Homeostasis of pH

Nick Brandis, Juan Castaneda, Luis Jasper, Nihal Nazeem, and Cais Wang
Thanks to Ms. Mathews and STEM Marin
STEM Marin, San Marin High School, Novato CA 94949
Results:
The data below was taken from two sophomores attending San Marin High School.
Procedure: Saliva Control Test
Abstract: The test was to find out how homeostasis affects the pH level Saliva Control:
of human saliva. The test involved two sophomores from San Marin Test Subject pH Level
1. Spit into a beaker
High School drinking acids at a pH of 6 and bases at a pH of 8 (1 pH 2. Dip a pH test strip into the saliva, colored side touching the spit. Test Subject 1 7.5
3. Record pH of the test strip as the control, while wet.
from average saliva pH of 7), and recording the time it took for pH to
Alkaline Imbalance test: Test Subject 2 7.0
return to normal. The results were that it took between 3 and 6 minutes 4. Measure 10 ml of DI H2O into a graduated cylinder looking at the
for pH to return to normal. Based on this data, it can be assumed that it meniscus (the lowest point of the curved upper surface of the Test Subject 1 (Alkalinity Test) Test Subject 2 (Alkalinity Test)
takes about 5 minutes for pH to return to normal. water in a graduated cylinder), when the graduated cylinder is on
Trial Time pH Comments Trial Time pH Comments
a flat surface
5. Transfer 10 ml of DI H2O into a beaker 1 0:30 9 Began recording at 30 seconds
Introduction: Homeostasis is the tendency of the body to keep a 6. Measure 1 g of NaHCO3 (Baking Soda)
1 0:30 9 Began recording at 30
seconds
relatively constant internal environment, despite external environmental 7. Use the scooper to measure 1 g of of NaHCO3 (Baking Soda) 2 01:15 9
changes. pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, where from the box to the weighing paper on the scale. 2 1:15 9
8. Transfer the 1 g of NaHCO3 (Baking Soda) to the beaker, with 10 3 2:00 8
acidity is informed by the concentration of H+ ions, as alkalinity is ml of DI H2O, using the weighing paper 3 2:00 8.5
informed by the concentration of OH-. It can be tested with pH test strips, 9. Stir the solution with the other side of the scooper.
4 2:45 8

which indicates the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a logarithmic 10. Test the pH of the solution, colored side in the solution. If the pH 4 2:45 8 5 3:10 8
scale. The test was to find out how homeostasis is achieved regarding is 8 move on to next step, otherwise add baking soda or remove
water to increase the pH, to bring the solution to a pH to 8 5 3:48 8 6 3:55 7.5
salivary pH of humans. The organs affected by pH levels are the kidneys 11. Drink the solution
and lungs, but not hormones. 12. The following steps are to be completed in 45 second intervals: 6 4:44 7.5 7 5:10 7
13. Spit into a beaker
14. Test with a pH strip, while wet, colored side in the spit Test Subject 1 (Acidity Test) Test Subject 2 (Acidity Test)
Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to find out how our body
15. Place strip to record the pH
maintains homeostasis regarding the pH levels of our saliva. The normal 16. Rinse the beaker with tap water
Trial Time pH Comments Trial Time pH Comments

pH of human saliva is between 7.1 and 7.5. Our hypothesis was if the 17. Repeat steps 13-16 until pH level is back to baseline (control 1 0:30 8 Acidity Increased; and started from 1 0:30 6.5 Began recording at 30 seconds
test subjects drink an acid and a base, then it will take 20 minutes for pH test), while wet, color side touching the spit. Alkalinity; solutions pH not tested
18. Repeat Alkaline Imbalance for other test subjects for more trials Error: Lemon Juice was 4.5 mL
to return to normal. Acid Imbalance test:
2 01:15 6.8

19. Measure 20 ml of DI H2O into a graduated cylinder looking at the Began recording at 30 seconds
Hypothesis: If we cause an alkaline or acid imbalance in our saliva, meniscus, when the graduated cylinder is on a flat surface
2 1:15 8 3 2:00 6.8
then the pH of the saliva will return to its initial value. 20. Transfer 20 ml of DI H2O into a beaker
21. Cut a lemon in half using the knife 3 2:00 8 4 2:45 6.9 Changed strip type due to scarcity (had 2
22. Squeeze 3 ml of lemon juice from a lemon into a graduated
Precision Laboratories test strips; replaced rest
Materials: cylinder looking at the meniscus, when the graduated cylinder is 4 2:45 7.5 w/ Whatman 5.2-6.8. test strip); estimated pH;
1. Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda TM (NaHCO3) on a flat surface timing
23. Measure 0.13 g of NaHCO3 (Baking Soda) 5 3:21 7.5
2. 1 "Average sized" Lemon
24. Use the scooper to measure 0.13 g of NaHCO3 (Baking Soda)
6 4:06 7 5 3:22 7
3. Precision Laboratories 1-14 pH test Strips from the box to the weighing paper on the scale.
4. 25 mL Graduated Cylinders 25. Transfer 0.13 g of NaHCO3 (Baking Soda) to the beaker, with 20
ml of DI H2O, using the weighing paper
5. Timer Discussion: One thing that was discovered was that it only takes between 3 and 6 minutes for pH to return to normal, compared to the 20
26. Stir the solution with the other side of the scooper.
minutes from our hypothesis. One thing that went well was that both alkalinity tests were finished with little complication, except for Test
6. 200 mL Beaker 27. Test the pH of the solution, colored side in the solution. If the pH
is 6 move on to next step, otherwise add baking soda to increase Subject 2 breaking the beaker. Some pretty useful data was also obtained. Numbers for all of the time intervals were also obtained which
7. Plastic Cup the pH, or add lemon juice to decrease the pH, to bring the show how the pH levels of our saliva maintains homeostasis. Unfortunately, there were many errors the test subjects committed. Some
8. 1 liter of DI water (specific amounts in procedures) solution to a pH to 6 errors were that Test Subject 1 drank water while testing and Test Subject 2 consumed turkey meat, upsetting the pH balance. Another
28. Drink solution
9. Digital Weighing Scale possible mistake was with the subject 1 tests because the pH of the solution wasnt tested to make sure it was at the desired level. The lab
29. The following steps are to be completed in 45 second intervals:
10. Weighing Paper 30. Spit into a beaker
could be improved if there were more test subjects, more substances to test, and/or more materials. If there had more test subjects, the
31. Test with a pH strip, while wet, colored side in the spit results would have included a greater amount of data and more accurate data. If there had more substances to test the pH levels of, then
11. Scooper-Scraper 32. Place strip to record the pH the results would have showed more data to see how humans maintain homeostasis. If more materials were available, then there wouldnt
12. Plastic Knife 33. Rinse the beaker with tap water have been class time looking around for materials required. Improving these things would have made the lab much more efficient and
34. Repeat steps 30-33 until pH level is back to baseline (control
13. Sink test), while wet, color side touching the spit.
accurate. One thing to further investigate after doing this lab is how acidic/alkaline substances that are higher/lower in pH affect how long it
35. Repeat Acid Imbalance for other test subjects for more trials
takes for the human body to return to homeostasis (around 7.5 for saliva). The main discovery from this lab was that it takes about 5
minutes for pH to return to normal after drinking bases and 4 for acids.
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