What in The World is Acid and Alkaline Body Chemistry?

Acidic and alkaline body chemistry refer to the pH, or potential hydrogen, balance within the body. If we have the optimal acid/alkaline balance, we have blood chemistry balance, or homeostasis.

This subject can be confusing, but it is an important one to try to understand, so I will do my best to explain it to you in a way that can be easily understood.

Have you ever wondered why certain environments attract different things? A field of flowers attracts beautiful butterflies and bees, while a swamp attracts mosquitoes and other insects. Well that is because one environment is alkaline, while the latter is acidic.

Science has found that organisms that carry disease, such as mosquitos, prefer an acidic environment. It is easiest to think of it this way: acidic attracts disease, while alkaline protects health.

Our body acidity or alkalinity predicts our environment. Just like a swamp or a field of fressh flowers it can either harbor disease or flourish. Although it is debatable, many experts believe that disease cannot live in an alkaline environment, yet it thrives and grows in an acidic environment.

Again, it is debatable, but I do believe that your body functions best when it is in an alkaline state because until two years ago, I was someone who used to be out of shape and overweight. I was not following a healthy natural diet and I was not exercising. I felt awful and got sick all the time.

I got the flu or the common cold six to ten times a year. I was depressed and had little to no energy. Since discovering the difference between alkaline and acid body chemistry I have made an active effort to make my body healthier and more alkaline.

Since then I rarely have gotten sick, I have more energy, and have had more tolerance to exercise. Most importantly I have been able to maintain the proper body weight, which is something I have always battled with.

Well how did I get my body more alkaline? I ate more organic fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I made sure that I cut down on the acidic influences in my diet: red meat, dairy products, pasta sauce, coffee, alcohol, processed foods (fast food), deep fried foods, and chemical pollutants (pesticides, hormones etc.).

If you would like to find out your body's acid/alkaline chemistry go to your local health food store. They should have pH test strips you can buy that test your saliva. They are cheap, easy, accurate, and the roles of the strips allow you to test yourself many times. I test myself once a month or so.

If your body is acidic and you would like to try to make it more alkaline to see if you notice a difference in your overall health, you should maintain a dietary ratio of 75% alkaline to 25% acidic, this is what worked for me. Also exercise, or sweat a lot, this is your body's natural way of getting rid of toxic chemicals and pollutants that can make your body acidic.

It should also be noted that one way the body naturally protects against really high acidic levels is by using calcium as a natural buffer. If your body is highly acidic and you are not getting enough calcium through your diet or supplements your body will naturally pull calcium from your teeth, bones, to buffer the acidity. This is not good because it can make your bones and teeth brittle.

Some people's bodies are naturally more acidic or alkaline than others. You may or may not be able to get away with eating more acidic foods than other people. Always remember that everybody is different and you need to be as educated as you can on YOUR body and what makes YOU feel good and healthy.

Pay attention to how often you get sick in relation to certain foods, or toxins you are putting into your body. Make an active effort to test yourself and put good healthy food and supplements into your body, you will feel healthier.

Chemistry and Goals of Chemists

Chemistry is a science of substances, their properties, and how and why materials combine or separate to form different substances. Atoms, molecules and compounds are the involved ones in the study of Chemistry. In other words, it is how atoms interact to form molecules and how molecules interact with each other. It also looks into the composition of substances and their properties. The outer electron orbits or shells primarily determine the chemical characteristics of a material and whether materials will chemically combine. Thus Chemistry is the study of the composition of matter and the changes that take place in that composition. If we place a bar of iron outside our window, the iron bar will soon begin to rust. If we pour vinegar on baking soda, the mixture fizzes. If we hold a sugar cube over a flame, the sugar begins to turn brown and give off steam. The goal of chemistry is to understand the composition of substances such as iron, vinegar, baking soda, and sugar and to understand what happens during the changes described here.

The term chemistry has grown out of an earlier field of study known as alchemy. Alchemy has been described as a kind of pre-chemistry, in which scholars studied the nature of matter but without the formal scientific approach that modern chemists use. The term alchemy is probably based on the Arabic name for Egypt, al-Kimia, or the "black country." Ancient scholars learned a great deal about matter, usually by trial- and-error methods. For example, the Egyptians mastered many technical procedures such as making different types of metals, manufacturing colored glass, dying cloth, and extracting oils from plants. Alchemists of the Middle Ages discovered a number of elements and compounds and perfected other chemical techniques, such as distillation and crystallization. The modern subject of chemistry did not appear, however, until the eighteenth century. At that point, scholars began to recognize that research on the nature of matter had to be conducted according to certain specific rules. Among these rules was one stating that ideas in chemistry had to be subjected to experimental tests. Nowadays keeping in view the overall significance and versatility of chemistry, we can say that:

Chemistry is a science: There is only one sanctioned procedure for determining whether a statement about matter is really chemistry: the exhaustive, inefficient, but highly successful scientific method. Chemists often arrive at new results by nonscientific means (like luck or sheer creativity), but their work isn't chemistry unless it can be reproduced and verified scientifically.

