Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

Workshop 27

27 Acids and Bases

ACIDS AND BASES

(NOTE: PRINT THIS WORKSHOP IN COLOR)

GENERAL ORDER

ESTIMATED TIME

Introduction: Tasting Lemon Is Tasting Acid.

70-85 min.

10 min.

Activity 1:

Red Cabbage Tells us Something Is Acidic

Activity 2:

Is Water an Acid? Lets Test it.

5 min.

Activity 3:

The Third Group Basic Substances

5 min.

Activity 4:

Testing Many Substances

Activity 5:

The Acid-base Scale

Activity 6:

Make an Acid by Blowing on Water

5 min.

Activity 7:

Should we Taste the Soap?

5 min.

Activity 8:

Secret Messages

10 min.

10-15 min.
10 min.

10-20 min.

Evaluation:

1 min.

MATERIALS
Intro

Pieces of lemon (8 pieces / lemon)

Small cup (white paper or clear plastic)
Vinegar
Paper towel (in pieces)
Red cabbage

1 / child
1 / child
flask / 20 children
one roll
1

Act.1

Red cabbage
Pieces of lemon and glasses (from Intro.)
Extra pieces of lemon in a container
Vinegar
Red cabbage juice
Large container(s) for trash

1
1 / child
1 / pair
one bottle
2L bottle
1 or 2

Act.2

The cups with lemon juice from before

The cups with the vinegar from before
Extra cups (to throw out the water)
Red cabbage juice
2L bottle of water
Large container(s) for trash

1 / pair
1 / pair
1 / child
2L bottle
2L bottle
1 or 2

Act.3

Washing-up detergent (powder)

Water
Vinegar
Red cabbage juice
Large container(s) for trash

a small box
1L
one bottle (1-1,5L)
2L bottle
1 or 2

(R)

= wait for response

Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

Act.4

Act.5

The materials from the previous activity

Package of litmus paper with 50 sheets

Act.6

Water in transparent 1L plastic bottle

Red cabbage juice
10mL syringe
Drinking straws

Act.7

Paper plate
Yeast
Baking soda

1
one packet
one spoonful

Act.8

Small glasses (or plastic cups)

Brushes
Lemons
Cooked red cabbage juice
Paper
Hair dryer (optional, but a good idea)
Large container for trash

(R)

Juice of a cooked red cabbage

Lemon (or lemon juice)
Vinegar
Baking soda
Container (2L bottles cut in two)

27 Acids and Bases

= wait for response

the 2L
1
bottle
bottle/box
5

1 + 1/pair
1L
1
1 / child

1 / child
1 / child
3
1L
a sheet
1 (better 2 or 3)
1

Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

27 Acids and Bases

Introduction: TASTING LEMON IS TASTING ACID

Objective
Objective
Objective
Objective
Objective

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:

10 min

The student will be able to... recognize lemon as an acidic substance.

SWBA to... distinguish if a substance is an acid or not by its flavour.
SWBA to... recognize that vinegar is an acid.
SWBA to... explain that there are strong, moderate, and weak acids.
SWBA to... explain that there is strong acid in our stomachs.

Materials:
Pieces of lemons (8 pieces / lemon)
Small cups (white paper or clear plastic)
Vinegar
Paper towel (in pieces)
Red cabbage

Quantity:
1 / child
1 / child
1 flask / 20 children
one roll
1

Script:

In order to begin, you each need a piece of lemon and a small cup. (Hand out
these two things.) Now taste your piece of lemon, what sort of flavor does it
have? (R) (Sour). The lemon tastes this way because it is an acidic substance.
Now, keep the pieces of lemon in the cups for later. (Make sure they do this.)

Do you want to try another acid? (R) Come on, be brave. Each one of you needs
a piece of paper towel. (Hand them out.) Good. (Take out a cup with vinegar,
but dont tell them that it is vinegar.) Now we have to put our pieces of paper
towel in the acid, and then suck it. What does it taste like? (R) Like vinegar? Of
course, it is vinegar, but it also tastes sour, right? (R) Of course, because vinegar
is an acid, like the lemon, and acids taste sour.

