Tag: acids and bases in daily life

Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) is used in the manufacture of soap. It is used in petroleum-refining; in making medicines, paper, pulp, etc. It is used in making rayon.

Phosphoric acid is used in dentistry and orthodontics as an etching solution, to clean and roughen the surfaces of teeth where dental appliances or fillings will be placed. Phosphoric acid is also an ingredient in over-the-counter anti-nausea medications that also contain high levels of sugar (glucose and fructose). This acid is also used in many teeth whiteners to eliminate plaque that may be on the teeth before application.

Calcium hydroxide is also known as slaked lime. It is mixed with sand and water to make mortar which is used in the construction of buildings. 

Sodium carbonate is a base which is used as washing soda and for softening hard water.

As it is one of the stronger edible acids, the dominant use of citric acid is as a flavoring and preservative in food and beverages, especially soft drinks. Citric acid is a naturally occurring preservative used in many applications including canning, flavoring, cleaning, and even photography development.

A common base used for cleaning is sodium hydroxide, known commonly as lye or caustic soda. It is not to be taken internally, because it is highly damaging to human tissueparticularly the eyes. Lye appears in drain cleaners, such as Drano, and oven cleaners, such as Easy-Off, which make use of its ability to convert fats to water-soluble soap.

Baking soda, known by chemists both as sodium bicarbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate, is another example of a base with multiple purposes. The reaction of the acid and the baking soda produces carbon dioxide, which causes dough and batters to rise.

Lakes and oceans can become acidic due to acid rain. This increases the acidity of such bodies and affects the aquatic life. To neutralize this acidic behavior of lakes and oceans, calcium carbonate $(CaCO _3)$ is used.

The pH in our mouth is 5.5 which is slightly acidic. If the pH in our mouth decreases it results in tooth decay due to formation of certain acids. Toothpaste is basic in nature which neutralizes the acid and protects from tooth decay.

Treatment of gastric patients, treatment of acidic effluents from factory wastes and treatment of acid/base salts, are examples of neutralization in everyday life. Hence, D