Neutralizing pH

[HydrogenBond]

An interesting plant is the hydrangea. It is a natural pH meter, with the flowers of some versions turning either blue or pink depending on the pH of the soil. The color shift has to do with the aluminum in the soil, which is more available to the plant at lower pH. At higher pH less aluminum is soluble so the color changes.

 

[UncleAl]

Add glycine. Acid will protonate the carboxyl, base will deprotonate the ammonum. Glycine buffers pH 6, Good buffer BES 7.2, molar 1:1 Na2HPO4, NaH2PO4 pH 7.5. Glycine's low molecular weight is its advantage.

 

 

The perfect answer is to run the solution through consecutive beds of strong cation (as free acid) and strong anion (as hydroxide base) hydrated beaded gel ion exchangers. Neutral deionized water comes out the bottom - except for dissolved carbon dioxide. Vacuum degas.

[maikeru]

Still battling my soil problem

This is an important thread for the new Ag /Hort Sci. Forum.

 

Have you amended the soil with a lot of compost, wood chips or sawdust, or bark? Organic matter should help bring down and stabilize the pH more. I think compost usually has a pH around 6.5-7-ish or so. As wood chips or sawdust decompose they should lower pH as well. Many kinds of bark are rich in tannins which tend to be more acidic. Be aware that the addition of wood chips, sawdust, or bark to the soil may create a short-term nitrogen deficit and hurt plant growth (although it should correct itself with time, as the microbes die and release it back into the soil).

[lemit]

So, is it soil we are trying to buffer? I suppose it might eventually turn out to be soil, since the buffer might be thrown out if it's completely unsuccessful on the as yet unknown substance. I suppose, then, our suggestions for soil buffers are really pretty good.

 

--lemit

[sherifammar]

u can by using pH meter & titration with acid or base