Name __________________________________________________________________Date_______________
Enriched Biology
Determining a Liquid as Acidic, Basic or Neutral Lab
Background:
Liquids all around us have either acidic or basic (alkaline) properties. In our Homeostasis: Investigating
Breathing Rate lab, we learned that if the blood becomes a bit acidic or a bit basic, then a person becomes sick.
For homeostasis to be regained, the person breathes quicker to rid the body of carbon dioxide. This lab will
teach you what it means to say something is acidic, basic or neutral. Let’s explore this.
Vocabulary:
a) ion – an atom with a charge
b) dissociate – a substance that breaks into ions
Water is a substance. It is written as H2O. It can dissociate: H2O  H+ + OH- . The H+ is called the hydrogen ion
and the OH- is called the hydroxide ion. Study the beaker diagram. It is filled with water. The water has
dissociated. Count the number of H+ in the beaker. How many are there? _______ Count the number of OH- in
the beaker? _______ What do you notice about the number of H+ and OH-? ___________________________
Let’s take that same beaker of water and add an acid like lemon juice to make an acidic liquid. Study the beaker
below. Count the number of H+ in the beaker. How many are there? _______ Count the number of OH- in the
beaker? _______ What do you notice about the number of H+ and OH- after adding the lemon juice?
1._________________________
2._________________________
3._________________________
Let’s get another beaker of water and add a base like baking soda to it to make a basic liquid. Study the beaker
below. Count the number of H+ in the beaker. How many are there? _______ Count the number of OH- in the
beaker? _______ What has happened to the number of H+ and OH- after adding the baking soda?
1.___________________________
2.___________________________
3.___________________________
Let’s think about what we just examined happening in each of the beakers. See if you can answer these
questions to help you understand if a liquid is an acid, a base or neutral.
1. Water had equal amount of ______ and _____. Substances like water are called neutral.
2. Acidic liquids have ________ H+ than OH-. Acids, like lemon juice, add __________ ions.
3. Basic liquids have _________ H+ than OH-. Bases, like baking soda, add _________ ions.
4. The more _______ added to a liquid, the stronger the acid it becomes.
Time to do the Lab!
Question: Which common liquids are acids, bases or neutral?
To determine if a liquid is acidic or basic, one needs to measure the amount of H+ ions. The use of pH paper
determines the amount of hydrogen ions (H+). When the paper is wet with the liquid, it will change colors. The
color will indicate if the solution is acidic, neutral or basic. The pH scale is illustrated below: (Colored scale can
be found on this lab posted on Ms. Bombard’s Web Page)
Basic
The numbers on the pH scale indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution. Solutions with a
pH below 7 are acidic. The lower the number, the more H+ and the stronger acid it is. Liquids with a pH above
7 are basic. The higher the number, the more OH- and the stronger the base it is. Bases have even less H+ than
acids. A pH of 7 represents a neutral solution, one that is neither an acid nor a base. Pure water has a pH of 7.
Materials:


Test tubes with unknown liquids and test tube rack
Stirring rod

pH paper
Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Obtain the liquids in the test tubes in the test tube rack.
Obtain a 250ml beaker with stirring rods. Fill half the beaker with water from the tap.
Obtain a container of pH paper. Examine the color and number scale on the side of the container.
Complete the Data Table by writing the names of the liquids in the appropriate column.
Obtain a piece of paper toweling. Place 10 strips of pH paper on the towel equally spaced apart.
Underneath the pH strip, write the name of the solution.
6. Take your stirring rod and dip it into the first liquid to be tested.
7. Blot the stirring rod on the pH paper. Observe the paper and note the color of the paper. Compare the
color of the pH paper to the color scale on the pH paper container. Record the pH color and number of
the liquid in the data table.
8. Dip the stirring rod into a beaker of water to rinse off testing liquid.
9. Repeat steps 1-6 for each of the other liquids you are testing. BE SURE TO RINSE OFF THE STIRRING ROD
IN BETWEEN EACH TEST SO THAT YOU DON’T CONTAMINATE THE OTHER LIQUIDS!!!!
10. Throw out pH paper and paper toweling in trash. Return all materials to the place you got them from
and answer the questions.
Data:
* Use the data table below to record your observations. Refer back to the table to help you answer the conclusion
questions.
Liquid
pH paper color
pH number
Acid, Base, or Neural
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Analysis:
Categorize your results below:
Strong Acids
Weak Acids
Neutral
Weak Base
Strong Base
1. Pick two liquids. List the two liquids that you tested. How do the number of hydrogen ions compare in each? Explain.
2. What would happen to the orange juice if you were able to add more hydrogen ions? Explain
3. Your stomach has makes a very strong acid, called hydrochloric acid (HCl). This is good because the stomach needs to
have a pH of 1.5-3 when food is present. Sometimes people make acid when there is no food present which keeps the
stomach fluids too acidic. Heartburn, ulcers, stomach irritation and discomfort occur because the acid damages the lining
of the stomach.
a) Is this person in homeostasis? Explain.
b) Tums or Maalox are two medications that can help make the person feel better temporarily. These
medications neutralize the acid and make the stomach fluids less acidic. What is happening to the pH of the
stomach when a person takes the medication? Explain.
Conclusion: In the space provided, write a conclusion for this investigation. Recall, our discussion on what
information goes into a good conclusion. Think before you write.