Re: IS STOMACH ACID CAUSTIC ENOUGH TO BURN THE SKIN ?

Area: Anatomy
Posted By: Lynn Bry, MadSci Admin
Date: Thu Aug 7 10:05:35 1997
Area of science: Anatomy
ID: 869446684.An

Message:

Dear Lane,

The acidity in stomach acid comes from hydrochloric acid (HCl) which is secreted by specialized cells in the stomach's lining called parietal cells. The acidity of the stomach normally falls in the pH range of 1.5 to 3.5. Chemically, pH means "negative log of the concentration of H+" in a solution, so pH = -log[H+]. Taking an average pH = 2:

2 = -log[H+]  
       ([H+] = concentration of H+ in "molar" units as used by chemists)

-2 = log[H+]

10^-2 = .01 = 10^ (log[H+])    (Cancel out the log function)

so the concentration of H+ ([H+]) in stomach acid is .01M .This is very concentrated, and would cause your skin a lot of irritation. An equivalent effects happens during heartburn, when acid from the stomach refluxes into the esophagus. The acid burns the lining of the esophagus.

As for the Visible Human, try the info and links from the Guided Tour of the Visible Human on this site.

-L. Bry, MadSci Admin

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