Cady Bright 

10/2/17
 
Utilising Indicators and Substances with Knowns pHs  
to Determine the pHs of Substances with Unknown pHs 
 
Task Statement  
Our task was to use nine indicator solutions (phenolphthalein, phenol red, bromocresol green, 
bromothymol blue, methyl red, alizarin yellow, methyl orange, thymolphthalein, thymol blue) and five known 
pH solutions (2, 4, 7, 10, 12) to find the pH of five unknown solutions (A, B, C, D, E). The indicator solutions 
(solutions that turn a certain colour based on the pH of the substance they are mixed with) turned colours 
when mixed with the five known solutions. Because the unknown solutions have the same pHs as the known 
solutions, you can use the results from the indicator/known solution tests to create a flow chart consisting of 
four tests or less to determine the pH of unknown solutions A, B, C, D, and E. From there, we had to decide 
which solution was which via the flow chart, defend why we came to these conclusions, and then discuss how 
well the flow chart worked.  
 
Introduction 
In this experiment, we’re using mainly qualitative tests, as opposed to quantitative. Both terms refer 
to the data the test yields - quantitative being tests that reveal numerical data, and quantitative being tests 
that reveal data requiring interpretation, such as colour or smell. In this lab, we collect qualitative data such as 
the colour change when two substances are combined, and quantitative data such as the pH of a solution 
based on the colour it turned.  
It is generally accepted that the pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 0-6 being acidic, 7 being neutral, 
and 8-14 being alkaline or basic. Therefore, when someone is testing for pH, or potential hydrogen, they are 
referring to what the acidity a solution is on this 0-14 scale. Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist, defined acids 
as a solution that increases the concentration of hydrogen ions (positively charged) when put in water, and a 
base as a solution that increases the concentration of hydroxide ions (negatively charged) when put in water. 
When in doubt of the pH of a substance, one can use one or several indicator solutions - a solution that 
undergoes an observable change (usually changing colour) when combined with another solution that falls 
within a certain range of pHs - to determine the pH of a solution, like we did in this lab. 
 
 
   
Results 
Figure 1 - Data Collected from First Round of Tests 
Indicator Name  Indicator Colour  pH 2  pH 4  pH 7  pH 10  pH 12 

Phenolphthalein  clear  cloudy/white  cloudy/white  white  pink/purple  pink 

Bromothymol Blue  dark green  orange  yellow/orange  teal/green  dark blue  dark blue 

Methyl Orange  orange  red  darker orange  orange/yellow  orange/yellow  orange 

Phenol Red  red  yellow  yellow  red/orange  pink  pink 

Methyl Red  red  pink/purple  pink  yellow  light yellow  dark yellow 

Thymolphthalein  clear  clear  clear  clear  blue  light blue 

Bromcresol Green  teal/blue  yellow  green  blue  blue  dark blue 

Alizarin Yellow  yellow  pale yellow  light yellow  light yellow  orange  orange 

Thymol Blue  dark blue  red  yellow  orange  blue  dark blue 

 
Figure 2 - Flow Chart Created Based on Data from Figure 1 

 
 
Figure 3 - Data Collected from Second Round of Tests Guided by Flow Chart (Figure 2) 
Indicator Name  Indicator Colour  Unknown A  Unknown B  Unknown C  Unknown D  Unknown E 

Phenolphthalein  clear  cloudy/white  white  pink  clear  pink 

Methyl Red  red  N/A  N/A  light yellow  N/A  yellow 

Bromcresol Green  teal/blue  green  yellow  N/A  blue  N/A 

Proposed pH  4  2  10  7  12 

 
To evaluate the pH of a certain unknown, my group created a flowchart using the data from Figure 1. 
Phenolphthalein had the most noticeable transformation - when the substance was acidic, it remained clear, 
but when basic, it turned bright pink. We also noticed that Bromocresol Green had more specific reactions to 
acids, and and Methyl Red had more specific reactions to bases. This allowed us to create the next and final 
level of our Flow Chart. The chart is undoubtedly based on the data that we collected, however this does not 
mean that the data is without flaws. We used the chart to come to conclusions about the pHs of all five 
unknowns.  
Analysis 
Figure 4 - Suggested pH of Unknowns 
 
Our data showed, as seen in the table to the left, that 
Unknown A had a pH of 4, Unknown B had a pH of 2, Unknown C 
had a pH of 10, Unknown D had a pH of 7, and Unknown E had a 
pH of 12. The data we acquired for each of these unknowns led us 
to the answers just stated because the results closely if not 
exactly (some allocations must be made for the subjectivity of 
human eyesight) resembled data found in the first round of 
testing, which of course had substances for which the pH was 
known.  
 
Two indicators we used to come to this conclusion were phenolphthalein and bromocresol green. Our 
data shows that for more basic solutions, phenolphthalein turns pink, but remains clear when combined with 
more acidic solutions. Thankfully, Wikipedia agrees, stating that phenolphthalein turns fuschia when 
combined with a substance having between a 8.2 and 12 pH, and remains clear when combined with solutions 
having between a 0 and 8.2 pH. Bromocresol green, according to our data, turns green at pH 2, yellow at pH 4, 
and blue at pH 7. Surprisingly, Wikipedia disagrees with this - when combined with a substance having the pH 
3 or below, bromocresol green should appear yellow; when combined with a substance having a pH 3 to 5, 
bromocresol green should appear green; when combined with a substance having a pH 5 or above, 
bromocresol green should appear blue.  
 
Figure 5 - Improved Flow Chart Based on Data from Figure 1

 
 
An alternate flow chart created after the lab ended(Figure 4) is shown to the left. Unfortunately, due 
most likely to experimental error, our results were not directly conclusive between the 10 and 12 pHs. To do 
this lab again, it would be worthwhile to compare results of the two pHs (10 and 12) on top of a white surface 
(in part 1) and then compare results from the flowchart side by side (in part 3) to make a more specific record of 
the colour change.  
Hopefully using this flowchart would yield the same results as the initial test did - Unknown A had a 
pH of 4, Unknown B had a pH of 2, Unknown C had a pH of 10, Unknown D had a pH of 7, and Unknown E had a 
pH of 12. 
 
Figure 6 - Hypothetical Data Set Based on New Flow Chart (Figure 5) 
Indicator 
Indicator Name  Colour  Unknown A  Unknown B  Unknown C  Unknown D  Unknown E 
Phenolphthalein  clear  cloudy/white  white  pink  clear  pink 

Thymolphthalein  clear  N/A  N/A  dark blue  N/A  light blue 

Bromcresol Green  teal/blue  green  yellow  N/A  blue  N/A