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General Chemistry Laboratory Manual

EXPERIMENT NO. 10
Acids and Bases
I. BACKGROUND
In the past, the definitions of acids and bases were purely experimental. Traditionally,
acids are substances that taste sour and turn blue litmus red while bases are substances that
taste bitter, feel slippery, and turn red litmus blue. Acids and bases can also cause color
changes to many organic indicators such as phenolphthalein, bromothymol blue, and methyl
orange. In a previous experiment, electrical conductivity was observed in solutions of acids and
bases. In addition, acids have been observed to react with certain metals to produce hydrogen
gas, and with carbonates and bicarbonates to produce carbon dioxide. Nowadays, these
observations supplement the formal definitions of acids and bases based on theories proposed
by S. Arrhenius, J. N. Brnsted, T. M. Lowry, and G. N. Lewis.
The acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution can be expressed using pH.
Mathematically, pH = log [H3O+]. The pH of a neutral solution is 7.00 at 25 oC so the pH of an
acidic solution is less than 7.00 and the pH of a basic solution is greater than 7.00 at the same
temperature. The measurement of pH can be done using a pH paper and a pH meter, which
gives more accurate values. If solution pH is known, the equilibrium concentrations of
hydronium and hydroxide ions can be calculated using the following equations.
[H3O+] = 10-pH
[H3O+][OH-] = 1 x 10-14

II. OBJECTIVES
At the end of this activity, the students should be able to:
determine the colors of different organic indicators with common laboratory acids and
bases
measure the pH of an aqueous solution using a pH paper and a pH meter
classify an aqueous solution as an acid or a base based from measured pH
calculate [H3O+] and [OH-] for a solution of known pH

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General Chemistry Laboratory Manual

III. MATERIALS
A. The students should bring the following:
GROUP NO.
1
2
3
4

Materials
orange juice and baking soda
fresh milk and antacid
detergent powder and vinegar
bleach and soft drink

B. The instructor/technician need/s to prepare the following:

Reagents
0.1 M HCl
0.1 M NaOH
phenolphthalein
0.1 M H2SO4
0.1 M Ca(OH)2
bromothymol blue
0.1 M HC2H3O2
0.1 M NH3
methyl orange
Equipment
pH meter
Others
distilled water
pH paper
C. The students should borrow the following from the stockroom:
Item
test tubes
graduated cylinder (100-mL)
mortar and pestle (for Group 2 only)

Qty.
24
1
1

Item
beaker (250-mL)
watch glass
stirring rod

Qty.
2
1
2

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General Chemistry Laboratory Manual

IV. PROCEDURE
A. Color Reactions with Acid-Base Indicators and pH Measurements Using pH Paper
A.1.
Place 1 mL (or 20 drops) of 0.1 M HCl into each of four clean and dry test tubes.
A.2.
To the first test tube, add 2 drops of phenolphthalein indicator. Note the color formed.
A.3.
To the second test tube, add 2 drops of bromothymol blue indicator. Note the color
formed.
A.4.
To the third test tube, add 2 drops of methyl orange indicator. Note the color formed.
A.5.
Use a pH paper to determine the pH of the solution in the fourth test tube. Classify the
solution as an acid or a base based from measured pH. Calculate the hydronium and
hydroxide concentrations.
A.6.
Repeat A.1 to A.5 using 0.1 M H2SO4, 0.1 M HC2H3O2, 0.1 M NaOH, 0.1 M Ca(OH)2, and
0.1 M NH3.
B. pH Measurements Using pH Meter

For Group 1:
B.1.
B.2.

Measure 100 mL of orange juice using a 100-mL graduated cylinder. Transfer this into a
clean and dry 250-mL beaker.
Weigh 5 g of baking soda in a clean and dry 250-mL beaker. Add 100 mL of distilled
water into the beaker and stir to dissolve the solute.

For Group 2:
B.1.
B.2.

Measure 100 mL of fresh milk using a 100-mL graduated cylinder. Transfer this into a
clean and dry 250-mL beaker.
Crush 1 antacid tablet using a mortar and pestle. Place the powdered antacid tablet into
a clean and dry 250-mL beaker. Add 100 mL of distilled water into the beaker and stir to
dissolve the solute.

For Group 3:
B.1.
B.2.

Measure 100 mL of vinegar using a 100-mL graduated cylinder. Transfer this into a
clean and dry 250-mL beaker.
Weigh 5 g of detergent powder in a clean and dry 250-mL beaker. Add 100 mL of
distilled water into the beaker and stir to dissolve the solute.

For Group 4:
B.1.
B.2.

For All:
B.3.
B.4
B.5.

Measure 100 mL of soft drink using a 100-mL graduated cylinder. Transfer this into a
clean and dry 250-mL beaker.
Measure 15 mL of bleach using a 100-mL graduated cylinder. Dilute this up to 100 mL
by adding distilled water. Transfer the resulting solution into a clean and dry 250-mL
beaker.
Use a pH meter to determine the pH of the solutions prepared in B.1 and B.2. Ask your
instructor for assistance.
Classify each of the solutions as an acid or a base based from measured pH.
Calculate the hydronium and hydroxide concentrations from the measured pH values.

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General Chemistry Laboratory Manual

EXPERIMENT NO. 10
Acids and Bases

NAME:
SECTION:
INSTRUCTOR:

GROUP NO.:

DATE PERFORMED:
DATE SUBMITTED:

A. Color Reactions with Acid-Base Indicators and pH Measurements Using pH Paper

Color Reactions with
Sample
pH
phenolphthalein bromothymol blue
methyl orange
0.1 M HCl
0.1 M H2SO4
0.1 M HC2H3O2
0.1 M NaOH
0.1 M Ca(OH)2
0.1 M NH3
[H3O+]

Sample
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

M
M
M
M
M
M

[OH-]

Classification

HCl
H2SO4
HC2H3O2
NaOH
Ca(OH)2
NH3

B. pH Measurements Using pH Meter

Sample

Sample Calculations

pH

[H3O+]

[OH-]

Classification

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General Chemistry Laboratory Manual

POST-LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT #10

Acids and Bases
1. Give three examples of common acid-base indicators that are not used in this experiment.
Specify the colors of each indicator in acidic and basic solutions.
2. Explain why salts can be acidic, basic, or neutral. Write chemical equations to illustrate each
case.
3. Can pH values be negative? Why or why not?
4. Calculate the pH of 0.275 M HNO3 solution. Show your complete and neat solution and box
your final answer.
5. Normal blood has a pH that ranges from 7.35 to 7.45. Calculate the hydronium ion
concentration corresponding to these pH values.