Neutralisation reactions in everyday life

Indigestion

• Our stomach contains hydrochloric acid which helps to digest food.
• Too much acid causes indigestion .
• To relieve indigestion we take antacids (antacid means ' anti-acid ')  such as milk of magnesia which contains magnesium hydroxide .
• It is a base that neutralises the effect of excessive acid .

Ant Bite/ Bee sting:

• When an ant bites it injects the acid into the skin.
• The acid is called Formic acid . It causes irritation .
• The effect of the acid can be neutralised by rubbing a mild base like moist baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate).

Soil Treatment

• Excessive use of chemical fertilisers make the soil acidic .
• Plants do not grow well when soil is either too acidic or too basic .
• When soil is too acidic it is treated with base such as quicklime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide)
• When soil is too basic , then decaying organic matter ( manure or compost ) is added to it.

Factory Waste

• Factory waste contains acids .
• If they are allowed to flow into water bodies (like lake,ponds and rivers, etc), the acid will kill fish and other organisms.
• The factory waste is therefore neutralised by adding basic substances .