Acid and Basic Solutions

In biological systems, the acidity of a solution is important. If a solution is too acidic or too basic, the proteins in a cell will lose their form, and will not function properly. Water is the solvent in most biological systems, and many chemical can change the acidity of water. Cells have many mechanisms to keep the acids and basis of their cells balanced. Cells actively move free radicals (charged molecules) and acidic protons out of the cell when needed. Some cells can also produce buffers, or chemicals that tend to keep a solution at a certain acidity. Scientists use the pH scale to measure acidity, which is a function of the concentration of protons present in water. The more protons, the more acidic a solution is.

Examples of Solution

Nutrients in the Soil

Plants need access to nutrients and minerals in the soil to survive. To get these nutrients and minerals, plants must diffuse the nutrients across the membranes of their roots. In order to do this, the nutrients must be dissolved by water. The solution then bathes the roots, and proteins embedded in the root membranes can transport the nutrient into the cells. Once the cells have the nutrients, more water floods the cells. This mechanism in plants allows water and nutrients to flow all the way from the roots to the top leaves, even in the tallest trees. At the leaves, the plant transpires the water into the air, allowing the osmotic pressure to continue forcing nutrients and water up the leaves. This is all possible because water is an excellent solution which creates the solutions necessary for life.

Flower Nectar

Many flowers produce a solution in their flowers that attracts bees, birds, and other pollinators. The solution uses a solvent of water and a solute of sugar. Water is a polar solvent, and sugar is a polar solute. Together, they make a polar solution. This sugar-water solution provides an easily digestible source of nutrition for pollinators. Bees use the solution to create honey, another more viscous solution used to feed their young. Hummingbirds and some other pollinators simply use the solution for energy. Although it might not seem like much, the bonds of sugar pack an enormous amount of energy. In fact, even the human body relies on glucose for energy. Most of the sugar we eat come from fruits and vegetables, and is in a more complex form that our body must break down.

Related Biology Terms

Solute – The molecules that become suspended by solvent in a solution.

Solvent – The material or substance that dissolves the molecules of solute into a solution.

Polarity – The amount of positive and negative charges a molecule has, and how they interact.

Concentration – The amount of dissolved solute per volume of solvent in a solution.

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Acid and Basic Solutions

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