Acids and Bases

Nazar, Muniel Yuri D.L.

<Senior High School Department>, St. Paul University at San Miguel
Salangan, 3011 San Miguel, Bulacan
munielyuri@gmail.com
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Abstract
Learning about and investigating acid and base solutions is important to humans because the
foods, drinks, and other things we use contain a variety of substances, each of which can be
either an acid or a base solution. Examining Sulfuric Acid, Acetic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, and
Phenolphthalein have used litmus paper, pH paper, Methyl Orange, and Phenolphthalein.
Moreover, the findings demonstrated that Acetic Acid and Sulfuric Acid are both classified as
acids. Sodium Hydroxide and Ammonium Hydroxide are two of the base substances.
Conclusively, acetic acid (strong base) and ammonium hydroxide (weak base) both have
relatively low pH values, whereas sulfuric acid (strong acid) and sodium hydroxide (weak acid)
both have relatively high pH values.
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1. Introduction 1.1 Acids and Bases

In our life, we have different solutions
that we use, hence, mostly of it either be
acidic or basic solutions. Because of this, it
is significant to humans knowing and
exploring difference between acids and
bases as every food and drinks that human
take have different pH levels that needs to
be balanced to keep our bodies healthy.
Moreover, in determining a substance
whether it is an acid or base, there is the pH
scale which makes easy to measure the wide
range scale of acidic or basic substance. In
this lab report, to determine a substance such
as Sodium hydroxide and Ammonium
hydroxide if it is an acid or base, red and
blue litmus paper, pH paper, methyl orange
and phenolphthalein are used as universal
indicators.
The chemical substance which usually in
a liquid form that contains hydrogen is
called acid, in which, it is used to form salts
as it has the capability to react with other
substances [1]. Additionally, it can
neutralize alkalis, act as a proton donor to
produce hydronium ions in water solutions
or accept electron pairs from bases or
electron pair donors. [2]. In contrast, base
substances have a slippery texture in water
solution. Also, it tastes bitter, alters indicator
colors, forms salts from acid reactions, and
stimulates specific chemical reactions (base
catalysis) [3].
1.2 Red and Blue Litmus Paper
Red and blue litmus paper are the two
different types of litmus paper. The blue
litmus paper turns red, indicating that the
substance is acidic. However, the red litmus
paper turns blue when the substance is basic
or alkaline. Litmus turns red in acidic
solutions while turning blue in basic ones
[4].
1.3 pH Scale
The pH scale (potential hydrogen scale)
determines how acidic or basic water is. The
range is 0 to 14, with 7 representing
neutrality. Acidity is indicated by pH values
below 7, whereas baseness is indicated by
pH values above 7 [5]. Through this, pH is a
measurement of the proportion of free
hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in water.
1.4 Universal Indicator
With the help of litmus, researchers can
determine whether a substance is acidic or
basic. It does not, however, indicate how
strong or weak the substance's acidity or
basicity is.
The universal indicator is a pH indicator
that exhibits multiple color changes over a
broad pH range. The universal indicator
indicates the acidity or alkalinity of
solutions, much like litmus paper and
individual pH indicators. However, while
universal indicator works for acids, neutral
solutions, and bases and turns a whole
rainbow of colors, individual dyes typically
change color over a limited pH range [6].
1.5 Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this experiment are to:
(1) determine the acidity or baseness of
sulfuric acid, acetic acid, sodium hydroxide,
and ammonium hydroxide; and (2)
determine the pH level (strong or weak) of
each substance.
2. Methodology
2.1 Materials Used
The materials used in this lab work are
red and blue litmus paper, Universal
Indicator and pH paper, Methyl Orange,
Phenolphthalein, Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4),
Acetic Acid (CH3COOH), Sodium
Hydroxide (NaOH), Ammonium Hydroxide
(NH4OH) test tubes, pipettes, aspirators,
masking tape, and markers for labeling.
2.2 Procedure
Using a pipette and aspirator, the
Sulfuric Acid, Acetic Acid, Sodium
Hydroxide, and Ammonium Hydroxide are
labeled from A to D respectively, then
poured into the different test tubes.
The upper and lower test tubes are then
filled with the red and blue litmus paper,
respectively. In this experiment, we used
two red and two blue litmus papers, dipping
one end of each paper in each tube. Both the
red and blue pieces of litmus paper began to
change color after a few minutes.
Additionally, we dipped the pH paper in
the upper test tubes to check the pH levels,
and their colors also changed.
Figure 1. pH-tested papers dipped in test
tubes with red and blue Litmus Papers
 to gradually transform into a light blue
Methyl orange is added with a dropper to color. Test tube B, however, remained red.
the upper test tubes, and phenolphthalein is Upon dipping the blue litmus paper into test
added to the lower test tubes. tubes, A, B, C, and D, however, a light red
Correspondingly, the lower test tubes of color emerged.
C and D changed color together with the In addition, using methyl orange in the
upper test tubes of A, B, C, and D after upper test tubes revealed that A and B
dipping both methyl orange and gradually turned red, while C and D turned
phenolphthalein. yellow. However, after dipping the
Test Red Blue Methyl Phenol- pH
Tubes Litmus Litmus Orange phthalein level
A (Sulfuric Blue Red Red Colorless 0
Acid)
strong
acid
B (Acetic Red Red Red Colorless 2
Acid)
strong
base
C (Sodium Blue Red Yellow Dark 13
Hydroxide)
Pink weak
acid
D Blue Blue Yellow Light 8
(Ammonium
Hydroxide) Pink weak
base
Phenolphthalein on the bottom of test tubes
A and B remained colorless. And test tube C
became a bright dark pink color, whereas
test tube D became a light color.
In addition, the results of dipping the pH
papers are A: 0, B: 2, C: 13, and D: 8. In
conclusion, test tubes A and C contain
strong acids and bases, while test tubes B
and D contain weak acids and bases.