Do you recognize the word acid? (R) Yes? Where are acids found? You dont
know? Ill tell you a place well, its a place very personal for all of us where
we keep a lot of acid very dangerous acid, actually. Can anyone guess where
we keep this acid? (R) In our stomachs!

If we were to remove the acid (which is called hydrochloric acid) from our
stomachs and throw it onto a steel plate do you know what would happen? (R)
It would make a hole in the plate! Thats how strong the acids of our stomachs
are! This is why it can break down and digest the food we eat. And for this
reason, we should never touch it. It is extremely dangerous! But, then again,
how are we going to touch it if it is in our stomachs?

But, WAIT! We have seen that lemon is also an acid. So, is the lemon dangerous
as well?! (R) (No) It is not dangerous because it isnt a strong acid, like
hydrochloric acid. The lemon is a moderate acid.

There are weak, moderate, and strong acids they can be very strong! By the
way, I think that very strong acids smell, but I would never ever smell them
because just the vapors could disintegrate the inside of my nose!

(R)

= wait for response

Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

27 Acids and Bases

Today we are going to play with some acids And, how are we going to
distinguish if something is an acid of not? Come on, we now have a way to verify
it What is it? (R) You dont know? How did we know that the lemon was an
acid? (R) (By tasting it) Of course. If something tastes sour, we can bet that it is
an acid.

But, we DO NOT want to go around tasting everything that might be an acid!

What would happen if we tasted a very strong acid? (R) Goodbye mouth! We
need another way (Lower your voice.) Im going to show you a method
(Look around furtively) that you can use to distinguish whether something is
an acid or not. The secret ingredient is (All of a sudden, take out the red
cabbage you have behind your back.) A RED CABBAGE!

(R)

= wait for response

Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

27 Acids and Bases

Act. 1: RED CABBAGE TELLS US IF SOMETHING IS ACIDIC

10 min

Objective 1: The student will be able to... use a red cabbage to test if certain
substances are acids or not.
Objective 2: SWBA to... recognize vinegar as an acidic substance
Materials:
Red cabbage
Pieces of lemon in cups (from the Intro.)
Extra pieces of cut lemon in a container
Vinegar
Red cabbage juice
Large container(s) for trash

Quantity:
1
1 / child
1 / pair
one bottle
2L bottle
1 or 2

Script:

(Showing the cabbage to everyone) Last night I put a red cabbage like this
one in boiling water for an hour. What I ended up with was (Take out the
bottle of liquid from the red cabbage.)this! It is our magic potion. Have you
seen how it changes color when it comes into contact with something acidic? (R)
NO? Well, lets go then!

First, get into in pairs. (Have them do this.) Now, everyone still has their pieces
of lemon in their glasses from before, right? (If some dont have this, take out
the container with the extra pieces of lemon.) Good. Now squeeze all the
juice from your piece of lemon into just one of your cups. (Have them squeeze
their lemons to get the juice into their cups.)

(Take out the bottle of red cabbage juice.) Now I am going to pour a bit of the
liquid from the red cabbage into the cups with the lemon juice. If the lemon
really is acid, as we already know it is, it should change its color to bright red.
Are you ready? Lets see Get in line in front of me, and Ill put a bit of the
cabbage juice in your cup. (Pour a small amount (2-5mL, for example). Their
solutions should turn red. If not either you have poured too much
cabbage juice in their cups, or they didnt have enough lemon juice.)

What color do you see? (R) Red, right? Come on. We are going to try it with
vinegar too. Bring me your other glass so we can pour a bit of vinegar into it.
(Repeat the same thing you did with the lemon juice pouring a bit of red
cabbage juice into each of the cups of vinegar.)

What color do you see? (R) Red, right? So, we have confirmed that vinegar is an
acid, right? (R) (Yes, its an acid)

What are the two ways we have of testing if something is an acid? (R) (Taste it or
mix it with red cabbage juice) Good.
PREPARATION OF THE RED CABBAGE JUICE

(R)

= wait for response

Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

27 Acids and Bases

One red cabbage can easily produce 2L of liquid. Pour 2L of water in a pot with the red
cabbage and let it stew for an hour. Then let it cool and pour it into a plastic 2L bottle.

