Final answer:
As pH deviates from its optimal range, it can cause cells to malfunction and proteins to denature, leading to severe health issues or death. The body must maintain a narrow pH range for proper function, and extreme pH levels are usually inhospitable to life.
Step-by-step explanation:
As pH moves away from its optimal range, cells and proteins within the human body can start to malfunction, leading to potential health risks. The pH scale, which ranges from 0 to 14, determines how acidic or alkaline a substance is. A pH lower than 7 is acidic, while a pH higher than 7 is alkaline. Optimal pH for most human cells is narrowly confined to a range between 7.2 and 7.6. When bodily fluids become too acidic or alkaline, it can disrupt cell function and affect the respiratory system, among other organs.
At extreme pH levels, proteins can denature, meaning they lose their structure and function. In the stomach, an exceptionally acidic environment with pH 1 to 2, stomach cells are unable to maintain a neutral pH internally and are constantly replaced due to damage by stomach acid. This showcases how critical buffering systems are to maintain pH balance within the human body. Overall, deviance from an organism's optimal pH range can result in severe consequences, including coma or death.