Acids and bases are ionic compounds chemically disassociate or break when they are placed into water. If we place acids in water, they release (H+) ions and anions; whereas, bases disassociate (OH-) ions and cations. This is the reason why acids are called proton donors and bases are proton acceptors. Considering the importance of acids and bases in our day-to-day life, detailed conceptual understanding of these compounds become inevitable.
Process forming acids and bases
Generally, oxides of non-metals like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, etc. are placed in water, then, the resultant solutions would be like, carbonic acids, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, etc.
On the other hand, when we place metal oxides in water, then, the resultant solutions would be bases like, sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, etc.
Simply, a solution with excess H+ ions are termed as acid, whereas, excess with OH- are labelled as bases.
Use of pH scale in measuring acidity and alkalinity
Technically, pH scale is a tool or means to measure the degree of concentration of given solutions in terms of acidity or alkalinity. In terms of relations, pH is inversely proportional to the degree of concentration of H+ ions.
If there is a higher level of H+ concentration in the given solutions, the reading of pH would be lower and vice-versa.
Precisely, a neutral solution is measured at pH-7. And, below it, the degree of acidity goes increasing. Conversily, above ph-7, the alkalinity rises with rising number of reading.
Ph-14 is termed as extreme alkalinity or basic, and pH-0 identified very strong acidic. Water we drink is categorised as neutral.
What does acidification mean?
So far, we have learnt that acids,bases, and salts dissociate ions when we place them in water.
Acids dissociate excess positively charged hydrogen ions (H+) and bases dissociate with negatively charged hydroxide ions or (OH-)
Excess concentration of (H+) hydrogen ions converts the given solution acides with lower pH value reading.
Suppose, when non-metal oxides like carbon dioxide is added in, it converts solution in question carbonic acid. And, when we release carbonic acid in water, the water receives excess numbers of hydrogen ions that reduces the pH value due to inverse relationship. It means more acidic compare to earlier. This is the process of acidification.
In order to neutralize acidified solutions, we need to add antacids or hydroxide like lime. Since, bases are known as proton acceptors and they receive excess numbers of hydrogen ions to make it neutral.
Acid precipitations, intensive farming, leaching, decaying crop waste, and other natural reasons which increase the concentration of hydrogen (H+) ions in the top or sub soil. The higher concentration reduces the pH value lower that results soil acidification. Here, I’m going to discuss the major causes of soil acidification.
Explanation of soil acidification
Basically, it is a chemical process by which acid proton doners dissolve in water and dissociate hydrogen (H+) ions. These excess hydrogen (H+) ions react with water to form hydronium ions((H3O+).
The degree of concentration of such ions inversely related to the pH value. Hence, more the concentration of acid cations, lesser the pH value and vice-versa.
Compare to other atomic ions, hydrogen (H+) ions can’t leach down due to strong affinity with soil particles. Therefore, it effectively contribute to the top soil resulting excess concentration of hydronium ions. In this way, acidification of soil is inevitable.
Being one of the most vital life supporting systems, soil is naturally exposed to many processes like rainfall, cultivation, decaying etc. And, such processes contribute to acidification. Let’s see some important causes of soil acidification.
Understanding Acid precipitations or acid rain
When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide released from thermal power plants and fuel dependent transportation vehicles, they react with water to form sulfuric and nitric acids.
Both acids dissociate hydrogen (H+) ions and anions whenever get dissolved in water. Hydrogen (H+) ions, being unstable, form hydronium ((H3O+) ions while reacting with water.
In the process, the concentration increases with increase in acid rain or acid deposition anywhere in the world. During post industrial revolution, in the western countries of Europe and North America, various incidents of acid rain and deposition were recorded.
Intensive farming practices
Mechanical ploughing, heavy irrigation, indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers are major characteristics of intensive farming.
By the process of nitrification through oxidation of ammonia, nitrate oxide and nitric acid is formed. And, the same cycle of dissociation of hydrogen ions and anions goes on to increase concentration to reduce pH value.
But, rainfall and heavy irrigation have other ways to increase soil acidification. Leaching is a process through which water soluble bases like sodium, potassium, and calcium hydroxides seep down with water leaving acid cations at the top to expedite acidification process.
Other natural causes of soil acidification
Natural factors like decaying and parent materials have some role in altering the chemistry of soil.
You know that carbon dioxide and thereafter carbonic acid is formed by the process of decaying. And, parent materials have also some hand in determining the chemistry of soil.
This is all about the meaning, mechanism and causal analysis of soil acidification. As time passes, more causes of soil acidification may arise. Our natural responsibility should be to avoid things which lead to acidification or adopt measures to neutralize the ongoing course.
Examples of acids and bases
In our day-to-day life importance of acids and bases depends on the degree of uses. We use soaps, toothpastes, drain cleaner, bleaching powder, baking soda etc as bases in technical language.
Lime juice, vinegar, jelly, cranberry, aspirin, shampoo, etc. are commonly used acids in our daily life. This is all about the importance of acids and bases we use in our day-to-day activities.
Solution suspension and colloid
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