(i) What is meant by the pH of a substance?
(ii) State the pH values you would expect for
1 - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question d - 2010
Question d
(i) What is meant by the pH of a substance?
(ii) State the pH values you would expect for
1. Sour milk
2. The contents of the rumen.
3. The contents of the abomasum... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:(i) What is meant by the pH of a substance?
(ii) State the pH values you would expect for
1 - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question d - 2010
Step 1
What is meant by the pH of a substance?
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Answer
The pH of a substance refers to the measure of its acidity or alkalinity on a scale from 0 to 14. It indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution, where a lower pH value represents higher acidity, a pH of 7 denotes neutrality, and a higher pH indicates alkalinity. Thus, the pH scale helps to categorize substances as acidic (pH < 7), neutral (pH = 7), or basic (pH > 7).
Step 2
State the pH values you would expect for
1. Sour milk
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Answer
For sour milk, the expected pH value is around 4 to 5, indicating its acidic nature due to lactic acid production during fermentation.
Step 3
State the pH values you would expect for
2. The contents of the rumen.
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Answer
The contents of the rumen typically have a pH around 6 to 7, indicating a neutral to slightly alkaline environment, which is suitable for the fermentation processes carried out by microbes.
Step 4
State the pH values you would expect for
3. The contents of the abomasum.
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Answer
The contents of the abomasum usually have a pH around 2, which is highly acidic. This acidity aids in the digestion of food and the activity of digestive enzymes.
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