Hello readers,
For this unit in Science (Chemistry), We have been learning about the pH scale and did an experiment about how it works and how to use it.
- Aim: why did we do the experiment?
- To demonstrate the different types of the PH Scale when there are different chemicals, whether it be a base, acid or neutral to prove it.
- Equipment: what did you use for your experiment?
Safety glasses, a spotting tile, a pipette, litmus paper, UI (Universal Indicator) and different chemicals.
- Method: what steps did you complete to get your results for your experiment? Make sure your steps are numbered (like a recipe)
- First we used a pipette to get a few drops out of the chosen chemicals’ container.
- Then we put some in the spotting tile.
- We ripped a tiny piece of litmus paper off, placing a tiny bit into the chemical.
- When it changed colours or didn’t we listed it down as a base / acid or neutral.
- Then after that we put the UI (Universal Indicator) to get a more accurate result.
- After that we listed it down and repeated the results until we got five chemicals down.
- Results: Link to your results table
- Discussion: starting discussion questions (you can include more detail)
- Why did different household chemicals change different colours?
- Because some of the chemicals are different and some are weaker or stronger. The stronger the darker the colour, the weaker the lighter. To elaborate more on this is the fact that a base will have more hydroxide ions while an acid will have more hydrogen ions.
- How did you know if these chemicals were acidic or basic?
- I had a strong feeling that Fabric Softener, Spray and Wipe, Dish washing Liquid and Floor Cleaner were most obvious to be basic. Not only are they common household items, the red litmus paper turned blue and the blue litmus paper stayed blue. Which led me to believe that it would be a base and the universal indicator helped show us how weak or strong the base was.
- Why might Universal indicator be more useful than Litmus paper?
Because Litmus paper isn’t as accurate. The Litmus paper only tells you if it’s an acid or a base. While the Universal Indicator interacts with the hydrogen atoms in the chemical changing the colour helping you establish what is more basic or acidic.
- Conclusion: starting conclusion questions
- did all your experiments work – if they didn’t, why?
- Yes, most of them worked. I think Dish washing is between neutral and a weak base. Though it could be because we rinsed our pipette a lot to make sure we weren’t mixing chemicals.
- What could you do to improve your science next time?
- Clean the pipette out better.
This is the end of my blog post, if you have any positive feedback or something I need to work on please leave it down below in the comment section.