Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,

My son is interested in an optional science project this year. We are looking for ideas.

Will Using a PH test kit to test water quality fall into this "LIfe and Earth" category?

He is interested in testing PH value in human body for different food we eat. For example, what is the PH value of garlic, onion,etc. Will it require different PH test kits from water PH test kit?

I have no ideas how to do the research on the internet. Can someone show me what are the "key" terms to use and will it be an interesting topics for a science project?

Thanks,
Tina

Hello ,

Here is the link for the topic selection wizard so you could browse other possible projects.There is a wide variety for all interests and there's even a quiz to narrow done choices.https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... l?From=Tab

What is topic of the experiment your son is interested in,Is it measuring the ph of foods and seeing their effects on the human body?
If so,I think it might be difficult and I am not entirely sure if it's a plausible experiment.I suggest perhaps finding some other
Topics or alternatives that he also might be interested in first.

If you need any more assistance feel free to post!

Hello,

Using the topic selection wizard is a great idea! In addition, you can also search "pH values" or even "pH value projects" on the Internet and you may get some great ideas...I think using a pH water kit to test water quality is a great and interesting idea!! However, I think this topic falls more into physical science as "pH" relates more to chemistry although it is often used in life science as well.
And yes, it sounds like a great idea to test the pH of other food substances as well as he can demonstrate the wide range of pH in the everyday foods we eat. For example, limes and oranges will have a very low pH (around 2 or 3) while a cucumber will have a high pH (around 13 or 14)...the pH scale ranges from 1 (most acidic) to 14 (most basic). Here is a link to a pH scale of foods that can help you out: http://www.yksd.com/distanceedcourses/C ... _scale.gif

Here is another website I found on pH that gives the idea for how to test water quality and how it affects fish: http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/water_ ... char_e.htm --> just one idea you might like to consider...

Also, pH can be determined through simple pH strips that turn a certain color which can be compared to a key where different colors represent different pH's...here is an image of one such example: http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/water_ ... _paper.jpg
If you will the water kit uses this kind of method (which I think is the simplest) then there it can be used on anything from water to fruits to vegetables...

I hope this information helped! Please feel free to post back if you have any other questions/comments...

I think testing the pH of food items we eat is a very good experiment. However, the pH in the human body will not change very much if it changes at all. This is because there are natural buffers in the human body that keeps the pH at a constant internal level. Without these natural buffers, we would not be able to survive because vital functions would not be able to occur!

If your son wants to test the pH of the human body as well as of the foods, he can use that stable pH to conclude that the human body has natural buffers that keeps the pH level from fluctuating every time we eat.

I hope this helps with his project.

HI, All who replied:

Thanks for all the replies with great ideas and suggestions.

I finally figure out how to use selection wizard and get some good ideas there, including one about PH indicator paper.

I will let my son goes through those ideas to see which one interests him the most.

I guess the real challenge is how to take the ideas from selection wizard to come out his own project. I have not figure out how to do it (assuming this is my school project).

I guess that's the reason I did not become a science major in school.

I will ask questions soon.

Thanks again.
Tina