Table 1. Results.
Figure 2. Upper and lower test tube results
3.1 Answers to Laboratory Questions
after methyl orange and phenolphthalein
1. Test tube A (Sulfuric Acid) with a pH
were added
level of 0 is the strong acid, while test
tube B (Acetic Acid) with a pH level of
3. Results and Discussion
2 is the weak acid. Even though the
After conducting the experiment, it was
lower the number, the greater the acidity,
determined that dipping red litmus paper
we can say that Acetic Acid is a little
into test tubes A, C, and D causes the paper
less acidic than Sulfuric Acid.
2. The litmus papers, methyl orange, and
phenolphthalein serve as indicators of
acidity and basicity. The methyl orange
(acid indicator) and phenolphthalein
(base indicator) provided additional
ways to determine whether a substance
is an acid, or a base based on its color
change, despite the litmus paper's lack of
clarity due to the subtle appearance of its
color change.
4. Conclusion
In this laboratory experiment, using the
litmus paper, pH paper, methyl orange, and
phenolphthalein the Sulfuric Acid, Acetic
Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, and Ammonium
Hydroxide was examined.
The results indicate that both sulfuric
and acetic acids are acids. Included among
the base substances are sodium hydroxide
and ammonium hydroxide. Thus, acetic acid
is the strong base and ammonium hydroxide
is the weak base, whereas sulfuric acid is the
strong acid and sodium hydroxide is weak
acid.
Due to the color variation on the litmus
paper, the results shows that methyl orange's
color change during titration allows us to
definitively determine which substance is an
acid. Likewise, when phenolphthalein is
used to identify the base substance.
5. Acknowledgements
Aside from my own efforts, a lot of other
people's encouragement and direction are
crucial to this experiment's success. I would
like to take this opportunity to thank
everyone who contributed to the successful
completion of this laboratory report. I want
to express my sincere gratitude to Mr.
Romnick Inducil. I am speechless with
gratitude for all his support and assistance.
Every time I hear him speak, I am inspired
and encouraged. Without his support and
direction, this project would not have been
successful. To all my classmates who have
contributed to and are still contributing to
this report, providing invaluable advice and
support, thank you, as you have become
essential to the lab work's success. I
appreciate all their support and assistance.
6. References
[1] Collins Dictionary. (2019, December
11). Definition of acid.
Collinsdictionary.com; HarperCollins
Publishers Ltd.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionar
y/english/acid
[2] Dictionary.com. (2019). Definition of
acid | Dictionary.com.
Www.dictionary.com.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/acid
[3] Britannica. (2019). Base | chemical
compound. In Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/base-
chemical-compound
[4] Science Equip. (n.d.). Litmus Paper -
Everything you need to know.
Scienceequip.com.au.
https://www.scienceequip.com.au/blogs/new
s/litmus-paper-everything-you-need-to-
know
[5] U.S. Geological Survey. (2019, June 19).
pH Scale. www.usgs.gov.
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/ph-
scale-0#:~:text=Detailed%20Description
[6] Helmenstine, A. (2021, August 12).
Universal Indicator Chart and Recipes.
Science Notes and Projects.
https://sciencenotes.org/universal-indicator-
chart-and-recipes/