Chemistry is a systematic study: Chemists have devised several good methods for solving problems and making observations. For example, analytical chemists often use protocols (thoroughly tested recipes) for determining the concentrations of substances in a sample. Chemists use well-defined techniques like spectroscopy and chromatography to study new or unknown substances.

Chemistry is the study of the composition and properties of matter: Chemistry is the study of the composition and properties of matter as it answers questions like, "What kind of stuff is a sample made of? What does the sample look like on a molecular scale? How does the structure of the material determine its properties? How do the properties of the material change when we increase temperature, or pressure, or some other environmental variable?"

Chemistry is the study of the reactivity of substances: Chemistry is the study of the reactivity of substances as one material can be changed into another by a chemical reaction. A complex substance can by made from simpler ones. Chemical compounds can break down into simpler substances. For example, fuels burn, food cooks, leaves turn their colors in the fall, cells grow, medicines cure and it is both their chemistry and the chemistry which is concerned with the essential processes that make these changes happen. Today, the science of chemistry is often divided into four major areas: organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry. Each discipline investigates a different aspect of the properties and reactions of matter.

Organic chemistry: Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds. That definition sometimes puzzles beginning chemistry students because more than 100 chemical elements are known. How does it happen that one large field of chemistry is devoted to the study of only one of those elements and its compounds? The answer to that question is that carbon is a most unusual element. It is the only element whose atoms are able to combine with each other in apparently endless combinations. Many organic compounds consist of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of carbon atoms joined to each other in a continuous chain. Other organic compounds consist of carbon chains with other carbon chains branching off them. Still other organic compounds consist of carbon atoms arranged in rings, cages, spheres, or other geometric forms. The scope of organic chemistry can be appreciated by knowing that more than 90 percent of all compounds known to science (more than 10 million compounds) are organic compounds. Organic chemistry is of special interest because it deals with many of the compounds that we encounter in our everyday lives: natural and synthetic rubber, vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils, cloth, plastics, paper, and most of the compounds that make up all living organisms, from simple one-cell bacteria to the most complex plants and animals.

Inorganic chemistry: Inorganic chemistry is the study of the chemistry of all the elements in the periodic table except for carbon. Like their cousins in the field of organic chemistry, inorganic chemists have provided the world with countless numbers of useful products, including fertilizers, alloys, ceramics, household cleaning products, building materials, water softening and purification systems, paints and stains, computer chips and other electronic components, and beauty products. The more than 100 elements included in the field of inorganic chemistry have a staggering variety of properties. Some are gases, others are solid, and a few are liquid. Some are so reactive that they have to be stored in special containers, while others are so inert (inactive) that they virtually never react with other elements. Some are so common they can be produced for only a few cents a pound, while others are so rare that they cost hundreds of dollars an ounce. Because of this wide variety of elements and properties, most inorganic chemists concentrate on a single element or family of elements or on certain types of reactions.

Physical chemistry: Physical chemistry is the branch of chemistry that investigates the physical properties of materials and relates these properties to the structure of the substance. Physical chemists study both organic and inorganic compounds and measure such variables as the temperature needed to liquefy a solid, the energy of the light absorbed by a substance, and the heat required to accomplish a chemical transformation. A computer is used to calculate the properties of a material and compare these assumptions to laboratory measurements. Physical chemistry is responsible for the theories and understanding of the physical phenomena utilized in organic and inorganic chemistry.

Analytical chemistry: Analytical chemistry is that field of chemistry concerned with the identification of materials and with the determination of the percentage composition of compounds and mixtures. These two lines of research are known, respectively, as qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis. Two of the oldest techniques used in analytical chemistry are gravimetric and volumetric analysis. Gravimetric analysis refers to the process by which a substance is precipitated (changed to a solid) out of solution and then dried and weighed. Volumetric analysis involves the reaction between two liquids in order to determine the composition of one or both of the liquids.

In the last half of the twentieth century, a number of mechanical systems have been developed for use in analytical research. For example, spectroscopy is the process by which an unknown sample is excited (or energized) by heating or by some other process. The radiation given off by the hot sample can then be analyzed to determine what elements are present. Various forms of spectroscopy are available (X-ray, infrared, and ultraviolet, for example) depending on the form of radiation analyzed. Other analytical techniques now in use include optical and electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI; used to produce a three-dimensional image), mass spectrometry (used to identify and find out the mass of particles contained in a mixture), and various forms of chromatography (used to identify the components of mixtures).

