Experiment in Chemistry 2

DETERMINATION OF ACIDS AND BASES AND THEIR RELATIVE STRENGTHS

Acids and bases are two of the most common types of compounds that find important uses not only in
the industries but also in the household. It is thus important for one to know how to classify these substances
to be able to handle and to use them safely. There are numerous ways to determine acids and bases as well as
to compare their relative strengths; that is, how easily and to what extent an acid dissociates or ionizes to
produce hydrogen ion (H+) or hydronium ion (H3O+) or how easily and to what extent a base dissociates or
ionizes to produce hydroxide ions (OH -). These methods, which include the use of acid-base indicators, litmus
paper, pH papers, pH sticks and pH meters, are the focus of this experiment.
Materials:
Violet or purple colored plants (violet eggplant peel, purple camote peel, red cabbage, baston ni San Jose
leaves, violet mayana leaves, etc.), alum or tawas powder, stirring rod, alcohol lamp, microwell plates,
droppers, watch glass, stirring rod, a small beaker, litmus paper (blue and red), pH sticks, pH paper,
phenolphthalein indicator solution, methyl orange indicator solution, bromothymol blue indicator solution
and the test solutions/substances listed on Data Tables 1 and 2.
Procedures:
A. Preparation of a natural acid-base indicator (Class Experiment – 3 volunteers)
1. Peel one regular-sized eggplant as thinly as possible and collect the peelings. Cut the eggplant peelings
(or other alternatives as suggested in the “Materials” list) into small pieces and immerse these in water
just enough to cover the sample (about 50-100 mL) in a 250-mL beaker.
2. Cover the beaker with aluminum foil then boil the plant sample for 5 minutes. Let the set-up cool a
little then decant it pouring the decantate into a 100-mL beaker.
3. Add a pinch (about 1 small spatula) of alum (tawas) powder into the decantate to make it stable. You
may observe a change in color in the indicator – this is its final and stable color. This is now your
natural acid-base indicator.
B. Tests for Acidity or Alkalinity (Basicity)
Test 1: Test Using Digital pH Meter (Class Experiment – collected data will be a class data)
1. Pour 25-30 mL of each test sample solution into 50-mL beakers.
2. Wash/Clean the electrode of a well calibrated digital pH meter with distilled water then immerse it into
each test solution, one at a time. The electrode should be at least 1 cm below the level of the test
solution. Wait for the reading to stabilize and note this on Data Tables 1 and 2.
3. Wash the electrode with distilled water and wipe it dry before using it in another solution.
4. Note the pH readings of all the test solutions in Data Tables 1 and 2.
Test 2: Test Using pH Sticks (Class Experiment – collected data will be a class data)
1. Obtain enough pH sticks from your instructor and dip one pH stick into each test solution/sample.
2. Compare the resulting color of the pH stick with the pH color scale and report the corresponding pH of
all the solutions in Data Tables 1 and 2.
Test 3: Litmus Paper Test (Group Experiment)
1. Cut enough small pieces (about 5 mm long) of red and blue litmus paper and place it on a watch glass.
Make sure that the pieces do not overlap or touch each other.
2. Dip a stirring rod into each solution/test sample contained in test tubes and touch the tip of the rod
onto one piece of red litmus paper and one piece of blue litmus paper. Perform this procedure for one
sample at a time washing the stirring rod with water, preferably distilled H 2O, before using it with
another sample.
3. Note the color change as red to blue, blue to red or no color change (with both red and blue litmus
papers) on Data Tables 1 and 2.
Test 4: Test with acid-base indicators: Phenolphthalein, Methyl Orange, Bromothymol Blue and Natural
plant indicator solutions (Group Experiment)
1. Using one dropper per solution, place one (1) drop of each test solution in Data Tables 1 and 3 in
separate wells of a microwell plate. Remember to use one dropper per test solution to avoid chemical
contamination. Prepare one row of the different test solutions for each indicator
2. Note the resulting color of each test sample with the indicator on Data Tables 1 and 2.

