Household Acids and Bases GRADE LEVEL INDICATORS Experiment Demonstrate that the ph scale (0-14) is used to measure acidity and classify substances or solutions as acidic, basic, or neutral. 21 Develop oral and written presentations using clear language, accurate data, appropriate graphs, tables, maps and available technology. Draw logical conclusions based on scientific knowledge and evidence from investigations. PRE-LAB DISCUSSION Many common household solutions contain acids and bases. Acid-base indicators, such as litmus and red cabbage juice, turn different colors in acidic and basic solutions. They can, therefore, be used to show if a solution is acidic or basic. An acid turns blue litmus paper red, and a base turns red litmus paper blue. The acidity of a solution can be expressed using the ph scale. Acidic solutions have ph values less than 7; basic solutions have ph values greater than 7, and neutral solutions have a ph value equal to 7. In this experiment, you will use litmus and a ph Sensor to determine the ph values of household substances. After adding red cabbage juice to the same substances, you will determine the different red cabbage juice indicator colors over the entire ph range. MATERIALS LabQuest2 household solutions/substances ph Sensor 7 large test tubes ph paper (universal indicator) test-tube rack wash bottle red and blue litmus paper distilled water paper towel 250 ml beaker stirring rod red cabbage juice PRE-LAB QUESTIONS (ANSWER ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER!!) 1. What is in cabbage that can make the juice an indicator? (HINT: Google-cabbage juice) 2. What is in universal indicator that allows it to show a variety of colors over a wide range of ph? (HINT: Google-universal indicator) 3. What colors are seen with litmus and a what ph values are these colors seen? 4. What is the approximate cost of a ph meter? Litmus paper? ph paper? Chemistry with Calculators 21-1
Experiment 21 PROCEDURE 1. Obtain and wear goggles. CAUTION: Do not eat or drink in the laboratory. Part I Litmus Tests 2. Label 7 test tubes with the numbers 1-7 and place them in a test-tube rack. 3. Measure about 3 ml of vinegar into test tube #1. Refer to the data table and fill each of the test tubes 2-7 to about the same level with its respective solution. CAUTION: Ammonia solution is toxic. Its liquid and vapor are extremely irritating, especially to eyes. Drain cleaner solution is corrosive. Handle these solutions with care. Do not allow the solutions to contact your skin or clothing. Wear goggles at all times. Notify your teacher immediately in the event of an accident. 4. Use a stirring rod to transfer one drop of vinegar to a small piece of blue litmus paper on a paper towel. Transfer one drop to a piece of red litmus paper on a paper towel. Transfer one drop to a piece of ph paper on a paper towel. Record the results. Clean and dry the 5. Test solutions 2-7 using the same procedure. Be sure to clean and dry the stirring rod each time. Part II ph Tests 6. Prepare the ph Sensor for data collection. a. Plug the ph Sensor into Channel 1 of the LabQuest2. b. Remove the ph Sensor from the sensor storage solution bottle by unscrewing the lid. Carefully remove from ph Sensor the bottle, also remove the 0-ring and cap on the sensor body and place to the side. (DO NOT LOOSE THESE TWO ITEMS, BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED WHEN FINISHED) c. Rinse the tip of the sensor with distilled water from a wash bottle and place the sensor tip into a beaker containing distilled water. 7. Raise the ph Sensor from the sensor soaking solution and set the solution aside. Use a wash bottle filled with distilled water to thoroughly rinse the ph Sensor. Catch the rinse water in a 250-mL beaker. 8. Get one of the 7 solutions in a test tube. Raise the solution to the ph Sensor. When the ph reading displayed on the main screen of the calculator stabilizes, record the ph value (round to the nearest 0.01 ph unit). 9. Prepare the ph Sensor for reuse. a. Rinse it with distilled water from a wash bottle. b. Place the sensor into the sensor soaking solution and swirl the solution about the sensor briefly. c. Rinse with distilled water again. 10. Determine the ph of the other solutions using the Step 11 procedure. You must clean the ph Sensor between tests, using the Step 12 procedure. 11. When you are done, rinse the sensor with distilled water and return it to the sensor soaking solution. 21-2 Chemistry with Calculators
Part III Red Cabbage Juice Indicator Household Acids and Bases 12. After you have finished the Part I litmus tests, add 5-10 drops of red cabbage juice indicator to each of the 7 test tubes. Record your observations. Dispose of the test-tube contents in the sink and thoroughly rinse the test tubes and then place them in the dishwasher. Part IV Testing more Household Substances 13. After you have finished Part III, thoroughly clean the seven test tubes used and repeat with seven new household substance. If the substance to be tested is a solid, you need to make it a solution by dissolving a teaspoon of the substance in 3 ml of freshly boiled distilled. Follow the same steps in Parts I-III. Record your observations. Dispose of the test-tube contents in the sink and thoroughly rinse the test tubes and then place them in the dishwasher. 14. Repeat procedure 15 until all substances have been tested. PROCESSING THE DATA (ANSWER ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER!!) 1. Which of the solutions tested are acids? 2. Which of the solutions tested are bases? 3. The ph paper has a scale on the side of the bottle showing color to ph. Develop a similar color scale for the cabbage juice. 4. Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of red cabbage juice, litmus, ph paper and ph meter as indicators of acidity or basicity of a solution. Chemistry with Calculators 21-3
Experiment 21 DATA TABLE Test Tube Solution Blue Litmus Red Litmus Red Cabbage Juice ph paper ph from paper ph from CBL Probe 1 vinegar 2 ammonia 3 lemon juice 4 Sprite 5 drain cleaner 6 Coke 7 coffee 8 baking soda 9 detergent 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21-4 Chemistry with Calculators
Household Acids and Bases Lab 21 Name: Item Points/Out of Pre lab Question #1 /4 #2 /4 #3 /4 #4 /6 Data table /18 Processing the Data #1 /3 #2 /3 #3 /6 #4 /12 TOTAL /60 Chemistry with Calculators 21-5