From:	neil goodwin neil.goodwin@*********.net
Subject:	Chemistry Mixup (Re: Salty Chocolate Recipes (2 cups Sweaty Poo))
Date:	Fri, 9 Jun 2000 20:47:30 +0100

From: Ahrain <Ahrain_Drigar@*******.com>
> From: J. Keith Henry <neojudas@******************.com>
> > From: "Keith Duthie" <psycho@*********.co.nz>
> > > > Water is a base??? Distilled water is as close as I recall
anything
> > > > being
> > > > to "neutral pH". Salts are acid-scale functions, and water
itself
> > > > (especially water within the body) is a mildly acidic scale on
the pH.
> > > > Again, hence the reason that the VAST majority of
anti-perspirants are
> > > > basic
> > > > in nature/pH level.
> > > NaOH [base] + HCl [acid] = NaCl + H2O is a classic example. Salt
water
> is
> > > neutral. Sweat may or may not be, I don't know much biology, but
salt
> > > water is neutral.

Blood is about pH 7.4
I think the stomach is some where towards pH 3

> >
> > Salt Water is anything but neutral. It's an ionized solution. I
think
> you
> > may have forgotten something somewhere along the line. Either that
or I
> > have, but I'm VERY certain that salt water isn't neutral. Hence the
> > corrosive power of salt water in comparison to fresh water (about 4
times
> > greater actually).

As has been said before: Salt water is very close to pH 7.
This means that there are simular concentrations of H3O+ and OH+

>
> They main thing my Physical Science teacher stressed on us is the
water is
> the "Universal Solvent". Given enough time water will dissolve
EVERYTHING
> immersed in it. This is still in debate in regards to plastics and
such but
> that remains to be seen.
>
> Ahrain
> Who still teases Doc with "special" chemistry : )

I wouldn't consider water a universal solvent, it's good for some
things, but dimethyl sulphoxide is a better solvent for many organic
compounds.

Neil

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