Water quality pH test lab
Name__________________________ Class____________________ Date___________________
Background:
The Ph of water is the measure of how acidic or basic it is. Water may be acidic, basic, or neutral. The
degree of acidity or basicity can be measured by using the pH scale. The scale is divided into three areas:
Acid (readings 0 to 6), neutral (reading of 7), and basic (readings 8 to 14)
Purpose: To determine the pH of some common solutions
Requirements: Baking soda, vinegar, plastic cups, spoon and pH test strips
Procedure:
1) Pour water into 3 cups labeled 1,2, and 3.
2) Into cup 2 add one scoop spoon of mystery powder and stir with a spoon until all the powder
dissolves in the water.
3) Into cup 3 pour 5ml of mystery liquid and stir with a spoon
4) Dip three separate pH strips into the 3 cups partially and wait until the color changes completely
then match the strips on the Ph scale to get the corresponding color and pH number.
5) Record your data into the table below.
6) Cup 1 is the control experiment while cups 2 and 3 are the test experiment.
Observation.
Color of strip before
experiment
Color of strip after
experiment
Ph number
Observed
pH recorded
(Acid, base, or Neutral)
Cup 1
Cup 2
Cup 3
1) What does the word pH stand for?
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2) What does pH measure?
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3) Why is pH an important indicator for water quality?
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