Alkaline water antacid analysis

Definition

A quantitative equilibrium analysis of whether bottled alkaline water at pH 8.5 can meaningfully neutralize stomach acid. The conclusion is that it neutralizes only about 0.12 percent of the acid present, so it is not a meaningful antacid.

A gallon of pH 8.5 water holds only about 1.2 times 10 to the minus 5 moles of hydroxide, while one liter of gastric fluid at pH 2 holds 0.01 moles of hydrogen, orders of magnitude more. With neutralization proceeding one to one, the hydroxide barely dents the acid, and without buffering alkalinity the pH advantage collapses on contact. The example demonstrates that pH describes intensity, not quantity.

Related concepts

pH plus pOH equals 14 · pH as equilibrium position · Buffering capacity

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧪 chemistry