Klarinet Archive - Posting 000802.txt from 1997/03

From: "Scott D. Morrow" <SDM@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Water vs Saliva for wetting reeds
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 13:23:13 -0500

>
Apologies to Andrew, who will receive TWO of these (I hadn't realized that
"replies" went to HIM, and not the list!)!

>
>Andrew Schmidt wrote:
>
>>One person made the observation that his dentist suggested that saliva was
>>more
>>acidic than tap water and this caused the premature breakdown of the reed.
>>
>>Being a scientist, and also a beginning clarinet player, I recalled from my
>>biology that most biological systems are at a neutral pH. I also recalled
>>that,
>>after one eats, their saliva becomes acidic.
>>
>>So I measured the pH of both my saliva and the tap water. I had not eaten for
>>about 3 hours.
>>
>>The pH of the tap water was 5.5 (acidic) and my saliva was at a pH of 7.2
>>(slightly basic, pH 7.0 being neutral). Acicidity doen't seem to be part of
>>the
>>problem with premature breakdown of a reed, as saliva is not acidic - it is
>>very
>>close to being neutral. I did check the pH of three other people who made the
>>mistake of walking into my work area. Their saliva was also neutral. The tap
>>water was very acidic in comparison. The pH of tap water probably will vary
>>with
>>location.
>>
>
> I, also, in the name of science and the arts, tested MY saliva with pH
>paper and mine DID come out slightly acidic: a whopping 6.8!!!! I hadn't
>realized that tap water was acidic, but I have known that distilled water is
>normally acidic (also pH 5.5).
> Perhaps this is just one of those questions that is impossible to
>resolve, as no two reeds are the sameand rule out a comparison test. (Enough
>about sheep, we need to learn how to clone REEDS!)
> Um... what was that vodka method again.....?
>
>-Scott
>
>

Scott D. Morrow
Department of Biochemistry
School of Hygiene and Public Health
Johns Hopkins University
(410) 955-3631

SDM@-----.edu

   
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