Balance and Equilibrium - the Chemistry of pH

Where I work there is frequent talk of "Work/Life Balance", balancing our time between the two, you know like "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Well that is easier said than done! These days work and home life can both be very stressful. Sometimes it is easier to go to work after a hectic vacation because we fill our personal lives up with so much that it can be a break to go back to work! You can feel like you have to "punch the clock" at home just as you do at work.

In some ways, pH is like that, it is a balancing act of Hydrogen ions, H⁺, and Hydroxy ions, OH^-, in water. You might remember from high school that pH stands for the inverse of the "parts Hydrogen" or “power of Hydrogen” in a solution. A pH of 1 is 1 part (mols) of H⁺ per ten parts (liters) water or a concentration of 10^-1 Hydrogen ions. The pH scale is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in water. Scientifically it is expressed as the negative log₁₀ of [H⁺] (in mols/liter).

Thinking of the pH of a liquid, it can span a scale from 0 to 14 with the middle point (pH 7) being neutral. Any pH number greater than 7 is considered basic and any pH number less than 7 is considered acidic. Each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value. For example, a pH of 4 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 5 and 100 times (10 times 10) more acidic than a pH of 6. The same holds true going up the scale for pH values above 7, each of which is ten times more alkaline - another way to say basic - than the next lower whole value.

The word "balance", as in pH balanced - think skin cleansers and shampoo, suggests a static condition, like Lady Justice holding the scales in her hands or when we balance hours in a day - eight hours at work, eight hours at home (life) and eight hours sleeping.

In our spiritual life balance would equate to keeping the Ten Commandments. Of course I can refrain from murder or adultery in the strictest sense and can keep what appears to be the letter of the law, balancing my sins with good behavior. This is the "Works" mentality - if I am good enough and my good outweighs my bad, on what I think is the scale of God's Justice, I will go to Heaven. But Galatians 2:16 (NIV) says "Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." and Romans 3:20 (NIV) says "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."

There is more to life - physically and spiritually, and to pH, than just balancing the hours, good deeds or Hydrogen ions. Life and pH are dynamic conditions where things are constantly changing, even when they appear to be in balance. When from the outside looking in everything appears to be in balance, in spite of constant changes, we call it "equilibrium."

Equilibrium is when a system appears in a state of balance because opposing forces cancel one another out or reversible reactions take place at equal rates. You can see this when trying to ”balance” on one foot. You feel your muscles constantly shifting ever so slightly to keep your body stable. The pH of a solution actually is not a static group of Hydrogen ions floating around in a pool of water. The positive Hydrogen ions are constantly combining with and separating from the negatively charged Hydroxy ions (or other ions in solution) in a chemical dance that maintains what appears to be a balanced system.

God too wants our lives to be in equilibrium, keeping things in balance by constantly adjusting to the changes in life. He gave us the Ten Commandments, not as a set of rules to follow but, as a basis for us to see our weaknesses and how far we are from His righteousness. Although we might not murder, we can and do get angry with our brother and thus fall short. But if our hearts are constantly striving to be like Jesus, we will repent and keep our "spiritual pH" in equilibrium with God.

He wants us to be constantly balancing our spiritual with our physical in such a way as to shine His light upon the darkness. Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) says “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth” and 1 John 2:15a & 17b (NKJV) says "Do not love the world or the things in the world... but he who does the will of God abides forever." I am sure you have heard it said "don't be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good." Well we must be heavenly minded to do any earthly good but not to the point where we miss the purpose God has for putting us here in the first place! James 2:22 (NIV) says "You see that his (Abraham's) faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." Our Faith must be in "equilibrium" with our actions for us to be considered righteous in the eyes of God. James 2:24 (NIV) - "You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."

---

A balanced pH is critical to our physical bodies
as is a balanced spiritual life in Christ
with His Word embedded in our hearts

---

To our physical bodies, the equilibrium of our internal pH is critical. The acid in our stomachs has a pH of about 3 to help our enzymes digest the foods we eat. With a pH this low, it is no wonder we get heartburn! In our intestines the pH is higher, sometimes crossing from acidic to alkaline, starting about 6 and going up to 8 near the end of the small intestines. This helps our bodies absorb important parts of food, such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Our blood has an average pH of 7.4, just slightly alkaline. If our blood pH drops much below this number, it can be very serious. Many of our body’s chemical reactions, especially those involving proteins, are pH-dependent. If the pH drops below 7.0 or rises above 7.8, death may occur. Fortunately, we have buffers in the blood to protect against large changes in our physiological pH.

