ALKALINITY
As many of you know, the opposite of acidic water is alkaline water.
What many do not realize is that alkaline and alkalinity are two totally different things. For example ‘sparkling water’ otherwise known as ‘carbonated water’ which normally has a pH of 6.3 is far higher in alkalinity than ‘still uncarbonated water’ that can have apH of 9.5.
How can this be?
alkalinity is the CAPACITY of the water to neutralise acids.
Low alkalinity water (that is water low in minerals) but with high pH have no buffer therefore quickly acidise in the presence of acids. On the other hand high alkalinity water with low pH resist the acidising effects of acids. The capacity of water to neutralize an acid is caused by the waters content of minerals such as carbonate, bicarbonate, borate, silica and phosphate. The pH of water is just an expression of the intensity of the acid content of the water, normal water pH ranges between 6.5 and 8.5. Water does not need a high pH to have a high alkalinity. alkalinity measures the concentration of carbonates, bicarbonates and hydroxide ions present in the water which is expressed as an equivalent concentration of CaCO3 or calcium carbonate. alkalinity supplied from outside the body such as drinking water with a high level of alkalinity results in a net gain in alkalinity for that body.
Got that? Good!
(I admit it: I often use the terms interchangeably. naughty!)
