Most of us won't go through life without the occasional episode of heartburn or acid reflux. And when acid does sting your throat or burn in your chest, you might find yourself wondering just how strong the stuff is.
Read More: Stomachache? Your Gut Bacteria Might Be to Blame
To find out, let’s turn to the pH scale, which measures how acidic or alkaline (basic) a solution is.
The scale ranges from 0 to 14, with anything hovering around a value of 7 — like most drinking water — considered neutral. A substance with a pH less than that, like vinegar, is acidic; anything higher, like household bleach, is alkaline.
Both strongly acidic and strongly alkaline substances can, of course, be corrosive.
The pH of stomach acid (also called gastric acid) usually ranges from around 1.5 to 2. The reason it’s so strong is because specialized stomach cells — called ...
