Rainbow NEUTRALISATION

CARBONATE HIGHER PURPLE RED

DISSOLVE UNIVERSAL HYDROCHLORIC 12
INDICATOR ACID
HYDROCHLORIC STRONG LOWER 7
NEUTRAL

Sodium carbonate is quite a strong alkali and starts to

dissolve at the bottom of the
tube. Universal indicator is
added to show the pH of the
solution and turns purple in
the liquid which indicates
that the solution has a pH of
?
about 12. Drops of
Hydrochloric Acid are added
to the top of the tube which turns the indicator red,
showing that the acid is a strong acid. The acid reacts with
the carbonate by this equation:

Sodium Hydrochloric Sodium Carbon + Water

+ +
..
carbonate_ acid Chloride Dioxide

This is known as a Neutralisation reaction because if equal

amount of acid and alkali is added together a neutral
solution pH 7 is produced. As you go down the tube there
is more Sodium Carbonate dissolved in the water to the pH
goes higher. Whereas when you go up the tube is a greater
concentration of acid and do the pH goes lower.