Other fields of chemistry: The division of chemistry into four major fields is in some ways misleading and inaccurate. In the first place, each of these four fields is so large that no chemist is an authority in any one field. An inorganic chemist might specialize in the chemistry of sulfur, the chemistry of nitrogen, the chemistry of the inert gases, or in even more specialized topics. Secondly, many fields have developed within one of the four major areas, and many other fields cross two or more of the major areas. For an example of specialization, the subject of biochemistry is considered a subspecialty of organic chemistry. It is concerned with organic compounds that occur within living systems. An example of a cross-discipline subject is bioinorganic chemistry. Bioinorganic chemistry is the science dealing with the role of inorganic elements and their compounds (such as iron, copper, and sulfur) in living organisms. At present, chemists explore the boundaries of chemistry and its connections with other sciences, such as biology, environmental science, geology, mathematics, and physics. A chemist today may even have a so-called nontraditional occupation. He or she may be a pharmaceutical salesperson, a technical writer, a science librarian, an investment broker, or a patent lawyer, since discoveries by a traditional chemist may expand and diversify into a variety of fields that encompass our whole society.

Chemists have two major goals. One is to find out the composition of matter in order to learn what elements are present in a given sample and in what percentage and arrangement. This type of research is known as analysis. A second goal is to invent new substances that replicate or are different from those found in nature. This form of research is known as synthesis. In many cases, analysis leads to synthesis. That is, chemists may find that some naturally occurring substance is a good painkiller. That discovery may suggest new avenues of research that will lead to a synthetic (human-made) product similar to the natural product, but with other desirable properties (and usually lower cost). Many of the substances that chemistry has produced for human use have been developed by this process of analysis and synthesis.

What is Chemistry and How to Tame It?

Chemistry is the study of matter and its changes. This includes everything in the universe from a simple hydrogen atom to very large replicating molecules in life processes. Chemistry is involved with the development of medicines that control and cure diseases; food production through specific and safe agricultural chemicals; consumer products such as cleaners, plastics and clothing; new methods of energy production, transfer and storage; new materials for electronic components; and new methods for protection and cleanup of the environment. Chemists are needed to help solve some of society's most difficult technological problems through research, development and teaching.

A major branch of chemistry, known as ‘Inorganic Chemistry’, is generally considered to embrace all substances except hydrocarbons and their derivatives, or all substances that are not compounds of carbon (including some of the small molecules of carbon.) It covers a broad range of subjects, among which are atomic structure, crystallography, chemical bonding, coordination compounds, acid-base reactions, ceramics, and various subdivisions of electrochemistry (electrolysis, battery science, corrosion, semi conduction, etc.). It is important to state that inorganic and organic chemistry often overlap. For example, chemical bonding applies to both disciplines, electrochemistry and acid-base reactions have their organic counterparts, catalysts and coordination compounds may be either organic or inorganic.

Regarding the importance of inorganic chemistry, R.T. Sanderson has written: "All chemistry is the science of atoms, involving an understanding of why they possess certain characteristic qualities and why these qualities dictate the behavior of atoms when they come together. All properties of material substances are the inevitable result of the kind of atoms and the manner in which they are attached and assembled. All chemical change involves a rearrangement of atoms. Inorganic chemistry (is) the only discipline within the chemistry that examines specifically the differences among all the different kinds of atoms".

Another major branch of chemistry is ‘Organic Chemistry’ which embraces all compounds of carbon except such binary compounds as the carbon oxides, the carbides, carbon disulfide, etc.; such ternary compounds as the metallic cyanides, metallic carbonyls, phosgene (COCl2), carbonyl sulfide (COS), etc.; and the metallic carbonates, such as calcium carbonate and sodium carbonate. The total number of organic compounds is indeterminate, but a huge number has been identified and named. Important areas of organic chemistry include polymerization, hydrogenation, Isomerisation, fermentation, photochemistry, and stereochemistry. There is no sharp dividing line between organic and inorganic chemistry, for the two often tend to overlap.

Application of the concepts and laws of physics to chemical phenomena is included under the heading ‘Physical Chemistry’ in order to describe in quantitative (mathematical) terms a vast amount of qualitative (observational) information. A selection of only the most important concepts of physical chemistry would include: the electron wave equation and the quantum mechanical interpretation of atomic and molecular structure, the study of the subatomic fundamental particles of matter, application of thermodynamics to heats of formation of compounds and the heats of chemical reaction, the theory of rate processes and chemical equilibria, orbital theory and chemical bonding, surface chemistry, including catalysis and finely divided particles, the principles of electrochemistry and ionization. Although physical chemistry is closely related to both inorganic and organic chemistry, it is considered a separate discipline.

