Ateneo de Zamboanga University

College of Science & Information Technology

Natural Science Department
NURBIO D
______________________________________________________________________________

Names: BARRO, Azriel T. Scores

DELGADO, Robertte Paolo D.
EMLAN, Jermina K. (First Author) Introduction _______
ISMAEL, Alshada D. Objective/s _______
JURIPAE, Sheima Ainie S. Results and Discussion _______
Questions _______
Group No. 4 Conclusion and Insights _______
Total _______
Section: BSN 1 – D

Activity No. 1

I. INTRODUCTION

pH measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in water. An ion is an atom or molecule that
has gained or lost electrons, and thus has a negative or positive charge. The pH scale measures
the concentration of those charges, assigning them a value from 0 to 14. Pure water at room
temperature (77 degrees Fahrenheit), for example, has a pH of 7.0 and is considered neutral.
Water with a pH below 7 is defined as an acid and above 7 is an alkaline. Thus, a pH
measurement of 0 represents the strongest acid, and a pH value of 14 represents the strongest
alkaline.

The control of pH is important in organisms and their cells because chemical reactions and
processes are affected by the hydrogen ion concentration. pH is detected and measured by using
a pH meter, but the most common detectors are the color changes of acid-case indicator. An
acid-base indicator is a weak organic acid. On the other side, buffers are chemicals or
combinations of chemicals that tend to prevent changes in the concentration of hydrogen ions.
Buffers are composed of mixtures of weak acids and their corresponding salts.

Using the LowryBronstead definition, an acid is a compound that can donate a hydrogen ion.
A weak acid is one that does not completely ionize, or dissociate, in solution. A buffer solution is
one that resists a change in pH when a small amount of acid or base is added. It contains
Bronsted acid, HA and its conjugate base, A. An example is the mixture of acetic acid and
sodium acetate. In this activity which is entitle “pH and Buffers” the group will be experimenting
on how to determinate pH on different samples which are defibrinated blood, fresh milk, and
freshly voided urine.

II. OBJECTIVES

At the end of the experiment, the students will

1. Be able to know on how to use the pH meter and read the pH paper according to its
results
2. Be able to determine the samples’ original pH
3. Be able to know how will the samples change if mixed with other chemical
substances
 III. RESULTS & DISCUSSION

A. pH Determination

The group were told to prepare fresh milk and freshly voided
urine as for samples. The approximate pHs of these samples were to
be determined by using the pH paper. So the first step that the group
did was they dip the piece of pH paper each sample for 10 seconds. Milk and Urine
After that, the group remove the pH paper and place it on a watch
glass with a label.
 Documentation with short descriptions:

Samples’ results using the

pH paper
After waiting for how many minutes, we were able to determine the pH of each sample
by matching the color produced in the pH paper with the color chart.

According to the color chart of pH paper, the color of the pH paper used for milk matches
the scale number six (6). It definitely shows in the picture that there is a change of color. The pH
level of the milk is said to be acidic based on the scale of color chart. According to the group’s
research, the color change of a pH indicator is caused by the dissociation of the H+ ion from the
indicator itself. Recall that pH indicators are not only natural dyes but also weak acids. The
dissociation of the weak acid indicator causes the solution to change color.

While for the urine, the color of the pH paper matches the scale number five (5). Just like
the pH paper of milk, its pH paper also has changes. According to the scale of color chart, the pH
level of urine is also acidic.

B. Buffers

Samples to be used for the buffers experiment

 For the buffers experiment, The group were ask to prepare a duplicate sample of freshly
boiled and cooled distilled water, 0.1 M sodium acetate solution, phosphate buffer pH 7.0, and an
albumin solution. The experiment's objective is to know how the samples’ pH will be affected if
it is mixed with certain chemicals like NaOH and HCI. The group will be using a pH meter to
determine its original pH and how will it change if mixed with other chemical substances. Below
are the results of the experiment.

With 0.1 Sodium Hydroxide With Hydrochloric Acid

Table No. 1 - Buffers

Samples Original pH Mixed with Mixed with

NaOH HCI
10 mL of distilled Water 6.56 pH 7.53 pH 5.78 pH
10 mL of O.1 M sodium 7.32 pH 10.45 pH 6.93 pH
acetate solution
10 mL of phosphate buffer 7.02 pH 6.24 pH 8.39 pH
pH 7.0
10 mL of albumin solution 7.38 pH 9.34 pH 7.0 H

In this experiment, the students are using two bases, NaOH and HCl. NaOH is very
reactive when it is mixed with acids because of its less strong acidity. On the other hand, HCl has
a very strong acidity in which it will make it less reactive when mixed with buffers. As shown in
the table above, almost all buffers had a higher pH compare to its original pH, except the
phosphate buffer. While buffers had a lower pH than its original pH when mixed with HCl,
except for again the phosphate buffer.

GENERAL DISCUSSION:
To start with, on a scale of the pH paper the group have from 0 to 6 is high in acid, 7 is
neutral, and from 8 to 14 is high in alkaline. In the group’s determination of pH, the urine leads
into a 5 pH on a scale which it is high in acid. So the group learned from it that our urine is high
in acid. We can consider it as unhealthy in our body, which is we should lessen an acidity foods
or beverages. Milk has a 6 pH, which high in acid also. Here in milk it has a right time to
consume it. We should always be careful in our lifestyle. The importance of pH paper scale is
that this would help us to know our daily lifestyle.
In determining the buffer solutions, the group has the following samples which are water,
sodium acetate, phosphate buffer and albumin solution. These solutions are mixed with sodium
acetate. Water has a 7.53 pH on a scale it is neutral. Sodium acetate has a 10.45 pH which is high
in alkaline. Phosphate buffer has a 6.24 pH and it is high in acid. Albumin solution has 9.34 pH
and it is high in alkaline. The group has 2 solutions high in alkaline, 1 is neutral and 1 high in
acid. These results give the group an alarm. Why? Because, the group should have a balance diet,
like in consuming the foods.
On the other hand, the group has water, sodium phosphate, phosphate buffer and albumin
solution which is mixed with a HCl. Water has a 5.78 pH, high in acid. Sodium acetate has a
6.93 pH, high in acid. Phosphate buffer has 8.39 pH, high in alkaline. Albumin solution has 7.00
pH, it is neutral. The group have 1 neutral, 1 acidic, and 2 alkaline. Although it is the same with
the first sample but here albumin solution is neutral while on the first one water is neutral. Then
sodium acetate here is acidic while in the first one is alkaline. Phosphate buffer is alkaline while
on the first one is acid. They just have been swapped in a scale, but still the group should manage
or be careful with their lifestyle.

