Acids are useful on one hand but sometimes they are troubleshooters on

1.	Acids are useful on one hand but sometimes they are troubleshooters on the other hand. Therefore, in a number of cases, acids have to be neutralized with the help of suitable bases. In nature, a number of plants grow some of which contain acids while some other contain bases. Now answer the following questions: (i) Which acid is called stomach acid? What is its use in the body and how does it harm our system? What is the treatment taken? (ii) What is acid rain? How does it affect aquatic life and soil? What treatment has to be given to the soil? (iii) Why do we get pain when we are stung by a honey bee or an ant? What is the treatment given? (iv) If you go on hiking and trekking and by chance, you touch nettle plant whose leaves have stinging hair, you get pain. Why? What treatment will you take there?
Answer» (i) HCl. It helps in digestion of food. Sometimes stomach produces too much acid and this causes pain and irritation. To neutralize the acidity antacids such as magnesium hydroxide are taken. (ii) When acidic gases present in the air dissolve in the rain water, such that the pH of the rain water falls below 5.6, it is called acid rain. When it flows into the rivers, it lowers the pH of river water; hence the survival of the aquatic life becomes difficult. When such water is absorbed by the soil, the soil becomes acidic and unfertile. The acidity is neutralized by adding slaked lime (Calcium Hydroxide). (iii) Honey bee or ant injects methanoic acid (formic acid) into our body causing pain and irritation. Use of mild base like baking soda on the stung area gives relief as it neutralizes the acid. (iv) Leaves of nettle plants contain methanoic acid causing pain and irritation. Rubbing with the leaf of dock plant (which also grows nearby) gives relief as it contains mild base and neutralizes the acid.

Acids are useful on one hand but sometimes they are troubleshooters on the other hand. Therefore, in a number of cases, acids have to be neutralized with the help of suitable bases. In nature, a number of plants grow some of which contain acids while some other contain bases. Now answer the following questions: (i) Which acid is called stomach acid? What is its use in the body and how does it harm our system? What is the treatment taken? (ii) What is acid rain? How does it affect aquatic life and soil? What treatment has to be given to the soil? (iii) Why do we get pain when we are stung by a honey bee or an ant? What is the treatment given? (iv) If you go on hiking and trekking and by chance, you touch nettle plant whose leaves have stinging hair, you get pain. Why? What treatment will you take there?

Answer»

(i) HCl. It helps in digestion of food. Sometimes stomach produces too much acid and this causes pain and irritation. To neutralize the acidity antacids such as magnesium hydroxide are taken.

(ii) When acidic gases present in the air dissolve in the rain water, such that the pH of the rain water falls below 5.6, it is called acid rain. When it flows into the rivers, it lowers the pH of river water; hence the survival of the aquatic life becomes difficult. When such water is absorbed by the soil, the soil becomes acidic and unfertile. The acidity is neutralized by adding slaked lime (Calcium Hydroxide).

(iii) Honey bee or ant injects methanoic acid (formic acid) into our body causing pain and irritation. Use of mild base like baking soda on the stung area gives relief as it neutralizes the acid.

(iv) Leaves of nettle plants contain methanoic acid causing pain and irritation. Rubbing with the leaf of dock plant (which also grows nearby) gives relief as it contains mild base and neutralizes the acid.

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