MODULE 2 THE

ACIDIC
ENVIRONMENT
HSC COURSE NOTES

1. Indicators were identified with the observation that the colour

of some flowers depends on soil composition
Classify common substances as acidic, basic, or neutral:
ACIDS
Sour tasting
Turn blue litmus red
(Brrrrr, thats sour!!)
Are electrolytes
conductors of
electricity
React with metals to
produce hydrogen
Metal + acid -> salt +
hydrogen

BASES
Bitter tasting
Turn red litmus blue
Are also electrolytes
and can conduct
electricity
React with acids to
form salt and water
i.e. neutralisation
reaction
Have a pH greater
than 7

NEUTRAL
SUBSTANCES
Have a pH of 7
Not acidic, nor
basic
Usually occur as
a result of a
neutralisation
reaction
Can also occur
naturally
Does not change
the colour of
litmus

Acids have a pH
lower than 7
Examples include:

Examples include:

Examples include:

- Hydrochloric acid (HCl)

- Acetic (ethanoic) acid
(CH3COOH)
- Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin
C)

Sodium Hydroxide
(NaOH)
Ammonia (NH3)

Table salt (NaCl)

- Water (H2O)

Identify that indicators such as litmus, phenolphthalein, methyl

orange and bromothymol blue can be used to determine the acidic
or basic nature of a material over a range, and that the range is
identified by change in indicator colour
Identify data and choose resources to gather information about
the colour changes of a range of indicators
-

Indicators are substances that change colour in the presence of

acids/bases.
Litmus is the most commonly used indicator, with a pH range of 5.0 8.0. It
changes colour from blue to red in the presence of an acid, and changes
from red to blue in the presence of a base.

There are a variety of indicators which change colour over different acidity
ranges, making different indicators useful for different situations.
- Some indicators may only change colours in a basic pH range, others in an
acidic pH range.
- As a result, we must choose indicators that will best suit the substance we
are testing, i.e., if we believe the substance we are testing is highly acidic,
we should select an indicator that changes colour in the lower part of the
pH scale, for e.g. methyl orange (3.1 4.4).
- If possible, the table below should be memorized, as at times
some questions may appear in the exam asking for the pH range
of a specific indicator, or vice versa.
- An efficient indicator is one which enables you to easily differentiate
between an acid and a base.