pH (idea)

1 mole of H (atomic weight 1) is 1 gram
1 mole of H₂O (molecular weight 18) is 18 grams.

In pure water, the concentration of hydrogen ions is 0.0000001 moles per litre, or 10^-7 moles per litre. The exponent is taken, inversed and indicates its acidity (neutral in this case.) The lower the pH#, the higher the concentration of Hydrogen atoms. A difference of one pH unit represents a tenfold difference in the concentration of Hydrogen ions.

Buffers

• Solutions above and below pH 1-14 are possible, but are almost never encountered.
• Almost all chemistry in living things takes place between pH 6 and 8.
• Maintainance of pH is done by buffers which either accept or donate H+ ions.
  • A major buffer in the human bloodstream is acid-base pair H₂CO₃-HCO₃^-. When H⁺ enters the bloodstream, HCO₃^- absorbs it, forming H₂O and CO₂.
  • When OH^- is added, it combines with H⁺ to form H₂O; more H₂CO₃ tends to ionize to replace the H⁺ as it is used.

I hope this ends the bickering. =)