Answer :
Final answer:
Stomach acid is 1,000,000 times more acidic than pancreatic juice.
Explanation:
The stomach acid has a pH of 2.0, while pancreatic juice has a pH of 8.0. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 0 being highly acidic and 14 being highly alkaline. Each unit on the pH scale represents a tenfold difference in acidity or alkalinity.
To determine how many times more acidic stomach acid is than pancreatic juice, we can calculate the difference in pH values:
2.0 (stomach acid) - 8.0 (pancreatic juice) = -6.0
Since each unit on the pH scale represents a tenfold difference, we can use the absolute value of the difference in pH values to calculate the acidity:
10^6.0 = 1,000,000
Therefore, stomach acid is approximately 1,000,000 times more acidic than pancreatic juice.
Stomach acid (pH 2.0) is 1,000,000 times more acidic than pancreatic juice (pH 8.0) due to the logarithmic nature of the pH scale. This difference is significant in digestive functions. Stomach acid breaks down food, and pancreatic juice neutralizes acidity in the small intestine.
The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number on the scale represents a tenfold difference in acidity or alkalinity. To determine how many times more acidic stomach acid (pH 2.0) is compared to pancreatic juice (pH 8.0), we calculate the difference in pH units: 8.0 - 2.0 = 6. This means stomach acid is 10⁶ (1,000,000) times more acidic than pancreatic juice. The high acidity of stomach acid is essential for breaking down food, while pancreatic juice, with its slight alkalinity, neutralizes the acid as it enters the small intestine and provides an optimal environment for digestive enzymes.