ANT 3520 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Adipocere, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Carbonate
6 Jul 2016
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Document Summary
Research done on the effects of varying ph levels on bovine tissue decomposition: tested ph levels were 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14; (1&4 classified as acidic; 7 is neutral; 10&14 is basic: effects of ph environments on bone is most commonly observed in remains partially digested by animals. Bones can degrade in days in animals with a stomach ph of 2 or 3. Average ph of water bodies in the us is 6-8. Variation in ph is very high; 4. 3 in squash lake vs 10 in the great salt. Use of hno3 and naoh (h2so4 better represents aquatic environments but hno3 chosen for convenience) Dilutions done to the hno3 to get a ph of 1 and 3; basic solutions used dilutons of naoh. Tap water used for ph 7: specimens placed in glass beakers and solutions were added until bones completely submerged. Two samples placed in each acid/base solution and 5 samples placed in ph7.
