The pH Table

Concept

Acids usually have a sour taste and they can produce a prickling or burning sensation when in contact with the skin. Examples of weak acids are lemon juice or vinegar. Examples of strong acids are hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid. You can dissolve any metal in acid because acids react with metal - try seeing what happens to a nail when you put it in cola, a weak acid? Acids are also found in the stomach where they help digest food. Bases have a bitter taste and a soapy feeling. Examples of a strong base is sodium hydroxide and a weak base is sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). All acids and bases can be neutralized (have their effect lessened) with water. The pH Scale Scientists use a number scale called the pH scale to tell if a solution is an acid or a base. The pH scale is a number scale from 1-14.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Strong acids

Weak acids

Neutral Weak bases

Strong bases

! If a solution has a pH of less than 7, it is an acid. ! If a solution has a pH of more than 7, it is a base. ! Water is neither an acid or base and has a pH of 7 or neutral. A special type of paper called litmus paper is used to determine the pH of a solution. This is called a pH indicator and there are many other types. To test a solution, the litmus paper is dipped into the solution and the resulting colour is matched on a litmus paper pH scale. Acidic ___________________________________________________________ Basic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Red orange yellow light yellow/blue light blue dark blue Neutral Students can use litmus paper to test a range of solutions to determine if they are acidic or basic and their pH number

Primary Science Teaching Resource MONASH SCIENCE CENTRE 2006 Page 1 of 2

Chemistry - Level 3 and 4

Liquids that you find in everyday life are either acids or bases, except for water which is neutral.

The pH Table
Materials and Equipment

Procedure
! Test the following liquids and determine whether they are acidic or basic. Also, fill in the pH value in the table provided. ! Use the litmus paper to help you decide if it is acidic or basic, and use the indicator paper to determine its pH value.

Primary Science Teaching Resource MONASH SCIENCE CENTRE 2006 Page 2 of 2

Explanation
Using the litmus paper, students should be able to identify acids and bases based on their pH value.

Chemistry - Level 3 and 4

! Litmus or pH paper - can be purchased from school science suppliers ! Various liquids that the students can bring in to test.