Lab9 Indicators
Lab9 Indicators
Lab9 Indicators
Name:_______________________
Purpose: In this laboratory we will investigate how indicators can be used to test for the presence of acids or bases in a number of common materials.
Background: Very early in the development of chemistry, solutions were classified as acidic, basic or neutral. A number of materials were found which exhibited different colors depending on whether they were placed in acidic, basic or neutral solutions. These materials are known as indicators since they indicate the acid-base properties of other substances.
Acids and Bases: Acids and bases can be classified as strong or weak depending on the intensity of their acid-base properties.
Indicators: In this experiment, we will use known acids and bases to determine the color of various commercial indicators in the presence of those strong and weak acids and bases. These indicators include red and blue litmus paper, universal indicator paper, and cabbage leaves.
Overview of Experiments: 1. Red and Blue Litmus Paper: If a solution is acidic, then blue litmus paper will turn red. If a solution is basic then red litmus paper will turn blue. We will use this information to determine if a solution is acidic or basic.
2. UNIVERSAL INDICATOR PAPER: (shown left) Universal indicator paper can be used to determine the pH of solutions. Using this indicator paper, we will determine the relationship between pH and acid-base properties. The color of the indicator paper will change depending on the pH of the sample.
3. Cabbage Leaves: We will prepare an indicator from a natural source, cabbage leaves, and observe its color in the presence of acids and bases.
4. pH of household chemicals: We will investigate the acid-base properties of a number of common household chemicals using all of the indicators.
Note: You have now determined the pH of the acids and bases. In the next section you will use these to determine the color of the cabbage indicator at various pHs.
Lab #9
Name:_______________________
2. What pH values are considered basic? 3. Which of the indicators above could NOT be used to distinguish between the substances in each of the following pairs? Explain your answer briefly.
1. Filter the mixture from the boiled cabbage into a 100 mL beaker. 2. Using a 10 mL graduated cylinder, add 2 mL of the filtered cabbage solution to each of 5 small test tubes supported in a rack. Save the rest of the cabbage solution until later. 3. Add 3 drops of 1 M KCl solution to each of the test tubes and GENTLY mix the solutions. 4. Add one of the acid or base solutions to each test tube as follows: a. To tube # 1 add 10 drops concentrated HCl b. To tube # 2 add 10 drops dilute HCl c. To tube # 3 add 10 drops distilled water d. To tube # 4 add 10 drops dilute NaOH e. To tube # 5 add 10 drops concentrated NaOH 5. Mix each of the solutions, then record its color and the pH value of the solution (which you previously determined in part 1) in the table below.
TUBE SOLUTION
pH (determined in part 1)
Concentrated HCl
Dilute HCl
Distilled Water
Dilute NaOH
Concentrated NaOH
6. Describe the color changes that the cabbage extract would undergo if the pH is gradually changed from 1 to 14.
Glass cleaner Milk of Magnesia Mouth wash Drain cleaner Liquid detergent
Observations:
Lab #9
Name:_______________________
I. Take half a porcelain spoonful (a pea-sized lump) of YOUR alum crystals from the previous experiment and place them in a test tube. 1. Add about 5 mL of water and mix thoroughly. 2. Using a glass stirring rod to transfer a drop of solution to the paper, test this solution with indicator paper (red, blue, AND universal). a. What color does the solution turn the red litmus paper? b. What color does the solution turn the blue litmus paper? c. What color is the universal indicator paper? d. Is the solution acidic or basic? Strong or weak?
II. Take half a porcelain spoonful of baking soda and put in test tube. 1. Add about 5 mL of water and mix thoroughly. KEEP for step IV!!!!! 2. Using a glass stirring rod, test this solution with indicator paper (red, blue, AND universal). a. What color does the solution turn the red litmus paper? b. What color does the solution turn the blue litmus paper? c. What color is the universal indicator paper? d. Is the solution acidic or basic? Strong or weak?
III. Take half a porcelain spoonful of baking powder and place it in a test tube. 1. Add about 5 mL of water and mix thoroughly. 2. Using a glass stirring rod, test this solution with indicator paper (red, blue, AND universal). a. What color does the solution turn the red litmus paper? b. What color does the solution turn the blue litmus paper? c. What color is the universal indicator paper? d. Is the solution acidic or basic? Strong or weak?
IV. Add half a porcelain spoonful of your alum crystals to the test tube containing the baking soda. 1. Carefully note any changes! 2. . Using a glass stirring rod, test this solution with indicator paper (red, blue, AND universal). a. What color does the solution turn the red litmus paper? b. What color does the solution turn the blue litmus paper? c. What color is the universal indicator paper? d. Is the solution acidic or basic? Strong or weak?
3. What did you make when you added the alum to the baking soda???? HINT: Read the label on the baking powder can. What ingredients are present? The chemical name for alum is potassium aluminum sulfate [KAl(SO4)2.12H2O].