Buffers are chemicals in a solution that keep the pH from changing when another acidic or basic solution is added. Buffer solutions contain a weak acid/base pair, such as carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) and bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), a buffer pair that is present in the blood. These acid/base pairs achieve their resistance to pH change because of the equilibrium between the two chemicals. The effect on the pH by the addition of an external solution will be reduced due to this buffering action.

Our spiritual buffer to the words of the world is the Word of God, the Bible. When our spiritual pH moves out of that ideal range, when we are attacked by the enemy, we can buffer those worldly influences by reading and meditating on the Word. It will put our heart back in balance with God's heart. Our body, mind and soul must always be in equilibrium so we can live out Paul's admonition to "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)), be in the world but not of the world and be like Christ. Only by meditating on His Word and focusing on the Wisdom He has hidden there, can we truly maintain an equilibrium with the plans He has for us.

---

Psalms 119:11 (NIV) - I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Proverbs 2:10 (NIV) - For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Psalms 56:4 (NIV) - In God, whose Word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Luke 24:27 (NIV) - And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He (Jesus) explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Colossians 3:16 (NIV) - Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

A Battery and a Beatitude - Power Under Control

The newest Boeing jet, the 787 Dreamliner, was grounded by an overheated battery.

On January 7, 2013, a battery overheated and started a fire in an empty Dreamliner at Boston's Logan International Airport. On January 9, United Airlines reported a problem in one of its six 787s with the wiring to the same battery. On January 16, 2013, a 787 made an emergency landing at Takamatsu Airport after a computer warning said there was smoke inside one of the electrical compartments with an error message in the cockpit citing a battery malfunction. On the same day the FAA issued an emergency directive ordering all U.S.-based airlines to ground their Boeing 787s until modifications could be made to reduce the risk of the battery overheating or catching fire. Such a small component had the power to ground the whole fleet! That was power out of control.

So why all of this about batteries? Well a battery is "Power Under Control." Maybe not in the Dreamliner's case but in design a battery is to hold a chemical charge and release that power in a controlled fashion to an electrically driven device. It does this by one of a variety of chemical reactions that produces a flow of electrons through a wire. In the case of the 787, that battery is a Lithium Ion cell, one of the most powerful of battery chemistries - more kilowatt-hours by weight of any available today.

And what about the Beatitude? And how does it relate to a battery?

Matthew Chapter Five, commonly known as the "Sermon on the Mount," has a list of eight blessings or Beatitudes that echo the highest ideals of Jesus' teachings on mercy, spirituality, and compassion. The third beatitude, Matthew 5:5 (NIV), states:

"Blessed are the Meek, for they will inherit the earth."


The Greek word for "Meek" used here is "πραΰς" or "praÿs," which implies a gentleness of spirit or disposition. But it is referring to a meekness towards God in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and thus without dispute or resistance. It does not mean someone who is a Caspar Milquetoast, "a man who speaks softly and gets hit with a big stick." Meekness here stems from trust in God's goodness and control over any situation. A truly meek person is not occupied with self at all but with the will of God. The image is that of a “war horse,” ready to charge, yet totally submissive to the authority of his rider.

---

The Meek will inherit the Earth
For They truly stand strong in the Power of God
In Compassion and Love

---

A.W. Tozer once wrote, "The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto."

To be meek is often mistaken as being weak. But, much like the battery, meekness is actually great power under control – God’s control. Great faith, strong commitment, and fierce determination are needed daily to live a meek life before God. When God requires of us a sacrifice, if we are meek we trust completely and give in willingly to His call. When He demands obedience, our meekness should squelch our selfish desires, crush our personal ambitions, and rejoice in the good will of the Lord.

The meek find their joy in the Lord. Therefore, the more they have of Him, the more they experience of Him, the more they know of Him, the more their joy is increased. And the more their joy is increased, the more they desire to plant their joy in the Lord and not in this world. Their pleasure is not found in personal circumstances; their happiness does not come about from worldly popularity; their fulfillment does not come from public success.

We develop the character of meekness by allowing the Holy Spirit to control our lives. This will increase our self control and we will not feel the need to lash out when someone angers, persecutes, or provokes us. Instead we will treat them with gentleness and compassion. We will want our actions to reflect the love of God. Meekness is not a compromise of our faith, integrity, or standards. We still need to stand strong for truth and fight against the attacks of the enemy. We just need to do it in love.

