Neutral

 

__**What does it mean when a substance is Neutral on the pH scale?**__
When something is neutral, it means that it is not acidic or basic. To make something neutral you add an acid to a base or add a base to an acid.[3] For example, if your stomach aches then you would take an antiacid, a base. As the pH scale shows, a 7 is a neutral substance. [1] On the pH scale, it shows that mainly only cleaning supplies are on the base or the blue part of the scale. The red part of the scale mainly has food, but it is not so low on the scale that is harmful to us.

__**How does neutral water affect water life?**__
Neutral water can support fish and other water life because water too acidic or too basic can harm aquatic life.[1] Water that is slightly basic is also healthy for water life.[5] Water that is slightly acidic isn't too bad for fish either as long as it is within a pH of 6. Most fish can live in water that ranges from a pH of 6 to a pH of 8.[3] Lakes need neutralizers so if it rains acid rain then the lake would not be so acidic or not acidic at all.[3] [2] 

__**What is a neutralizer?** __
A neutralizer is something that can change a substance to neutral on the pH scale. An example of a neutralizer is limestone.[1] Below is a picture of a Limestone rock. A neutralizer can change any acid or base into a pH7, neutral. If you add a neutralizer to an acidic lake then it will make the water less acidic and safer for the fish. [3] [4]

__**How do you tell if something is neutral or not?**__
To tell if something is neutral or not you would need a pH scale.[3] If you are trying to see if the pond in your backyard is neutral then you would take a piece of pH paper and put it in the pond.[3] Then you pull it out and put it next to the pH scale. If the paper is closer to blue than purple, it is basic. If the paper is closer to red than purple, it is acidic. If the pH paper is purple, it is neutral. The closer the red or blue is to purple the weaker the base or acid is.[3] The darker the red or blue is the stronger the acid or the base. To test a fruit for instance, you would need to get some juice from that fruit and the do the same thing as said above. If you are eating something and it tastes sour then the food is acidic.[3] Even though it is acidic, doesn't mean it is bad for you. You could also use a pH probe to find out if something is neutral. A probe is something you put in the water to test the amount of acid or alkaline (base) in water or a liquid. You would first dip the probe into the water and then pull it out and examine the reading.[6]

Bibliography

[1] Mouch,Corey. __Environmental Detectives Notebook.__ Cincinnati: Nagel Middle School, 2008 [2] Hancock, Angela. __pH Scale.__ 1/6/2007. Angela Hancock. www3.oes.edu/ms/science6/pictures%20of%20Science%20concepts/pH%20Scale.gif [3] Hobbs,Tyler. __Environmental Detective Notebook.__ Cincinnati: Nagel Middle School, 2008 [4] Limestone Rock. 1/5/08. http://www.mii.org/Minerals/Minpics1/Limestone%202.jpg [5] __Water.__ 6 January 2009. Wikipedia.  [6] Burton,Kathy. "Class Time." 28 November 2008