Test pH Levels of Water

Objectives:
pH is a measure of concentration of hydrogen
ions in a solution which indicates the acidity of a
substance (water, for example). The pH scale
ranges from 1 to 14, or from acidic to basic
(alkaline).
Increasing acidity

Decreasing acidity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Acid

Base/Alkali

Pure water

pH can be measured by using a special kind of

paper called litmus paper, which changes its
colour to different shades, depending on the pH
reading.
Your task is to estimate the pH of water
collected from various sources and to determine
whether the water is more acidic or basic.

You will need:

1. Water from different sources
2. Litmus paper strips (one or more for each
sample)
3. Glass beakers (250 ml)
4. Marker to write labels
5. Notebook to record your data

Instructions:
1. Take samples of water from various
water sources in your area (eg. river,
lake, sea, bottled water, tap water,
etc.) in separate containers.
2. Put equal amounts of each sample in
different beakers and label them with
your marker.
3. Dip a strip of litmus paper in one of
the samples and repeat the step for
all the other samples you have
collected using different strips.
4. Be careful not to touch the wet bit of
the strips because the oil or dirt on
your skin might alter the pH of the
water.
5. Use the pH scale in this sheet to help
you determine the colour of your
strips.
6. Record your data in your notebook in
a neat table, and compare your values
with your friends or verify with your
teacher.