James 1:19-21 (NIV) tells us that meekness is the opposite of anger and moral filth. It is the basic attitude we are to have toward all people. We have the power of God within us so we must control ourselves and let God work in and through us to will and to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)).

The Meek will inherit the earth because they truly understand how to use the Power of the Lord to govern the world, as is His desire, with the compassion and love of God.

Ephesians 4:1-2 (KJV) - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.

Genetic Engineering - Un-Natural Selection?

In California we had a measure on the ballot on November 6th, Proposition 37. If it had passed, it would have required labels on certain foods when they contain "Genetically Engineered" ingredients. It sounds kind of like science fiction doesn't it? The term Genetically Engineered brings up thoughts of mutant plants and Evolution on Steroids!

But what exactly is a Genetically Engineered food anyway?

In one sense, all food is genetically engineered since all living things contain genes that direct their growth and characteristics. In the natural world God is the one who does the engineering. But man has also gotten into the act. For centuries man has been genetically engineering his food, although possibly without really knowing it. As man began to cultivate plants for food, cross pollination and mutations would form larger or hardier crops and by selectively using the improved varieties, man was, in a very broad sense, genetically engineering. Later as we understood the science better, deliberate cross breeding of plants and animals resulted in increased crop yields, larger feed animals and more milk production.

Scientifically this is referred to as "artificial selection" to distinguish it from "natural selection" where the cross breeding leads to traits that increase survival - the mainstay of evolution. In both of these examples the genetic changes occur naturally, within the organism, without direct manipulation of its genetic material. Genetic Engineering (GE) is a process in which scientists use recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology to introduce desirable traits into an organism. Done in the laboratory, GE alters the organism's genetic makeup by either removing genetic material from that organism or introducing externally prepared DNA into the organism. Genetic manipulation in this fashion can be used to produce the same changes that could be attained by artificial selection, only much faster. This process, called Cisgenesis, introduces genes in one generation that would take multiple generations to introduce through artificial selection. Thus it just speeds up an already "natural", albeit forced, mutation.

Selective breeding transformed teosinte's few fruitcases (left) into modern corn's rows of exposed kernels (right).

There is a second type of GE and that is where the going gets tougher. This type is called Transgenesis. Transgenesis introduces foreign genes into the genome and thus can not occur by any natural process. Typically, genetically modified foods are transgenic plant products - soybean, corn, canola and rice. The aim is to introduce a new, beneficial trait into the plant. Since the new material is not naturally available in the species' gene pool, the potential for moral, ethical and safety concerns is much greater.

We have to weigh the benefits and the risks, both to us and to our environment, both in a physical sense as well as morally and ethically. But we should not ban something just because it seems like science fiction. Should we ban cars because they kill people? Deconstruct the Internet because it contains porn? Stop all animal experiments as some may die? No, but we need to be sure we treat all living things with dignity and respect, with human life given the highest consideration. Thus, in my mind, human cloning or stem cell research is absolutely off the table when it results in the taking of a human life, even an embryo, but it is reasonable and desirable to develop adult stem cells or tissue cloning for the purposes of improving our individual and corporate health.

Looking back over the history of chemistry we see that human manipulation of natural chemicals has resulted in numerous products that have improved life as we know it. In ancient times, man combined different elements together, often unintentionally, to make compounds that had superior qualities - copper and tin to make bronze, or copper and zinc to make brass.

Later man isolated compounds from plants and used them as medicines, such as Caffeine or Aspirin. Other compounds were chemically altered (engineered?) to make more powerful drugs. Now man is going one step further - using Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to produce even more complex drugs, with more opportunities to improve the human condition.

---

Genetic Engineering has Opened Up
Many New Possibilities
For Advances in Drug Therapy

---

In medicine genetic engineering has been used to mass-produce insulin, human growth hormones, human albumin, monoclonal antibodies, antihemophilic factors, vaccines and many other drugs. Genetically modified mice have been used to study and model cancer (the oncomouse), obesity, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, substance abuse, anxiety, aging and Parkinson disease. Potential cures can be tested against these mouse models.

