Ever given thought to the corrosive power of acid?
There’s a good chance of seeing the fascinating effect it can have on wood, metal and the like.
For the most part, acid can turn a piece of metal into a fizzing liquid, but do you know that your stomach acid can do the same?
Well, as weird as it sounds, your stomach acid can dissolve small pieces of metal — it’s even strong enough to burn a hole right through the skin!
For starters, stomach acid which is also known as gastric acid contains sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and hydrochloric acid.
In fact, the concentration of hydrochloric acid alone varies between 5,000 to 10,000 parts per million.
How To Measure The Strength of Acids
Essentially, the PH scale goes from 0 to 14 — 0 is the most acidic, 7 is neutral, and 14 is the most alkaline or non-acidic.
So What About Stomach Acid?
The level of acid in the stomach is typically within the range of 1 to 3 which is very acidic.
In fact, the strength of stomach acid is similar to that of battery acid making it strong enough to eat through steel or a piece of wood.
The good thing is, our stomach acid protects us from all the viruses and bacteria that find their way into the body via the mouth, nose, and food we eat.
In essence, these germs have no chance of survival, and it’s all thanks to the acidic environment of the stomach.
But what prevents this powerful acid from eating right through us?
Well, your stomach’s epithelial cells protect you from the destructive power of the acid.
These cells produce a solution of mucous and bicarbonate that coats the stomach lining.
For those who might not know, the bicarbonate is a major element (base) that neutralizes the stomach acid.
What’s more, the mucous produced by epithelial cells creates a physical barrier between the walls of the stomach and the acid it produces.
All in all, the acid in your stomach is incredibly strong, but the good thing is, the epithelial cells protect you and that’s great.
It’s also good to know that these cells renew themselves every three to four days, so you can be sure that your stomach lining will always be safe.
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