Chemistry & ProductsQuestion 90 of 100
Which statement about pH is correct for nail and skin care?
a.Pure water is strongly acidic at pH 7, and the natural nail plate is alkaline.
b.Pure water is neutral at pH 7, while the skin and the natural nail plate are slightly acidic; strongly alkaline products swell and soften keratin.
c.The higher the pH climbs, the harder and tighter the keratin of the nail becomes.
d.pH has no effect on the nail plate at all, because the plate is made of dead keratin.
Explanation
On the pH scale, 7 is neutral — that is pure water — and the skin and nail plate normally sit slightly below 7, on the acidic side. Products that are strongly alkaline raise the pH, causing keratin to absorb water, swell and soften, which is why harsh alkaline products can leave the plate weak or over-softened. Water is not acidic, a high pH softens rather than hardens keratin, and even dead keratin still reacts chemically to pH.
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