Experiment No.

ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS

Introduction

Acids, bases and salts are part of the things we deal with
every day. Acidity is a characteristic property of acids. Acids
are generally very acidic. Apart from hydrochloric acid, there are
many other types of acids around us. Citrus fruits such as lemons
and oranges contain citric and ascorbic acid while tamarind paste
contains tartaric acid. Actually, the words 'acid' and 'acidity'
are derived from the Latin word 'acidus' which means sour, while
bases like ammonia are found in many types of detergents. Sodium
chloride or common salt is a product of the reaction between the
hydrochloric acid (acid) and sodium hydroxide (base). A common
method used to determine an acid or a base is litmus paper, but
there are other characteristics that can help you identify acids,
bases, and salts.

Materials

• TO BE PROVIDED BY THE STUDENTS

Distilled Water 5 mL Fruit Juice 5 mL Vinegar

• PROVIDED BY THE LABORATORY
o Glass wares/ Apparatus

10 test tubes 1 test tube holder 1 beaker

1 tripod 1 test tube rack 1 test tube brush

1 Bunsen burner 1 pipette 1 wire gauze

1 aspirator 1 dropper 1 evaporating dish

 1 thermometer 2 watch glasses

o Reagents

ZnSO4 CuSO4 Sodium acetate

0.1 M HCl 0.1 M acetic acid 0.5 M HCl

Dilute KOH Dilute milk of magnesia Phenolphthalein indicator

 NaCl CaCl2 NaHSO4

0.1 M NaOH 0.1 M NH4OH 0.5 M NaOH

Dilute H2SO4 Red and blue litmus paper Na2CO3

Procedure
Acids and Bases

A. Properties of Acid
1.Take 1 mL each of the dilute acids; HCl, H2SO4, acetic acid,
vinegar and fruit juice, and test for the following: (Note: Use
fresh solutions of acids in each procedure)
1. Place red and blue litmus paper in each test tube. Note any
color change.
2. Put 1 to 2 drops of phenolphthalein in each test tube. Note any
color change.
3. Add a pinch of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) in each test tube.
Observe any changes.
B. Properties of Bases
1.Take 1 mL each of the dilute bases; NaOH, KOH, NH4OH and milk of
magnesia, and test for the following: (Note: Use fresh solutions
of acids in each procedure)
1. Place red and blue litmus paper in each test tube. Note any
color change.
2. Put 1 to 2 drops of phenolphthalein in each test tube. Note any
color change.
3. Add a pinch of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) in each test tube.
Observe any changes.
C. Temperature Changes During Neutralization
1.Obtain two test tubes and label one with ‘acid’ and the other
‘base’. Place approximately 5 mL of 0.5M HCl in one test tube
labeled ‘acid’ and a similar amount of 0.5 M NaOH in the other
(base).
2.Measure the temperature of the solutions of HCl and NaOH.
3.Let the thermometer stand in the test tube with the base (note
the temperature). Then add the acid. Observe the change in
temperature of the mixed solutions.
D. Determination of pH
1.Obtain two test tubes and label one with ‘acid’ and the other
‘base’. Place approximately 5 mL of 0.1 M HCl in one test tube
labeled ‘acid’ and a similar amount of
0.1 M NaOH in the other (base).
2.Measure the pH by dipping a pH paper to the solution. Record the
pH.
3.Compute the pH theoretically using the following formula (Does
the experimental value
of pH is similar/close to the value of the computed pH?):
For HCl: For NaOH:
pH = -log (CHCl) pH = 14 + log (CNaOH)
Where C = Concentration
4.Obtain two test tubes and label one with ‘acid’ and the other
‘base’. Place approximately 5 mL of 0.1 M acetic in one test tube
labeled ‘acid’ and a similar amount of 0.1 M NH4OH in the other
(base).
5.Measure the pH by dipping a pH paper to the solution. Record the
pH.
6.Compare the pH of acetic acid with HCl, and NH4OH with NaOH.
E. Titration
1.Fill a test tube with 5 mL 0.5 M HCl, add 1 drop of
phenolphthalein. Using a dropper, add 0.5 M NaOH until it reaches
a point which one drop will change the color of the solution to
pink. Note the amount of volume of the base (NaOH) that was used
to change the color of the solution. (Note: Do not let the solution
turn deep pink. Otherwise, this procedure should be repeated.)
2.Measure the pH with a pH paper.
3.Place a small amount of your neutral solution (from procedure C,
no. 4) in an evaporating dish and heat. Let all the solvents
evaporate. Describe the residue.
Salts
F. Reaction with indicators
1.In 3 separate test tubes, add a pinch of NaCl, sodium acetate
and NaSO4 respectively. Add 1 mL of distilled water to each test
tube and test for the following: (Note: Use fresh solutions of
acids in each procedure)
1. Place red and blue litmus paper in each test tube. Note any
color change.
2. Put 1 to 2 drops of phenolphthalein in each test tube. Note any
color change.
3. Add a pinch of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) in each test tube.
Observe any changes.
G. Deliquescence
1.Place approximately 1 g of CaCl2 in a watch glass and expose
this to the air for some time. Note down your observation. (Note:
you could do this simultaneously with procedure F to conserve
time.)
H. Efflorescence
1.Place approximately 1 g of ZnSO4 in a watch glass and expose
this to the air for some time. Note down your observation.
I. Water of Crystallization
1.Place approximately 1 g of CuSO4 in a test tube. Gently heat it
until it changes its color.
2.Cool it down. Then add 2 to 3 drops of distilled water to the
CuSO4. Observe what happens.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
A. All wastes generated in this experiment should be placed in
Inorganic waste container