Name ______________________________________per ____
ACIDS IN SOLUTION LAB
1. The table below is organized like your lab set up. After adding solution to each sample, record
observations in each box on the table.
2. Based on your previous and current observations of the reactions of the acids, predict what color you
will get when you test each acid with pH paper. Also predict what you think the pH will be. Record this
in the column on the far right.
3. When you have finished steps 1 and 2, you will be given some pH paper to test your predictions.
Record the actual results in the final column.
Aluminum (Al)
HCl
hydrochloric
Zinc (Zn)
Magnesium (Mg)
carbonate
CaCO3
predict: strong/med/weak
color:
pH:
observe: strong/med/weak
color:
HC2H3O2
acetic
pH:
predict: strong/med/weak
color:
pH:
observe: strong/med/weak
color:
pH:
predict: strong/med/weak
color:
H2CO3
carbonic
pH:
observe: strong/med/weak
color:
H2O
(not an acid)
pH:
predict: strong/med/weak
color:
pH:
observe: strong/med/weak
color:
pH:
1. Looking at your data, how would you rank the three acids in terms of strength?
1: ____________________ 2: ____________________ 3:____________________
2. Which metal would be best for use as a soda container? _________________________
3. Why might travertine, which is an attractive but expensive flooring material that
contains CaCO3 present a problem if used as a kitchen counter?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
carbonic acid reactions
CO2 + H2O   H2CO3
acetic acid reactions
HC2H3O2 + Mg  Mg(C2H3O2)2 + H2
HC2H3O2 + Zn  Zn(C2H3O2)2 + H2
H2CO3 + CaCO3  Ca(HCO3) 2 HC2H3O2 + Al  Al(C2H3O2)2 + H2
2HC2H3O2 + CaCO3 Ca(C2H3O2)2 + H2O + CO2
hydrochloric acid reactions
Identify each type of element and count the number of atoms of each type that are on each side of the equation.
Balance the equations and then count the atoms again to be sure the equation is blanced. The first one is done for
you as an example.
__2__ HCl + __2_ Mg  __2_ MgCl + ____H2
reactants
element
H
Cl
Mg
# atoms before
balancing
1
1
1
#of atoms after
balancing
2
2
2
products
element
# atoms before
balancing
2
1
1
#of atoms after
balancing
2
2
2
element
# atoms before
balancing
#of atoms after
balancing
element
# atoms before
balancing
#of atoms after
balancing
H
Cl
Mg
____ HCl + ____ Zn  ____ ZnCl2 + ____ H2
element
# atoms before
balancing
#of atoms after
balancing
____ HCl + ____ Al  ____ AlCl3 + ____ H2
element
# atoms before
balancing
#of atoms after
balancing
____ HCl + ____ CaCO3  ____ CaCl2 + ____ CO2 + ____ H2O
element
# atoms before
balancing
#of atoms after
balancing
element
# atoms before
balancing
#of atoms after
balancing
4. What gas did all the acids give off in their reactions with metals? _______________
5. What ion do all acids give out when they dissolve in water?
_______________
6. What ion do all bases give out when they dissolve in water?
_______________
7. Predict what you think would happen if you were to dissolve an acid and a base
together in water? – what would you get, and what would be the pH?
_______________________________________________________________________