(1). Why can buffers minimize the pH change of a solution? (2). Studies show tha

Question

(1). Why can buffers minimize the pH change of a solution?

(2). Studies show that regular soft drinks promote tooth decay and may increase the risk of osteoporosis. Can you explain why?

(3). Please do some literature research to investigate the roles of the following elements in living things: Na, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn. You can just pick up one element and discuss its role in living things and the possible deleterious effects if too much or too little of the element present in the living things.

Explanation / Answer

(1) A mixture of a weak acid or a weak base and the salt of its conjugate.

The pH of a buffer resists change when small amounts of acid or base are added. Suppose if a mixture of a weak acid (HA) with its conjugate base (A-) are taken. In this, both the acid and base components are present in the solution because they do not undergo any reactions that significantly alter their concentrations. The acid and conjugate base may react with one another, HA + A- A- + HA and the concentrations [HA] and [A-] do not change.

If a strong base is added to a buffer, the weak acid will give up its H+ in order to transform the base (OH-) into water (H2O) and the conjugate base: HA + OH- A- + H2O. Since the added OH- is consumed by this reaction, the pH will change only slightly.

If a strong acid is added to a buffer, the weak base will react with the H+ from the strong acid to form the weak acid HA: H+ + A- HA. The H+ gets absorbed by the A- instead of reacting with water to form H3O+ (H+), so the pH changes only slightly.

(2) The most common ingredients in soft drinks are glucose, fructose and caffeine. Sugar in soda combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid, which attacks the teeth. These ongoing acid attacks weaken tooth enamel. Carbon.ated drinks have a pH of 2 to 3 and can cause marked loss of tooth structure via erosion

The sugar content could lead the kidneys to excrete too much potassium, while another is that the caffeine content leads to a redistribution of potassium in the body's cells or increased excretion from the body.

Soft drinks containing phosphoric acid are definitely linked to osteoporosis (a weakening of your skeletal structure) because they lead to lower calcium levels and higher phosphate levels in your blood. When phosphate levels are high and calcium levels are low, calcium is pulled out of your bones.

(3) Sodium and potassium :

Magnesium:

Calcium:

Zinc:

Copper:

Iron:

Calcium :

Ca2+ ions are present as phosphates in the bones and play an important role in the muscle contraction. Ca2+ ions catalyse the formation of pyrophosphate linkages which control the various biological systems. The pyrophosphates which undergo hydrolysis with the release of energy. This process is controlled by Ca2+ ions.

The malnutrition in children is mainly due to the deficiency of the Ca2+ ions. If there is not enough calcium in your blood, it is taken from your bones to supplement the deficiency; left unchecked, this lack of calcium can eventually lead to Osteoporosis.

Hypercalcemia is due to excessive consumption of calcium-rich foods, certain bone diseases or extreme inactivity. Symptoms may include digestive problems and nausea in minor cases, but can cause brain dysfunction, coma or even death in extreme instances. Hypocalcemia is due to little calcium and may not cause immediate symptoms, but over time can also affect the brain, leading to delirium, memory loss and depression; severe cases may lead to muscle spasms, seizures and abnormal heart rhythms.

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