Analytical Chemistry is the subdivision of chemistry concerned with identification of materials (qualitative analysis) and with determination of the percentage composition of mixtures or the constituents of a pure compound (quantitative analysis). The gravimetric and volumetric (or "wet") methods (precipitation, titration and solvent extraction) are still used for routine work and new titration methods have been introduced e.g. cryoscopic, pressure-metric (for reactions that produce a gaseous product), redox methods, and use of a F-sensitive electrode etc. However, faster and more accurate techniques (collectively called instrumental) have been developed in the recent past. Among these are infrared, ultraviolet, and x-ray spectroscopy where the presence and amount of a metallic element is indicated by lines in it's emission or absorption spectrum; colorimetry by which the percentage of a substance in soluble is determined by the intensity of it's colour; chromatography of various types by which the components of a liquid or gaseous mixture are determined by passing it through a column of porous material or on thin layers of finely divided solids; and separation of mixtures in ion exchange columns and radioactive tracer analysis. Optical and electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, microanalysis, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) spectroscopy all fall within the area of analytical chemistry. New and highly sophisticated techniques have been introduced in recent years, in many cases replacing traditional methods.

Originally Biochemistry was a subdivision of chemistry but now an independent science, which includes all aspects of chemistry that apply to living organisms. Thus, photochemistry is directly involved with photosynthesis and physical chemistry with osmosis, two phenomena that underline all plant and animal life. Other important chemical mechanisms that apply directly to living organisms are catalysis, which takes place in biochemical systems by the agency of enzymes; nucleic acid and protein constitution and behavior, which is known to control the mechanism of genetics; colloid chemistry, which deals in part with the nature of cell walls, muscles, collagen, etc; acid-base relations, involved in the pH of body fluids; and such nutritional components as amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, lipids and vitamins, all of which are essential to life. The chemical organization and reproductive behavior of microorganisms (bacteria and viruses) and a large part of agricultural chemistry are also included in biochemistry. Particularly active areas of biochemistry are nucleic acids, cell surfaces (membranes), enzymology, peptide hormones, molecular biology, and recombinant DNA.

Nuclear Chemistry is the division of chemistry dealing with changes in or transformations of the atomic nucleus. It includes spontaneous and induced radioactivity, the fission or splitting of nuclei, and their fusion, or union; also the properties and behavior of the reaction products and their separation and analysis. The reactions involving nuclei are usually accompanied by large energy changes, far greater than those of chemical reactions; that are carried out in nuclear reactors for electric power production and manufacture of radioactive isotopes for medical use, also (in research work) in cyclotrons.

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry and chemical engineering that deals with the quantities of substances that enter into, and are produced by, chemical reactions. Stoichiometry provides the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. For example, when methane unites with oxygen in complete combustion, 16g of methane require 64g of oxygen. At the same time 44g of carbon dioxide and 36g of water are formed as reaction productions. Every chemical reaction has its characteristic proportions. The method of obtaining these from chemical formulas, equations, atomic weights and molecular weights, and determination of what and how much is used and produced in chemical processes, is the major concern of Stoichiometry.

Many students treat chemistry as "too difficult to understand and prefer to escape and memorize even on the expense of the realization that by doing so they are bound to harm themselves now and deprive the society of their contribution later. Henceforth they should note that although it is somewhat challenging, any reasonably intelligent and dedicated student can succeed in chemistry. They should also realize that there is no use of wasting both money and time for some thing that is either memorized before examination or forgotten thereafter or some portion of it is dropped under the pretext of selection of important topics for the purpose of preparation for examination. One must not waste his/her valuables (money and time) just for the sake of degree and literacy as both of these are bound to have detrimental consequences not only for the individual concerned but also the society for obvious reasons.

Those of the students who get their confidence shattered whenever they come across chemistry may note Some Tips (given below) from tose who have succeeded in Chemistry

1. Develop good study habits.
2. Attend all lectures and labs.
3. Take all lecture notes and make your own notes after understanding things properly.
4. Use your lecture notes as a guide to your reading in the textbook. Write your questions down if you don't understand something. Ask your teacher if you don't understand a concept.
5. Make flash cards of definitions, concepts, reactions, structures, and nomenclature that are in the textbook and are emphasized by your teacher in lecture.
6. Remember that writing something is equivalent to reading it ten times and notes are records for recollecting the material and not something to be memorized in a capsule form.
7. Do all the homework problems sincerely and with sincerity.
8. One of the best ways of learning is to find a study partner or to form a study group and work on problems independently and then together.
9. Keep yourself up –to- date. If you get behind or get a poor grade in class tests, either you want to drop the class or may be made to drop the class.
10. Try to see the ‘big picture; of the future instead of being mean and escapist.
11. Practice applying what you have learned in class to the world around you.
12. Try to foster your own scientific curiosity and wonder around ‘why things are and how they happen’.
13. Have a positive attitude.
14. Realize that science requires more self discipline, but offers more rewards.
15. Try to be organized and recognized.
16. Persevere and be determined to succeed.