Testing the Ph of Common Household Substances Lab
Testing the pH of Common Household Substances Lab
Background Information:
The pH scale is used to determine the acidity or basicity level of liquid solutions. If a solution scores a pH level of 1-6 it is an acidic solution, 1 being the most acidic and 6 being the least acidic. If a solution rates a pH level of 7 it is a neutral solution, meaning it is neither an acidic nor a basic solution. Lastly, if a solution is 8-14 on the pH scale it is a basic solution, 8 being the least basic and 14 being the most basic. The products that are used on a daily basis in your house can also be acidic solutions, basic solutions, or even neutral solutions.
Hypothesis:
Food products are likely to be weak acids because food is not slippery, you can eat it which is why it’s a weak acid, and because foods are sour. Cleaning products are predicted to be strong bases because they consist of a very key characteristic of bases; they are slippery. Personal care products are predicted to be neutral solutions because they are not corrosive like acids and bases that can harm your skin.
Materials:
• 12-well dish
• Paper indicators o Red litmus o Blue litmus o pH paper
• Various common household substances o Shampoo o Lemon juice o Green tea o Sprite o Detergent o Milk o Windex
Procedure:
1. Obtain a small sample of each substance to be tested. Place the substance in one well of the 12-well dish.
2. Test the effect of each sample on red litmus and blue litmus to determine if the substance is acidic, basic or neutral. (Make sure if you have a substance from EACH product type)
3. Test each sample with universal indicator paper. Match the color of the universal indicator paper with the indicator chart to determine the approximate pH value of the substance. Record the pH value and classify the substance as a:
• strong base (pH=11-14)
• weak base (pH=8-10)
• approximately neutral (pH=7)
• weak acid (pH=4-6)
• strong acid (pH=0-3)
Observation:
Substance
Background Information:
The pH scale is used to determine the acidity or basicity level of liquid solutions. If a solution scores a pH level of 1-6 it is an acidic solution, 1 being the most acidic and 6 being the least acidic. If a solution rates a pH level of 7 it is a neutral solution, meaning it is neither an acidic nor a basic solution. Lastly, if a solution is 8-14 on the pH scale it is a basic solution, 8 being the least basic and 14 being the most basic. The products that are used on a daily basis in your house can also be acidic solutions, basic solutions, or even neutral solutions.
Hypothesis:
Food products are likely to be weak acids because food is not slippery, you can eat it which is why it’s a weak acid, and because foods are sour. Cleaning products are predicted to be strong bases because they consist of a very key characteristic of bases; they are slippery. Personal care products are predicted to be neutral solutions because they are not corrosive like acids and bases that can harm your skin.
Materials:
• 12-well dish
• Paper indicators o Red litmus o Blue litmus o pH paper
• Various common household substances o Shampoo o Lemon juice o Green tea o Sprite o Detergent o Milk o Windex
Procedure:
1. Obtain a small sample of each substance to be tested. Place the substance in one well of the 12-well dish.
2. Test the effect of each sample on red litmus and blue litmus to determine if the substance is acidic, basic or neutral. (Make sure if you have a substance from EACH product type)
3. Test each sample with universal indicator paper. Match the color of the universal indicator paper with the indicator chart to determine the approximate pH value of the substance. Record the pH value and classify the substance as a:
• strong base (pH=11-14)
• weak base (pH=8-10)
• approximately neutral (pH=7)
• weak acid (pH=4-6)
• strong acid (pH=0-3)
Observation:
Substance