C. Clean-up
Wash glass wares and clean the work area. Dispose of the test samples used in their proper waste bins.
 Experiment in Chemistry 3
DETERMINATION OF ACIDS AND BASES AND THEIR RELATIVE STRENGTHS
DATA AND RESULTS
Group No. : _____ Date of Experiment: ____________
Section: _____________ Date of Submission of
Leader: ___________________________________ Laboratory Report: ____________
Secretary: ___________________________________
Members: ___________________________________ Score for Lab Report:
___________________________________
___________________________________

Data Table 1. Test for the Acidity or Basicity of Common Household Substances
pH Color Change with Acid-Base Indicator
With With
Using a With
Substance litmus paper With With natural
digital pH Using pH Bromo-
(RedBlue, or Phenolph- Methyl plant
meter sticks thymol
BlueRed thalein orange indicator
reading blue
or no change (specify)
Milk sol’n
Citrus Juice
White Vinegar
Soda Drink
Table Salt Solution
Baking Soda Sol’n
Shampoo Sol’n
Detergent Sol’n
Antacid Sol’n
Lime (CaO)
Data Table 2. Test for the Acidity or Basicity of Some Laboratory Chemicals
pH Color Change with Acid-Base Indicator
Substance Chemical
Using a With With
Name With
digital Using litmus paper With With natural
0.1 M (IUPAC or Bromo-
pH pH (RedBlue, Phenolph- Methyl plant
solutions Common thymol
meter sticks or BlueRed thalein orange indicator
Name) blue
reading or no change (specify)
H2SO4
HCl
CH3COOH
H3PO4
H3C6H5O7 Citric Acid
NaOH
CH3NH2
NH3
Ca(OH)2
Mg(OH)2
H2 O
- End of Data and Results -
POST LABORATORY ACTIVITY:
Using a separate sheet (Group Work)
Write a FORMAL laboratory report containing the following and attach this to the data and results sheet:
I. Abstract
A brief description of the experiment and a summary of the general findings
II. Introduction
A brief description of the experiment and a summary of the objectives of the experiment
III. Materials and Methods
A brief summary only of the procedures (NOT exactly the detailed procedures given) done in the
experiment.
IV. Results and Discussion
Should contain the following
A. A pH scale of range 0 (or even -1) to 14 (or even 15) (similar to Figure 17.3, page 588 of General
Chemistry, 7th ed. by Petrucci & Harwood) showing the pH values of the different substances in Data
Tables 1 and 2 (taken as one) on the basis of the pH values you have obtained in the experiment.
B. A table summarizing the theoretical pH values/ranges and the corresponding color of such pH values
(from references like textbooks and/or journals) for all the acid-base tests/indicators done/used in this
experiment (whichever data is available). Label the pH ranges corresponding to acids, bases and neutral
compounds.
C. A table similar to the one in “B” presenting experimental data rather than theoretical data.
D. Using the results in Data Table 2, generalize about and explain the factor/s that affect/s the relative:
 acid strength of HCl versus H2SO4
 acid strength of HCl vs CH3COOH and C6H5COOH
 base strength of NH3 versus metal hydroxides, in general
 base strength of NaOH vs Mg(OH)2 and Ca(OH)2
E. A discussion (in paragraph form and/or tables, if necessary) of the results of the experiment focusing on
your views and findings about the following:
 A comparison of the accuracy and precision of the results generated from the different methods of
determining the acidity or alkalinity of substances.
 Advantages and limitations of the methods you’ve experienced using.
 Factors that may have affected the accuracy and precision of results.
 The importance of knowing these tests for acidity and alkalinity.
 Other methods of determining acids and bases not included in this experiment.
V. Conclusions/Generalizations
Generalize about the
 possible factors that affect acid/base strengths
 best/most reliable strategy/ies to determine the pH or acidity/alkalinity of substances
VI. References
At least 3 valid/reputable references
Addendum:
A completed self and peer evaluation form (one per member of the group). Please be very objective. You
may provide a list of the specific contribution of each member in the completion of the experiment itself
and the laboratory report.
Deadline for the submission of Data and Results and the Laboratory Report: Friday, February 14, 2020