(R)

= wait for response

Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

27 Acids and Bases

Act. 2: IS WATER AN ACID? LETS TEST IT

5 min

Objective 1: The student will be able to... classify water as a neutral substance.
Objective 2: SWBA to ... explain that the red cabbage juice does not change color when
you mix it with neutral substances.
Materials:
The cups of lemon juice from before
The cups of vinegar from before
Extra cups (to pour the water into)
Red cabbage juice
Water in a 2L bottle
Large container(s) for trash

Quantity:
1 / pair
1 / pair
1 / child
2L bottle
2L bottle
1 or 2

Script:

Come on, we are going to try something else. We are going to test what I have
here in this bottle. (Do not tell them that it is water. Take out the 2L bottle
of water.) How could we verify whether this liquid is an acid or not? (R) (By
tasting it or using the cabbage juice) Good. First we are going to taste it.

By the way, you need to keep the other two glasses of vinegar and lemon juice,
because we are going to do something special with them in a minute.

(Hand out a new glass to everyone and pour water into their glasses.)
Please, do not drink all the liquid I will give you. You have to leave a bit in your
glasses for the next experiment. (Now each pair will have 4 glasses lemon,
vinegar, and 2 with water. Once they have their water, they should taste it.)

First, what is this liquid that I have given you? (R) (Water) And, is water an acid
or not? (R) (No) How do you know? Does the water taste sour? (R) (No) Of course
not. It does not taste like anything. Therefore, water is not an acid, but rather,
NEUTRAL!

You still have a bit of water in your glasses, right? Good. Now we are going to
test it with the red cabbage juice. (Pour a bit of the cabbage juice into their
glasses of water.)

Is the color of the cabbage juice changing? (R) No? Hmmm. Well then, we have
confirmed that water is an acid, or that it is neutral? (R) (Neutral) Water is
neutral it doesnt taste sour, nor smell, nor change the color of the cabbage
juice because it is neutral.

(R)

= wait for response

Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

27 Acids and Bases

Act. 3: THE THIRD GROUP BASIC SUBSTANCES

5 min

Objective 1: The student will be able to... classify soap as basic.

Objective 2: SWBA to... recognize if something is basic by the color blue, green, brown,
or yellow that it makes when it is mixed with the cabbage juice.
Objective 3: SWBA to... show with the cabbage juice test that bases and acids can be
neutralized by mixing them.
Materials:
Washing-up detergent (powder)
Water
Vinegar
Red cabbage juice
Large container(s) for trash

Quantity:
a small box
1L
one bottle (1-1,5L)
2L bottle
1 or 2

Script:

By what youve seen until now, you could assume that all the substances in the
world are either neutral or acids, right? But that is not the case. There is a
group of things which are the opposite of acids. Do you know what they are
called? (R) Should I tell you? Okay. (In a quiet voice, as if it were a secret.)
They are called bases. And they act in a very strange way.

Do you want to see what happens when we do the cabbage juice test with
something basic in other words, with something that is a base? Good. Do you
have your cups with the red cabbage juice? (They have 3 options: 1- use their
cups that contain the mixture of water and cabbage juice, or 2- throw the
contents of the glass into the container and start again, or 3- get a new
cup. We recommend that you go with option 1- use ONE of the TWO cups
that contain the mixture of water and cabbage juice.) Into this, you are going
to pour some washing-up liquid for them. This soap, if not all soap, is a base
the opposite of an acid. Watch what happens!

