Basic

= __The Basics on Bases__= A base is a substance that reacts with an acid to decrease or neutralize something too acidic, or too basic [1]. They have certain properties when dissolved in water, like bitter taste, slippery, or soapy feel, they turn litmus paper blue, and can be flammable [2]. A base is sometimes called an alkali [1]. Bases can be organic or inorganic. Inorganic bases are usually found in minerals, and organic bases are usually found in animal or plant material [2]. Bases are stronger and weaker depending on how much they have to decrease the acid. Bases dissolve in water releasing hydroxide ions (OH-). Bases and acids counteract each other which is called neutralization. Bases nuetralize acids by bonding with hydrogen atoms that form that substance. On a pH scale bases are 7-14 while acids are 0-7 with 7 being neutral.[1] Bases are sometimes used for cleaning supplies.For example oven cleaner has a base with a pH level of 14. [3]

[4] This is a pH scale showing a pH of 3-10. On the right are a list of substances showing their pH level. The alkaline pH is the basic substances [4].

= = =__Some Basic Rocks Really Rock__= Some basic rocks, or rocks that are a base, are granite, limestone, gabbro, and basalt. If these rocks are located in a river and there are a lot of them, then that could make the water basic, or neutral depending on the acidity level in the river, so instead of the river water being a pH of 7.0, the water would then be in a range of a pH of 8.0 to 9.0 depending on the amount of basic rock in the stream. If the water is too basic then this can become bad for the fish and stream and possibly kill fish.[5]



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__Resources:__ [1] Ashworth, William, and Charles E. Little. "pH (pollution control)." //Encyclopedia of Environmental Studies//, New Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2001. //Science Online//. Facts On File, Inc. [2] Facts on File, 2008, Science Online http://www.fofweb.com/Science/default.asp?ItemID=WE40 [3]Frooman, Abby. Detective Notebook. Cincinnati, Nagel Middle School, 2008. [4]Baking with dynamite, December, 15 2008, http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://waterworks4u.com/images/ionized_ionizer_articles/pH_Color_Chart_Large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bakingwithdynamite.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html&usg=___UPWV0XnEdTCQBVyQiX0U4U9z0w=&h=1950&w=750&sz=482&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=ElOXxnwiBPD8RM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=58&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbasic%2Band%2Bacidic%2Bfood%2Bcharts%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN [5]Willis. Sam. detective notebook. Cincinnati, Nagel Middle School, 2008 [6]Sodium Silicate, 2008, Kenya Chamber of Mines, http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://kenyachambermines.com/images/Limestone%25202.jpg&imgrefurl=http://kenyachambermines.com/Limestone.htm&usg=__U3vj9r1gU2hdtMA-UPoON_jftZY=&h=328&w=360&sz=35&hl=en&start=6&tbnid=gISTmU5PZHk4KM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlimestone%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive