Household Acids and Bases
 
Veasley, Joyce                         Nansen Elementary
38 Pheasant Road                       821-2785
Matteson, Illinois 60443
720-2150

Objectives:

1. The learners will be able to determine whether a substance dissolved 
   in water will form an acid, a base or a neutral solution.
2. The learners will be able to infer the presence of acids or bases 
   from evidence in the demonstration of interactions of common 
   household products and an indicator. 

Apparatus Needed:
1. Egg Cartons (one for every two students)
2. Litmus Paper (red and blue)
3. 10 Household solutions:                                             
    a. lemon juice 
    b. bleach-water 
    c. water 
    d. aspirin-water 
    e. milk  
    f. ammonia-water 
    g. tea (concentrated) 
    h. vinegar-water 
    i. soap-water 
    j. your saliva
4.  10 Eye Droppers 
5.  10 Small Containers, or Clear Cups      
6.  Red Cabbage
7.  100 mL Water                               
8.  8 Test Tubes    
9.  Tube 1. 10 mL of Lemon Juice               
10. Tube 2. 10 mL of White Vinegar   
11. Tube 3. 10 mL of Boric Acid Solution
12. Tube 4. 10 mL of Water
13. Tube 5. 10 mL of Sodium Bicarbonate Solution
14. Tube 6. 10 mL of Borax Solution
15. Tube 7. 10 mL of Washing Soda Solution
16. Tube 8. 10 mL of Drain Cleaner
17. Test Tube Holder
18. Beakers, 100 and 250 mL
19. Burner

Recommended Strategy:
Place solutions of a-i in small cups numbered 1-10. Make a testing 
board by numbering egg carton cups 1-10. Place 5 drops of each solution 
in the corresponding numbered egg carton cup. Test each solution with 
the red and blue litmus paper. Record your results on a chart for 
comparison. 

Prepare a solution of red cabbage by placing enough red cabbage to fill 
a 250 mL beaker one-fourth full. Add about 100 mL of water and boil until 
the solution turns deep purple. Cool. Pour off the liquid.  This is the 
indicator solution. 
 
Pour 3 mL of indicator solution in each of the 8 test tubes. Add the 
solutions listed in apparatus section of writing (test tube #1-8). Mix 
contents in each tube with a stirring rod. 

Observe the gradual color change. Determine the pH value of solutions 
tested using pH paper. You might prepare some unknowns for the students 
to determine the pH values. Put a chart on the blackboard for them to 
record their data for class comparison. 

Several other natural indicators can be used for this activity: beet 
juice, carrot juice, grape juice, blueberry juice, and flowers, 
including the blue iris, purple dahlia, and purple hollyhock.