The Acid Test Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tina Turner

As well as playing the part of the Acid Queen in 'Tommy', Tina Turner had a huge hit with this song, which featured on her second solo album, also entitled 'Acid Queen', released in 1975. The track was later released as a single in 1976.

Answer: sulphuric acid

H2SO4 is the chemical formula for sulphuric/sulfuric acid. One of its major uses is in the production of lead-acid car batteries. Benzoic acid, which has food preservative and medicinal uses, has the chemical formula C7H6O2 (or C6H5COOH). Telluric acid has the formula Te(OH)6 and boric acid is H3BO3 (also B(OH)3).

Answer: indigestion

Antacids work by neutralising the acid in the stomach. They are one of the biggest-selling types of OTC (over the counter) medication available. There are many brands of antacid on the market including Gaviscon, Alka-Seltzer and Rennies to name but a few.

The active ingredients in Alka Seltzer are aspirin, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. Together they address the issues of pain relief and neutralising the acid in the stomach.

Answer: acid rain

Acid rain can occur naturally due to volcanic activity or lightning, and also through the effects of industry, motorised vehicles and coal-fired power stations etc. It is a serious environmental problem and can have far-reaching consequences for the planet, including issues concerning human health and the health of plants and aquatic creatures too. Limestone and marble can also be adversely affected, which has major implications for the future of historical buildings, monuments and gravestones. There are international treaties in force which strive to reduce the emissions which cause acid rain.

Answer: acid drop

Tartaric acid is the ingredient that gives the acid drop its sour 'acid' flavour. They have been around for many years and are one of the most popular 'retro' sweets today, now normally only available at specialist outlets dealing in 'sweets of yesteryear'. On a completely different subject, 'acid drop' is also a term used in skateboarding.

Answer: Latin

'Acid' comes from the Latin word acidus, which means sour. The sour taste of vinegar derives from the acetic acid it contains.

Answer: LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD-25, is a hallucinogenic drug which was first used as a psychiatric drug in the late 1940s. It gained public awareness during the counterculture of the 1960s. Its use is prohibited; in Britain it is a Class A drug, thus unlicensed possession is severely punishable by law.

Answer: True

Gout is an extremely painful inflammation of a joint, the most commonly affected area being the joint of the big toe. It used to be called 'rich man's disease' due to the high levels of uric acid in the blood being attributable to the consumption of alcohol and rich foodstuffs; however, this is by no means so in every case.

Answer: rhododendron

Rhododendrons, with their huge variety of stunning flowers, are one of the most popular shrubs, and flourish in most temperate climates. They belong to the family Ericaceae, which includes azaleas and heathers, and thus are known as 'ericaceous' plants, all of which are lime-haters.

They thrive best in light, dappled shade. Because they hate the alkalinity of lime, rhododendrons do best when grown in an acidic soil with a pH level of between 4.5 and 5.5. A pH level of 7 is considered neutral; this is the pH level of distilled water (although this can vary slightly due to fluctuations in temperature). Levels of pH range from 0-14, with a level of less than 7 being acidic and more than 7 alkaline.

The juice of citrus fruits is acidic, with lemon juice being the most highly acidic with a pH level of 2.

Not as strong though as the gastric acid found in the human stomach, which has a pH level of 1! Bleach and soapy water, on the other hand, are strongly alkaline.

Answer: the California Gold Rush

The phrase had been known previously in a limited capacity in relation to a product called Gibson's Soap Polish, but it was the California Gold Rush which propelled it to prominence. During the Gold Rush (1848-55) it was obviously necessary to ensure that what was being prospected was in fact real gold rather than a mere base metal.

As gold reacts with certain acids differently from other metals it was tested with acid to confirm its authenticity.