Gene therapy is the genetic engineering of humans by replacing defective human genes with functional copies. It has been used to treat patients suffering from immune deficiencies and trials have been carried out on other genetic disorders. There are ethical concerns should the technology be used not just for treatment, but for enhancement, modification or alteration of a human being's appearance, adaptability, intelligence, character or behavior. Some consider the enhancement of humans a desirable potential outcome of gene therapy.

But is this manipulating God's plan?

We must address the safety, ethical and moral concerns that come with these benefits. What are the human health implications of eating genetically modified food, in particular will toxic or allergic reactions occur? Can genes flow into related non-transgenic crops, causing off target effects on beneficial organisms and have a negative impact on biodiversity? Moral and ethical concerns raised involve religious beliefs, corporate control of the food supply, intellectual property rights and the level of labeling needed on genetically modified products.

As you can see there is much work to be done before Genetically Engineered Foods and Organisms will be widely accepted as part of our everyday lives, even in spite of the fact that many of our everyday foods already are directly or indirectly produced through some form of genetic engineering. We must evaluate the risks against the opportunity to improve the human condition. I think God has given us that right and it is up to us to handle it responsibly.

Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV) - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Genesis 1:28-29 (NIV) - God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." ²⁹Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

The call came in at 2:53am, why does it seem like it is always early in the morning, "Mom, can you come over now, we need you." My daughter-in-law had looked different when I saw her on Sunday afternoon at a birthday party. It was obvious that the baby had dropped and it was almost "time." She was clearly uncomfortable and ready to go soon, even though the due date was not for two weeks. During the party her water broke but she did not think they needed to rush to the hospital. No time-able contractions yet. This is child number four so she was not wanting to rush in, only to be sent home again. My wife went to watch the older children, I will join them later. It is Monday morning 5:09am and no word yet so hopefully things are going well.

---

I am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made;
Marvelous are Your Works
Psalms 139:14

---

Genesis 3:16a (NKJV) - To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children;"

Because of the fall in the Garden, the labor won't be easy, but joy will come when the baby is born.

Luke 12:7a (NIV) - Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Each of us was made in His image, He has numbered the very hairs on our head. We are priceless in His sight. God has set forth a plan and purpose for every one of us. He will guide us through that purpose, if we just let Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

In spite of what life may bring, what physical maladies may present, what emotional trauma, what struggles we may endure, God loves us and wants us to know Him and come to Him. He knit us together, we should not destroy that for any reason.

Psalms 139:13 (NIV) - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

He has given us wisdom and knowledge in the inner workings of our physical bodies and we must use that understanding for healing and not for destruction.

Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV) - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

And yet we have much more to learn. Science is a gift from God, giving us a glimpse directly into His mind, allowing us to pursue Him as we discover and uncover His marvelous works.

Psalms 139:14 (NKJV) - I will praise You, for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And [that] my soul knows very well.

Phosphorus and the Cola Controversy

As with my last blog, (M for Magnesium), this entry is expanding on one of the elements discussed previously in a frequently visited story, this time Phosphorus. The blog "Fire and Brimstone" is currently number three on the list, battling it out for second place with "Salt of the Earth." There must be schools out there somewhere that are looking at the third period of the Periodic Table regularly. All of the elements discussed in my top three blogs - Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Chlorine - are in the third period.

Phosphorus is the chemical element with symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the Nitrogen group, Phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, inorganic phosphate. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms — white phosphorus and red phosphorus — but due to its high reactivity, it is never found as a free element. Phosphorus was the 13th element to be discovered and the first element discovered in modern times.

White Phosphorus is the least stable, the most reactive and the most toxic of the allotropes. It consists of tetrahedral P₄ molecules, in which each atom is bound to the other three atoms by a single bond. White Phosphorus gradually changes to red Phosphorus. Red Phosphorus is polymeric in structure. It can be viewed as a derivative of P₄ wherein one P-P bond is broken, and one additional bond is formed between the neighboring tetrahedron resulting in a chain-like structure. Red Phosphorus may be formed by heating white phosphorus to 250 °C (482 °F) or by exposing white Phosphorus to sunlight.

Phosphorus is highly flammable and pyrophoric (self-igniting) upon contact with air. White Phosphorus is used as an additive in napalm. The odor produced on combustion has a characteristic garlic smell. Elemental Phosphorus glows in the dark (when exposed to Oxygen) with a very faint tinge of green and blue. The term phosphorescence (re-emitting light that previously fell onto a substance and excited it) is derived from Phosphorus but the reaction that gives Phosphorus its glow is properly called chemiluminescence (glowing due to a cold chemical reaction).

