EXPERIMENT-2C

AIM
To study the pH of different soil samples.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
Three soil samples, test tubes, test tube stand, funnel, filter paper, broad and narrow range pH paper indicator and
distilled water.

PRINCIPLE
A scale for measuring hydrogen ion concentration in a solution is called pH scale. On the pH scale we can measure
pH from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline). pH is a number which indicates the acidic or basic nature of a solution.
The pH of a neutral solution is 7.
.The solution having pH value less than 7 is called acidic solution.
The solution having pH value more than 7 is called basic solution.
The soil pH determines the type of vegetation found at a place. Some common plants and the optimal pH required
for their growth are given in the following table:
 CORE EXPERIMENTS

Optimal pH range
4.5 6.0 Plant
Potato, cactus, coffee, ferns
5.0 7.0
Sunflower, peanut
5.5 6 . 0
Apple, Lantana, Calotropis
5.5-6.5
Euphorbia, basil, watermelon
5.5 7 . 0
Carrot, turnip, lentil, grapes,
5.5 7.5
strawberry, pansy, rose
Tomato, corn, pumpkin, cauliflower,
marigold, calendula, portulaca
6.0 7.0
Beans, onion, radish,
Crysanthemum, tulip, palm
6.0 7.5
Cabbage, spinach, pea, mustard, dahlia, petunia, poppy, carnation, salvia
6.5 8.0
Beetroot, ginger, oxalis, Asparagus
7.0 8.0 Mint

PROCEDURE
1. Collect soil samples A, B and C
from three different sites and record the name of
2. Take a pinch of soil plants growing there.
sample-A in a test tube and add 5mL of distilled water to make a soil solution.
3. Shake the solution
vigorously and filter it through a filter paper.
4. Collect the filtrate in another test tube and label it as soil
solution-A.
5. Take
broad range pH paper indicator and dip it in the soil solution-A. The colour of the
a
pH paper changes.
Match the colour with the colour scale given on the broad range pH paper booklet. This will give you an
approximate value of pH of the soil solution-A.
6. For determining the accurate pH of the soil solution, take a narrow range pH paper of the value indicated
by the broad range pH paper in step-5 (e.g, if the approximate pH value determined through step-5 is 8.0.
use a
narrow range pH paper indicator of the scale varying between 7.5 and 8.5). Dip the narrow range pH
paper in soil solution-A. Note the colour change and match it with the colour scale given on the narrow range
pH paper booklet. This will give you an accurate value of pH of the soil solution.
7. Repeat the process for soil sample-B and soil sample-C.

OBSERVATIONSB
Record your observations in the following table:

S. No. pH value as determined Soil samples Name of plants growing

by B C
there

1. Broad range pH paper

2. Narrow range pH paper

16 BIOLOGY ACTIVITIES-XII
RESULT
The pH of the soil sample-A is hence, this is in nature.
Some plants which grow in this type of soil are:
The pH of the soil sample-B is hence, this is in nature.
Some plants which grow in this type of soil are:
The pH of the soil sample-C is hence, this is in nature.
Some plants which grow in this type of soil are:

PRECAUTIONS
1. All glassware should be clean.
2. Handle the pH paper strips with clean hand.