ROMBLON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

ODIONGAN, ROMBLON

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LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1
Determination of pH of Biological Liquids

Introduction
Biological liquids of the body have different values of pH. Most of them have approximately
neutral pH, but only the gastric juice is characterized as the most acidic; the pH of other digestive
juices are slightly alkaline. The specific value of pH are maintained with mineral and organic buffer
systems. Blood has the most constant level of pH due to high buffer capacity of its buffer systems.
Determination of pH of various biological liquids is applied for diagnosis and correction of
some pathological states accompanied by acid-base state disorders. Excessive accumulation of
H+ ions resulting in a decrease in pH of biological liquids is called acidosis, and the opposite
phenomenon of excessive accumulation of OH- ions is marked as alkalosis.

Objectives
 To determine the pH of various biological liquids.
 To site different complications caused by unbalanced pH levels.

Methodology
Take a piece of indicator paper. Immerse its small part in a biologic liquid. Next, put the
wet piece of indicator paper on a white sheet of paper and quickly compare its color with a
standard color scale marked on the indicator paper case. Take note of the pH of each biological
liquid. Tape or attach the indicator you used for each corresponding liquid. Write down the pH
and indicate if it is an acid or base you on the table below.

Liquid pH *paste/tape indicator paper here

Urine

Blood Serum
 Saliva

Perspiration/Sweat

Milk

Tap Water (Non-biological)

Questions:
1. Which liquid is the most acidic? Most alkaline?

2. What do you think will happen if the pH of these liquids exceeds normal levels?

3. How does the body stabilize or maintain the pH levels of biological liquids in the body?

Conclusions: