Whether or not a substance is classified as an acid has to do with what happens when the substance dissolves in water. If the substance releases hydrogen ions, it is considered acid. The number of hydrogen ions that are released is what determines whether a substance is more acid or less.
Another way to identify an acid is by tasting it. Most of us automatically classify lemons, rhubarbs and vinegar as acidic solely because of the way they taste. We don’t realize that strawberries and tomatoes and plenty of other foods are acids too. The only reason foods that are classified as acids don’t taste acidic is because they do not release as many hydrogen ions as do other noticeably acidic foods.
Besides taste, acids have another noticeable characteristic. By nature, acids are harsh and can even be corrosive. Water, which dilutes a substance, is what helps acids assume this corrosive power. When we eat, water appears in the form of saliva.
Many cleaning products on the market today get their power from acids. We have come to believe that these amazing products contain some type of miracle ingredient, but that simply isn’t true. Next time you notice a build-up of calcium deposits on your pots and pans or inside your sink, rub on a bit of vinegar and watch them disappear. Do you know about the cola experiment? If you drop a coin into the soda, after two days, the surface develops scars and pits. What’s more interesting is that a piece of meat will be completely dissolved after this time!
Never rely on taste to determine whether a food is acidic. If you’ve ever eaten meat, you know it does not have an acid taste yet it is an extremely acid food. Taste will fool you. Acids are easily neutralized which will lessen the acid taste, as will eating a combination of foods.
The most reliable way to determine acidity is by measuring a substance’s pH level. There is another way, but that would entail an analysis of a substance’s mineral content. As mentioned in the beginning, minerals are classified as either acid or an alkaline. Silicon, chlorine, fluoride, iodine, sulfur and phosphorus are the acidic minerals. Calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, copper, and iron are alkaline.
Mineral water, which contains minerals, can be either acid or alkaline depending on which minerals are predominant. When calcium and magnesium are present the mineral water is alkaline. Mineral water is acidic when carbon dioxide, sulfur, and chlorine are present. The same logic applies to foods. A hazelnut, which has a high phosphorus content, is more acid than an almond which does not have as much.
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