IV. QUESTIONS
1. What is the normal pH of blood? Milk? Urine?

Blood pH - The pH of any fluid is the measure of the hydrogen ion (H-) concentration. A pH of
7 is neutral. The lower the pH, the more acidic the blood becomes. A variety of factors affect
blood pH including what is ingested, vomiting, diarrhea, lung function, endocrine function,
kidney function, and urinary tract infection. The normal blood pH is tightly regulated between
7.35 and 7.45.
Milk pH - Actually, milk has a pH of around 6.5 to 6.7, which makes it slightly acidic. Some
sources cite milk as being neutral since it is so close to the neutral pH of 7.0. During the group’s
activity, the group was able to determine the pH of fresh milk using the pH meter and the result
was 6.39 pH.
Urine pH - According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, the average value for
urine pH is 6.0, but it can range from 4.5 to 8.0. Urine under 5.0 is acidic, and urine higher than
8.0 is alkaline, or basic. The group’s result for determining the pH of urine was 5.61 pH.

2. What is the biochemical relevance of pH?

All living things are a water-based system, which means that they depend heavily on aqueous
equilibria, especially acid-base equilibria. Therefore, all the acid-base and pH concepts we have
discussed so far are extremely important to biochemistry, which is the study of the chemistry of
biological systems. The pH in biological system gives a qualitative measure for many problems
in cell biology and related fields, the cell environment is always buffered at approximately pH 7,
and experiments such as biological enzymatic assays require a certain pH. It is also said that all
biological processes are dependent on pH, cells and organisms must maintain a specific and
constant pH in order to keep their enzymes in the optimum state of protonation.

3. Calculate the pH of the following solutions?

a. 0.01M HCl b. 2.2 x 10−3M NaOH

1 1𝑥10−14
pH = log 𝐻+ [H+] = 2.2𝑥10−3 pH = -log[H+]
pH = -log[4.54𝑥10−12]
1
pH = log 0.01 [H+] = 4.54𝑥10−12 pH = 11.3

pH = 2

4. Which sample exhibited buffer action? Explain.

In the experiment distilled water and phosphate buffer exhibit a buffer action. Simply
because when you add basic buffers the pH level on the sample increases and if acid buffers are
added in the sample the pH level decreases. The ability of the buffer solution to resist the
changes in pH value on the addition of small amount of an acid or a base is known as buffer
action.
 5. What are the buffer systems in whole blood and plasma?

The buffer systems in blood and plasma include plasma proteins, phosphate, and bicarbonate
and carbonic acid buffers. Nearly all proteins can function as buffers. Proteins are made up of
amino acids, which contain positively charged amino groups and negatively charged carboxyl
groups.
Hemoglobin is the principal protein inside of red blood cells and accounts for one-third of the
mass of the cell. During the conversion of CO2 into bicarbonate, hydrogen ions liberated in the
reaction are buffered by hemoglobin, which is reduced by the dissociation of oxygen. Phosphates
are found in the blood in two forms: sodium dihydrogen phosphate (Na2H2PO4−), which is a
weak acid, and sodium monohydrogen phosphate (Na2HPO42-), which is a weak base.
The bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer works in a fashion similar to phosphate buffers. The
bicarbonate is regulated in the blood by sodium, as are the phosphate ions. When sodium
bicarbonate (NaHCO3), comes into contact with a strong acid, such as HCl, carbonic acid
(H2CO3), which is a weak acid and NaCl are formed.

6. What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?

[conjugate base]
pH = 𝑝𝑘𝐴 +𝑙𝑜𝑔10 [weak acid]

V. CONCLUSION AND INSIGHTS

To sum up the group’s first activity which is the pH and Buffers, the group were able to
know on how to use the pH meter and read the pH paper scale. The group was first to determine
the original pH of the samples the group had which were milk, urine, 10 mL of distilled Water,
10 mL of O.1 M sodium acetate solution, 10 mL of phosphate buffer pH 7.0 and 10 mL of
albumin solution. During the letter A experiment which is to determine the pH of the sample’s
milk and urine, the group found out that the pH of the milk was 6 which is high in acid while for
the urine was 5 pH which was also high in acid. For the letter B experiment which was the
buffers. The group found out on how will the samples which were water, sodium acetate,
phosphate buffer and albumin solution change if they are mixed with other chemical substances
such as Sodium Hydroxide & Hydrochloric Acid. As the results were out, the group was able to
see the difference of the different pH per sample. It leaded to a result of 1 neutral, 1 acidic and 2
alkaline.
The insights of the group were doing this activity a person should be patient in the
responsibility that he/she will do or commit him/herself. It should be physically and mentally
present so that the person will understand what they are doing. Although it is not easy but the
group did their best to make the activity succeeds. The group is also happy with the activity they
have done because they were able to learn new things especially the main objectives during the
activity.
 VI. REFERENCES

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