MODULE 2

ACIDS, BASES AND

WORKSHEET

1
INDICATORS
Syllabus reference 9.3.1

1 For each item in column A, write the letter of the best matching item in column B.
Column A Column B
i
1 A substance which in aqueous solution produces
hydrogen (H) ions. a litmus
d 2 Water-soluble base. b blue
g 3 Property of an acid. c vitamin C
j 4 Property of a base. d alkali
a 5 Common indicator. e hydrangea
f 6 Neither acid nor base. f neutral
h
7 Substance that changes colour in solution g sour taste
depending on the acidity or basicity of the
solution.
b 8 Colour of litmus in alkaline solution. h indicator
e 9 Flower that is a good indicator of soil acidity i acid
or alkalinity.
c 10 Another name for ascorbic acid. j soapy feel

Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Australia CONQUERINGCHEMISTRY HSC MODULE 2 WS 1

2 Complete the following table.

PROPERTY ACIDS BASES

Ions produced in aqueous

H OH
solution

Taste bitter
sour

Feel
sting/burn slippery

Electrical conductivity
good good

Colour given to litmus

red blue

Common example
hydrochloric acid sodium hydroxide

Common use
vinegar cleaning products

3 An indicator is a substance that takes on different colours as the acidity and basicity of a solution
changes. Different indicators change colour over different acidity–basicity ranges as shown in the
table below.

Common indicators and their acidity/alkalinity ranges

COLOUR CHANGE

HIGHLY SLIGHTLY SLIGHTLY HIGHLY

INDICATOR ACIDIC ACIDIC NEUTRAL ALKALINE ALKALINE
methyl orange red yellow yellow yellow yellow

bromothymol blue yellow yellow blue blue

litmus red red purple blue blue

phenolphthalein colourless colourless colourless colourless red

Answer the following questions using the table as a guide.

a Solution A is red in methyl orange, while solution B is red in phenolphthalein. Which is the
more acidic?
Solution A

b Four different solutions were tested with different indicators. Which of the solutions could be
neutral?
i Colourless in phenolphthalein
ii Red in litmus
iii Yellow in methyl orange
iv Blue in bromothymol blue
(i) (iii)

Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Australia CONQUERINGCHEMISTRY HSC MODULE 2 WS 1

 c What is the acidity/alkalinity of the following solutions?
i White vinegar turns methyl orange red and bromothymol blue yellow.
Highly acidic

ii A baking soda solution results in phenolphthalein staying colourless and turns litmus blue.
Slightly alkaline

4 Pickup pink and Bendon orange are chemical indicators. Pickup pink turns blue if P is present and
Bendon orange turns green if Q is present. Pickup pink and Bendon orange were added to separate
samples of four colourless solutions A, B, C and D and observations were recorded in the table below.

COLOUR AFTER ADDING COLOUR AFTER ADDING

SOLUTION USED PICKUP PINK BENDON ORANGE

A Pink Orange

B Blue Orange

C Blue Green

D Pink Green

Which solution(s) contain both P and Q?

C

5 The table below shows the colour changes of two indicators in the presence of two chemicals M
and N.

INDICATOR CHEMICAL COLOUR CHANGE

methyl orange M yellow
methyl orange M and N yellow
litmus M red
litmus M and N blue

These indicators were added in turn to separate solutions A, B and C and the results are given
below.
• For solution A there was no change to the colour of either indicator.
• When added to solution B the methyl orange turned yellow and the litmus turned blue.
• When added to solution C the methyl orange turned yellow and the litmus turned red.
For each of the three solutions determine whether the solutions contained chemicals M, N, both or
neither. Give a reason for your decision.
Solution A — neither — because there was no change

Solution B — contains M & N because methyl orange goes yellow and litmus goes blue

Solution C — contains M because methyl orange goes yellow and litmus goes red

Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Australia CONQUERINGCHEMISTRY HSC MODULE 2 WS 1

6 What colour would you expect to see in a piece of litmus paper to which the following have been
added?
a 1 drop of Ca(OH)2(aq)
Blue because Ca(OH)2 is base

b 1 drop of HF(aq)
Red because HF is acidic

c 1 drop of NaNO3(aq)
No change because NaNO3 is neutral

7 Indicators have everyday uses. Complete the following table to provide reasons for the need to use
and suggest an appropriate indicator.

EVERYDAY USE REASON FOR USE

Some plants need acidic soil, while others need
Testing the acidity/basicity of soil an alkaline or near neutral soil.
Indicator — litmus or bromothymol blue

Swimming pools need to be approximately

Testing home swimming pools
neutral. Indicator — litmus, universal indicator

Monitoring alkaline wastes Photographic solutions are often highly alkaline but
from laboratories that process discharges into the sewage system must be nearly
photographic film neutral. Indicator — litmus or bromothymol blue

Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Australia CONQUERINGCHEMISTRY HSC MODULE 2 WS 1