(Pass amongst the group, pouring a BIT of washing-up liquid into their cups
of cabbage juice. The color of the liquid will change from purple to green/if
not yellow.) Wow! Now what color is it? (R) (Green/yellow)

(R)

= wait for response

Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Cabbage juice
and water

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

When you add the

washing-up liquid

Red /
Green
Mix the
vinegar (red)
with the soap
solution to
return to the
color

27 Acids and Bases

PURPLE (neutral)

If bases are the opposite of acids, what will happen when the two are mixed? (R)
Should we try it? Come on. Now pour the contents of your cups that contain the
basic liquid (soap) into the cups that contain the acid (vinegar). We are going to
see what happens. (Have them mix the two. The color will return to being
purple neutral.)

The color has gone back to being purple, right? Therefore, what conclusions can
we draw? (R) When we mix acids and bases, what do we create more acid,
more base, or something neutral? (R) (Something neutral)

Lets try more things!

(R)

= wait for response

Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida

Madrid, 1999/Rev. 2007

27 Acids and Bases

Act. 4: TESTING MANY SUBSTANCES

10-15 min.

Objective 1: The student will be able to... classify various substances as acid, base, or
neutral in a simple manner.
Materials: (IT DEPENDS : PLEASE READ BELOW)
Juice from a cooked red cabbage
Lemon (or lemon juice)
Vinegar
Sodium bicarbonate
Container (2L bottles cut in 2)

Quantity:
the 2L bottle from before
1
bottle
bottle/box
5

Script:

(Depending on the time you want to spend and the materials you want to
bring, you can do this activity as a demonstration or in small groups. As a
demonstration, bring with you some 2L plastic bottles cut in two or other
types of clear containers in which you can mix the quantities of liquids so
that all can see this will be faster. More time consuming, but perhaps
more fun, is to have plastic cups for everyone, and let them pour in the
substances you have brought.)

We recommend the following substances: washing-up liquid, glycerine soap,

sodium bicarbonate, tonic, orange soda, vinegar and lemon.
DEMONSTRATION OPTION:
Now we are going to invent our own method for determining if a substance is
acid, basic, or neutral. Our cabbage juice will function as our particular
indicator it will indicate if something is? (R) (An acid, base, or neutral)

We have to put everything in order. To my left, I want to put the acids. In the
centre, I want to put the things that are more neutral. And to my right, I want to
put the bases. You have to tell me which is which according to the color it
makes. Okay? Lets go.

In order to do the test, I am going to pour a little bit of cabbage juice into each
container. (Pour a bit of the juice from the cooked red cabbage into each of
the five cups.)

In the first glass, I will pour the lemon juice. (Before doing this) What color
will result? (R) (Red) (Repeat with all the substances saving the bicarbonate
for last!)

(USE THE FOLLOWING PAGE AS A GUIDE TO THE COLORS)

NOTE: IF YOU OPT TO USE BLEACH BE VERY CAREFUL, AND DONT LET
THE CHILDREN USE IT OR TOUCH IT.

(R)

= wait for response

10

QUALITATIVESCALEOFTHECOLORSOBTAINEDWHENMIXINGVARIOUSSUBSTANCESWITHTHEREDCABBAGE
JUICE

(R)

Bleach

A lot of washing-up liquid

Bleach, less concentrated

Less washing-up liquid

Glycerine soap

Sodium bicarbonate

Yeast

Red cabbage juice

Carbonic acid

Mixture of vinegar and soap

Pepsi

Tonic water or lemonade

Orange Fanta

Vinegar

Lemon

= expect answers

11

Fun Science

Madrid, 1999

Act. 5: ACID-BASE SCALE WITH LITMUS PAPER

332358270.doc

10 min.

Objective 1: The student will be able to... organize an acid-base scale, from the most
acidic substances to the most basic substances, with litmus paper.
Objective 2: SWBA to... explain that there are more exact ways to measure the pH of
something than using the juice of a red cabbage.
The pH of some
Materials:
Quantity:
substances
0= more acid
The materials from the previous activity
14= more basic
Packet of litmus paper with 50 sheets
1
Gastric juices: 2.0
Lemons: 2.3

Script:

As we have seen, the substances that we have

employed are all of a different type. Chemists, and
great scientists like ourselves, use pH in order to
indicate the precise amount of acidity or baseness
of a substance. The pH is their favorite indicator,
aside from the cabbage, of course. (Say this in a
humorous tone)

Vinegar:
2.9
Soft drinks: 3.0
Wine: 3.5
Oranges: 3.5
Tomatoes: 4.2
Acid rain: 5.6
Human urine: 6.0
Cows milk: 6.4
Saliva (in repose): 6.6
Water: 7
Saliva (when eating): 7.2
Human blood: 7.4
Fresh eggs: 7.8
Seawater: 8.0
Sodium bicarbonate: 8.4

(Take out the package of litmus paper.)

This is litmus paper it is what tells us, in the

most exact way, how acidic or basic something is.
For example: Which is more acidic, the vinegar or
the lemon? (R) It is difficult to know if you are only
using the juice of a cooked red cabbage. But if we
moisten the litmus paper with the two acids, we
will have a much better idea. Lets see.

(Take out two sheets of litmus paper and put one in each of the acids. The
one in the lemon juice will turn redder than the one in the vinegar. Show
this to everyone.) Which is redder? (R) (The one in the lemon juice)

Now we have to compare the color with the colors on the package. (Hold up the
package so that everyone can see the different colors for the various levels
of acidity and baseness.) Therefore, according to the scale of colors on the
package, which is more acidic? (R) (The lemon) (SEE PHOTO ON THE
FOLLOWING PAGE.)

Now you can test it yourselves. When you have finished, please throw the papers
into this container. (Hand out five sheets to each pair, so that they can dip
them themselves.)

And why is it so important to know if a substance is an acid, a base, or neutral?

Well, for example, soaps and shower gels specify the pH on their labels, and it is
very important to consider this so that they do not irritate or dehydrate our
skin. (SEE A)

(R)

= wait for answers

12

Fun Science

Madrid, 1999

332358270.doc

Suggestions for improving the session:

A
A few days before doing this activity, you and the children can collect bottles and
wrappers of soaps and bath gels, on which the pH is indicated, at home.
Afterwards, you can take a poll and see which type was most popular, acids,
bases, or neutrals.

LEMON

(R)

= wait for answers

VINEGAR

SCALE OF COLOURS, FROM 1 TO 10

(SEE ARROW BELOW : PH STRIPS / SHEETS OF
LITMUS PAPER FOR INDICATION OF PH)

13

Fun Science

Act. 6 :

Madrid, 1999

332358270.doc

MAKE AN ACID BY BLOWING ON WATER

5 min.

Objective 1: The student will be able to... create a weak acid (carbonic acid).
Materials:
Water in a clear 1L bottle
Cabbage juice
10mL syringe
Drinking straws

Quantity:
1 + 1/pair
1L
1
1 / child

Script:

Do you remember that we all have acid in our bodies? (R) Do you remember in
which part of the body this acid is stored? (R) (The stomach) Good.

But stomach acid is not the only acid we produce there is also another. Do you
know what it is? (R) Its our wee wee. (They will laugh) At least its not a very
strong acid. Think how much that would hurt!

Do you know that we can also produce acid with the air in our lungs? You didnt
know? Lets see. What do we inhale? Oxygen or carbon dioxide? (R) (Oxygen) And
what do we exhale? Oxygen or carbon dioxide? (R) (Carbon dioxide, CO2) Good.

When the CO2 comes into contact with the water, it forms an acid called
carbonic acid (H2CO3). (SEE A)

Do you want to do it? (Take out the 10 bottles of water.) First we have to
measure 30mL of our indicator, the cabbage juice, in the water in each bottle.
(Pour 30mL of indicator in each bottle each bottle should have the same
concentration of indicator: water.)

Now Im going to give each pair a bottle and two straws. You have to blow in the
bottles to mix the CO2 from your lungs with the water. Were going to see what
happens to the color of the liquid.

(Keep one or two bottles of the solution (water + cabbage juice) so you will
be able to compare the original color with the color that the children get
when they blow in their bottles.)

They are pinker than before. We have produced acid with the air that we
exhaled. (Let everyone
compare the color of their
bottles
with
the
original
color
of
the
two
bottles
you saved.)

(R)

= wait for answers

14

Fun Science

Madrid, 1999

332358270.doc

Suggestions for improving the session:

A
This is why tonic, Pepsi, Orange soda, and all carbonated drinks are acidic
because the CO2 dissolved in the water produces this carbonic acid.

(R)

= wait for answers

15

Fun Science

Madrid, 1999

332358270.doc

Act. 7: SHOULD WE TASTE THE SOAP?

5 min.

Objective 1: The student will be able to... recognize if something is basic from its bitter
flavor.
Materials:
Paper plate
Yeast
Bicarbonate (baking soda)

Quantity:
1
one packet
a spoonful

Script:

Oh no! We havent done the taste test with the basic substances, like the soap!
But, wait. Should we use the taste test with soap? (R) Of course not. We dont
want to put this soap in our mouth it could be dangerous, and, at the least, it
will taste horrible. Good thing we have the other tests, like the cabbage juice
and the other what is the other thing we used to distinguish if something is
acidic or basic called? Litmus (R) (Paper) Very good.

But I dont think there would be any problem if we tasted a bit of the yeast (or
bicarbonate). Just a bit. (Pour the powder onto the plate and let them touch
the powder with a finger and taste it.)

How does it taste? (R) Bitter and strange, right? It tastes a bit like soap, right?
Of course, because they are all bases.

Okay then, the yeast is a moderate base, and is not dangerous. Did you know
that bread, pastries, and pizza... are all made with yeast?

This base is not dangerous, but there are others that are very strong, and are as
dangerous as sulphuric or hydrochloric acid: get away from them immediately.

(R)

= wait for answers

16

Fun Science

Act. 8 :

Madrid, 1999

SECRET MESSAGES

332358270.doc

10-20 min.

Objective 1: The student will be able to... write a secret message and decipher it.
Materials:
Small glasses (or plastic cups)
Brushes
Lemons
Juice of a cooked red cabbage
Paper
Hair dryer (optional, but a good idea)
Large container for trash

Quantity:
1 / child
1 / child
3
1L
one sheet
1 (2 or 3 are better)
1

Script:

Who knows how to write a secret message? (R) No one knows? But today we
have learned all we need to know to write secret messages. Does anything come
to mind? (R) Come on, I will show you. Well play spy games.

So we begin our impossible mission: by squeezing the juice of a lemon (Squeeze

the juice of the lemon into the one of the glasses). Who can help me? (Have
them help you squeeze more lemons into their own glasses.)

Now each one of you needs a brush and a sheet of paper. (Hand out the
materials.) Good. After dipping the brushes in the lemon juice, we are going to
write a message. (Write an example and hold it up so everyone can see.) Do
you see? Or, I should say, do you SEE how you DO NOT see anything?

Now we have to let them dry a bit. Blow. This is why it is a good idea not to wet
the brushes too much when we write the messages. (If you have a hair dryer,
use it now.)

Now that the message is dry, (SEE A) we have to paint on top of where we
wrote the secret message with the brush one more time BUT THIS TIME WE
WONT USE LEMON, WELL USE RED CABBAGE JUICE.

We will only see the letters written in lemon juice if we moisten the letters
with red cabbage juice.

Hello. I AM CRAZY

Suggestions
for
improving
the
session:
A
You can also ask them to pick someone to write a message, and then let their
classmates reveal the messages.

(R)

= wait for answers

17

Fun Science

Madrid, 1999

EVALUATION AND REVIEW OF THE CLASS

332358270.doc

1 MIN.

As we have seen, the substances we most commonly use can be acids, like lemon and
vinegar, bases like yeast, or neutral like water.
In order to determine if a substance is acidic, basic, or neutral, we can utilize
homemade methods like the red cabbage juice, or more scientific methods like
litmus paper, that turns red if we pour an acidic substance on it, blue if the
substance is basic, and does not change at all if the substance we pour on it is
neutral.

(R)

= wait for answers

18