How to Make Alkaline Water

Are you aware of the fact that fluids in our body should be alkaline in nature rather than being neutral or acidic? Yes, it's true. The water we drink decides the pH level inside the body.

Then, doesn't it make sense to have an alkaline diet or drink bottled alkaline water? But, how to make alkaline water? Let us look at this procedure step-by-step, and start from the basics.

The pH level is a measure of alkalinity or acidity of a solution. It is simply measured on a scale of 0 to 14. Those solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline solutions and those which have pH levels less than 7 are acidic.

Pure water is neutral in this respect, i.e. it is neither basic nor acidic, and so has a pH level of exactly 7. But, one can easily make alkaline water at home. Let us see how.

From the previous information, water with a pH level above 7 is basic in nature. However, for safe human consumption, the pH level of water must not be more than 8.5. In chemical terms this is achieved by dissolving a hydrate of a metal-oxide.

What are metal-oxides? Now, metal-oxides are formed due to combustion of metals in presence of oxygen (Yes, metals do burn!). For example, when sodium burns, it results in formation of sodium oxide (Na₂O). Now, a hydrate is formed by chemically reacting it with water.

The reaction that takes place is explained in the following equation:

Na₂O + H₂O → 2 NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide)

The resultant sodium hydroxide is nothing but a base or an alkali. Hence, the solution becomes basic. So, all that we need to make water alkaline is a metal-oxide, directly or indirectly.

By indirectly, we mean from some other compound as it is not advisable to obtain a metal oxide by burning a metal yourself. This is because of the high temperatures required for the combustion of metals. The best way to achieve alkalinity at home is to use baking soda, which is a readily available household item.

Chemically, baking soda is called sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate, i.e. NaHCO₃. It is a crystalline compound formed when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) reacted with CO₂ and H₂O to form NaHCO₃.

When baking soda dissolves in water, NaHCO₃ loses its ionic bond to give Na⁺ ions and HCO₃^- ions.

NaHCO₃ → Na⁺ + HCO₃^-

Now, the HCO₃^- ions react with water to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), which further decomposes to give carbon dioxide(CO₂) and water (H₂O) leaving behind NaOH, which we have seen is an alkali. Let some chemical equations do the talking:

NaHCO3 + H2O → Na+ + HCO3- + H2O ______________ (1)

Now,

HCO3- + H2O → H2CO3 + OH- __________________ (2)

Na⁺ formed in equation (1) and OH^- formed in equation (2) form an ionic bond to give NaOH.

Na+ + OH- → NaOH

To maintain safe pH levels, you must not add more than 10g of baking soda to a liter of water. You can vary the pH levels by adding or reducing the concentration of the alkali (in this case, NaOH) in water. At home, there are many other products like bleaching powder or any acetate, sulfate, or carbonate that can be used for this purpose.

Simple soapy water is also basic, but it is not fit for consumption. You can use a litmus paper, which is easily available in the stores to check the alkalinity of a solution. If it turns blue when in contact with a solution, then it's alkaline, or if the litmus turns red, then the solution is acidic.

While working with basic or acidic solutions, it is strongly advised to wear gloves and protect other areas from direct contact, especially if the solution is strong. This water has a slippery feel when touched and there's no burning sensation, but like acids, they eat through the skin.

Loss of sensation occurs, because it quickly annihilates the nerve cells, so the pain signals are not received by the brain even as they burn through.
With adequate knowledge of this process, you can surely maintain proper alkalinity levels in your body.