote the swelling of skin colloids (collagen) and the smoothing of wrinkles, the rejection of surface keratinized epithelium, and increase the elastic properties of the skin.

conclusions

Health, maintaining the balance of the body and even the life of underwater inhabitants depend on the acidity or alkalinity content in the liquid. This indicator affects not only directly, but also indirectly - the acid-base balance allows chemical and biological reactions to occur. Therefore, maintaining this balance and determining the pH of the water is one of the important responsibilities of all aquarists.

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How to measure pH

To understand what kind of solution you are dealing with, you can measure its pH. Modern chemistry offers several ways to determine the hydrogen index:

1. The simplest and crudest way to assess the concentration of hydrogen ions is through acid-base indicators. They are organic dyes whose color changes depending on the pH of the environment. The most popular indicators include litmus, phenolphthalein, and methyl orange (methyl orange). The indicators change color depending on whether the medium is acidic or basic. The indicator change interval is 1–2 units.
2. To more accurately determine the working range of pH measurements, a universal indicator is used, which is a mixture of several indicators. It sequentially changes color from red to violet (through yellow, green, blue) when passing from the acidic region to the alkaline region. This method is not suitable for determining pH in cloudy or colored solutions.
3. A pH meter is a special device that allows you to determine pH over a wider range; accordingly, it shows this parameter most accurately (up to 0.01 pH units). Suitable for measuring the pH of opaque and colored solutions, therefore widely used.
4. Acid-base titration is an analytical method that also gives extremely accurate results in determining the acidity of liquids and media. A titrant (a solution of known concentration) is added dropwise to the test solution. When they combine, a chemical reaction begins. The titrant is continued to be added until the equivalence point is reached, that is, the moment when there is enough titrant to complete the reaction. Next, knowing the exact volume and concentration of the added solution, the pH of the test solution is calculated using mathematical methods. This method is the most accurate, but also requires knowledge of chemistry, mathematics and a certain material and technical base. Most often it is used in medicine, in the production of medicines.