The pH of a substance is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. The higher the pH, the more basic (alkaline) the substance is; the lower the pH, the more acidic it is.
pH is important in many chemical reactions because it can affect how fast or slow they proceed. For example, enzymes that are responsible for digesting food work best within a certain pH range. If the stomach’s acidity level gets too low, these enzymes may not work as well and digestion may be slowed down.
A change in pH can also alterthe structure of proteins, which can make them unable to function properly. This is one reason why maintaining a healthy body pH balance is so important – too much acidity or alkalinity can lead to serious health problems.
See potential Hydrogen.