Due to its flammability, Phosphorus was used in "strike anywhere" matches, first produced in the 1830s. They were sensitive to storage conditions, toxic and unsafe, as they could be lit by striking on any rough surface. Their production was gradually banned in different countries starting in 1872 up until 1925. As a consequence, the "strike-anywhere" matches were gradually replaced by the "safety matches" we know today. White Phosphorus was replaced with Phosphorus Sesquisulfide (P₄S₃), Sulfur or Antimony Sulfide. Such matches are hard to ignite on an arbitrary surface and require a special strip containing red Phosphorus. The Phosphorus heats up upon striking, reacts with the Oxygen-releasing compound in the head and ignites the flammable material.

---

Phosphoric Acid binds Calcium
And may decrease Bone Density
So drink Cola in Moderation

---

Inorganic Phosphorus in the form of the Phosphate ((PO₄)⁻³) is essential for most life, playing a major role in biological molecules. Phosphate is a key component of DNA, RNA, and Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). Nearly every cellular process that uses energy obtains it in the form of ATP. It is also found in the phospholipids that form all cell membranes. Elemental Phosphorus was first isolated from human urine, and bone ash was an important early Phosphate source. The chief commercial use of Phosphorus compounds is for the production of fertilizers to meet the need for Phosphorus that plants require to grow. Elemental Phosphorus is highly toxic, causing severe liver damage. Ingestion of white Phosphorus can also cause a medical condition known as "Smoking Stool Syndrome" where the stool will emit white smoke when exposed to air.

One area of debate involving Phosphorus is around the use of Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) in carbonated soft drinks, primarily colas. Phosphoric acid is added to give colas their tangy flavor. It also slows the growth of molds and bacteria, which otherwise would multiply rapidly in the sugary solution.

Phosphoric acid has been linked to lower bone density in some epidemiological studies. One such study showed that women who consume colas daily have a lower bone density than those who don't. Total phosphorus intake was not significantly higher in daily cola consumers than in non-consumers; however, the Calcium-to-Phosphorus ratios were lower. Consuming highly acidic substances can promote a deterioration of the teeth, jawbone, pelvis and femur. From this study and others like it, drinking Phosphoric acid appears to dissolve away your skeletal system.

Phosphate binds Calcium and can lead to increased elimination of Calcium from your system. Another study suggests that the decreased systemic Calcium is due to the fact that if someone has a high soda intake, they have a low milk intake - substituting soda for milk as their source of liquids. This study concluded that the net effect of carbonated beverages — including those with caffeine and Phosphoric acid — is negligible, and that the skeletal effects of carbonated soft drink consumption are likely due primarily to milk displacement.

Phosphorus itself is an important bone mineral. But if you're getting a disproportionate amount of Phosphorus compared to the amount of Calcium in your diet, that could lead to bone loss. Aside from this risk of osteoporosis, Cola consumption has also been linked to chronic kidney disease and kidney stones.

American consumption of carbonated soft drinks fell to 491 twelve ounce servings in 2009, down from 507 servings in 2008. (Per capita consumption peaked in 1998 at 576 twelve ounce servings.) Only a small fraction of the Phosphate in the American diet comes from additives in soft drinks. One twelve ounce can of cola contains approximately 37 mg of Phosphorus. The recommended daily intake is about 1000mg so drinking six sodas a day would constitute only about 22% of the daily allowance. Most Phosphorus comes from meat and dairy products. The amount of Phosphoric acid in soda is minimal compared to that found in chicken or cheese and no one's telling us to stop eating chicken. So your reason for not drinking cola should be its sugar content and artificial food colorings, not the Phosphoric acid.

There are a few things you can do to boost your bone health:

• Cut down your cola intake by one or two cans a day or switch to a non-cola soda if you can not stop entirely.
  
• For every soda you skip, reach for a glass of milk instead.
  
• Add milk instead of water when you prepare pancakes, waffles, and cocoa.
  
• Add nonfat powdered dry milk along with liquid milk to recipes using milk - puddings, cookies, breads, soups, gravy, and casseroles.
  
• Take a Calcium and Vitamin D supplement if you still aren't getting enough Calcium.
  
• Get plenty of weight-bearing and resistance exercise. Walk, walk, walk everywhere!
  

Proverbs 25:15 (NIV) - Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.