Question:
Arrange the following substances in increasing order of their pH value:
(1) Gastric Juice
(2) Milk of Magnesia
(3) Lemon Juice
(4) Pure Water
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
(A) (1), (2), (3), (4)
(B) (1), (3), (4), (2)
(C) (3), (4), (1), (2)
(D) (3), (1), (4), (2)
Answer : (B) (1), (3), (4), (2)
The correct sequence of the substances arranged in increasing order of their pH value is Gastric Juice, Lemon Juice, Pure Water, and Milk of Magnesia.
## Understanding pH Values
The pH scale measures how acidic or alkaline (basic) a substance is. A lower pH means a substance is more acidic, while a higher pH means it’s more alkaline. A pH of 7 is neutral.
Here are the approximate pH values for the given substances:
- (1) Gastric Juice: Extremely acidic, with a pH of about 1.5 to 3.5. 🧪
- (3) Lemon Juice: Highly acidic due to citric acid, with a pH of about 2 to 3. 🍋
- (4) Pure Water: Neutral by definition, with a pH of 7. 💧
- (2) Milk of Magnesia: Alkaline (a common antacid), with a pH of about 10.5. 🍶
Arranging these from the lowest pH (most acidic) to the highest pH (most alkaline) gives us the correct order: (1), (3), (4), (2).