Acids, Alkalis and The PH Scale PowerPoint

Acids, Alkalis
and the pH Scale

Learning Objective
To understand how the pH scale is used to identify acids and
alkalis.
Success Criteria
• To identify acids, alkalis and neutral solutions on the pH scale.
• To describe how to use an indicator.
• To explain the differences between concentrated and dilute
solutions.
Categorising Substances
How many different ways can you categorise these household
substances?
Acids and Alkalis
Acids and alkalis are two groups of chemicals commonly found in
everyday life.
Acids Alkalis
Acids have a sour taste. Alkalis have a soapy or chalky
texture.
Many acids and alkalis are dangerous to

taste
and touch and can be extremely harmful.
Dangers of Acids and Alkalis
It is safe to consume the acid in vinegar and use alkaline toothpaste
but many acids and alkalis can be dangerous if not used correctly.
Can you remember which hazards these symbols are for?
corrosive moderate health hazard

A corrosive substance can This may include irritants.
react with other substances These are substances that may
causing the destruction of cause redness or blistering if
materials. they come into contact with the
It could burn the skin or cause skin.
damage to the eyes.
The hazards of acids and alkalis depend on the type of acid or
alkali, and its concentration.
In concentrated solutions, In dilute solutions, there are
there are more acid or alkali fewer acid or alkali molecules
molecules in a given volume.
in a given volume.
To make a concentrated
solution, a large volume of To make a dilute solution,
the acid or alkali is mixed a small volume of the acid or
with alkali is mixed with a large
a small volume of water. volume of water.
These acids These acids and
and alkalis alkalis are often
are corrosive. irritants
(moderate health
hazards).
1. Describe the difference between a concentrated solution and a
dilute solution.
2. Explain why a concentrated solution of an acid or an alkali would

be more of a hazard than a dilute solution.
You could use diagrams to illustrate your answers.

1. Describe the difference between a concentrated solution and a
dilute solution.
In concentrated solutions, there are more acid or alkali

molecules in a given volume.
In dilute solutions, there are fewer acid or alkali

molecules in
a given volume.
concentrated dilute solution

solution
2. Explain why a concentrated solution of an acid or an alkali would
be
more of a hazard than a dilute solution.
Concentrated solutions of acids and alkalis are corrosive
whereas dilute solutions may be irritants.
This is because there are more acid or alkali molecules

in
a concentrated solution than in a dilute solution.
The pH Scale
The pH scale shows how acidic or how alkaline a substance is.
Substances with a pH Substances with a pH

between 0 and 6 are acidic. between 8 and 14 are
alkaline.
Substances closer to pH 0
are more acidic (stronger). Substances closer to pH 14
are more alkaline (stronger).
Substances with a
pH of 7 are
neutral.
The pH Scale
On the pH scale provided, label the following:
• strong acids
• weak acids
• strong alkalis
• weak alkalis
• neutral substances
Measuring pH
The pH of a substance can be measured in two
ways:
• using an indicator
• using a pH meter
pH meters are pieces of scientific equipment

that give the pH as a numerical value.
Indicators are substances that change colour when

added to acidic, alkaline and neutral solutions.
Different indicators include litmus and

universal indicator.
Measuring pH
There are two different types of litmus paper that can be used to check
whether a substance is an acid or an alkali.
Red litmus paper:

• stays red in acidic solutions
• turns blue in alkaline solutions
Blue litmus paper:

• stays blue in alkaline solutions
• turns red in acidic solutions
Measuring pH
Universal indicator is a solution made up of a mixture of dyes that
change colour gradually over a range of pHs.
It can tell us whether a substance is acidic, alkaline or neutral, and

how strong it is.
This pH scale is based on the colour that universal indicator turns in

each pH.
Testing the pH of Household
Substances
You are going to use universal indicator to test the pH of some
common household substances.
Equipment
eye protection
spotting tile
pipettes
spatulas
universal indicator
universal indicator colour chart
samples of household substances, e.g. lemonade, toothpaste, bleach,
handwash, lemon juice, vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, washing powder,
orange juice, cream of tartar, cream household cleaner
Risk Assessment
Hazard Harm It Can Do How You Will Minimise the Risk
universal It can irritate the Wear eye protection.
indicator eyes.
If it gets into your eyes, wash the affected
area with plenty of water and inform a teacher
immediately.
Immediately inform a teacher about any

It is highly flammable. spillages.
It may cause burns if Keep away from flames.

ignited.
samples of They can cause Wear eye protection.
household irritation to skin,
substances eyes, and respiratory Avoid contact with skin. If contact with skin
organs. occurs, wash the affected area with plenty of
water.
Immediately inform a teacher about any

spillages.
They may be harmful
if swallowed. Do not taste the samples used in the
investigation.
Method
1. If the substance to be tested is a liquid, use
a pipette to place 2-3 drops of the substance
into
a well in the spotting tile.
If the substance to be tested is a solid, use

a spatula to add a small amount of the
substance
into a well in the spotting tile.
2. Add 2 drops of universal indicator to the

same well as the substance from step 1.
3. Record the colour that the mixture turns

in the results table.
Method
4. Compare the colour of the indicator to the universal indicator colour
chart.
5. Record the pH of the substance in the results table.
6. Identify whether the substance is an acid, an alkali or a neutral

substance and record this in the results table.
7. Repeat steps 1 to 5 with a variety of different household

substances. Ensure that a clean pipette/spatula is used for each
substance.
Acid or Alkali?
Black coffee is pH 5.
Strong Weak
Weak Weak Strong
Acid Acid
Acid Alkali Alkali
Acid or Alkali?
Indigestion tablets are pH 10 and have a chalky
texture.
Strong Weak Weak

Weak Strong
Acid Acid Alkali
Alkali Alkali
Acid or Alkali?
Pineapple is pH 3 and tastes sour.
Stron
Strong Weak Weak Strong
g
Acid Acid Alkali Alkali
Acid
Acid or Alkali?
Drain cleaner turns universal indicator purple.
Strong Weak Weak Stron

Strong
Acid Acid Alkali g
Alkali
Alkali
Acid or Alkali?
Lemonade is pH 2 and tastes sour.
Stron
g
Acid
Acid or Alkali?
Seawater is pH 8.
Strong Weak Weak

Weak Strong
Acid Acid Alkali
Alkali Alkali
Acid or Alkali?
Stomach acid turns universal indicator scarlet.
Stron
g
Acid

Acids, Alkalis and The PH Scale PowerPoint

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Acids, Alkalis and The PH Scale PowerPoint

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Acids, Alkalis and The PH Scale PowerPoint

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Acids, Alkalis

and the pH Scale

Many acids and alkalis are dangerous to

Can you remember which hazards these symbols are for?

corrosive moderate health hazard

2. Explain why a concentrated solution of an acid or an alkali would

You could use diagrams to illustrate your answers.

In concentrated solutions, there are more acid or alkali

In dilute solutions, there are fewer acid or alkali

concentrated dilute solution

This is because there are more acid or alkali molecules

Substances with a pH Substances with a pH

On the pH scale provided, label the following:

pH meters are pieces of scientific equipment

Indicators are substances that change colour when

Different indicators include litmus and

Red litmus paper:

Blue litmus paper:

It can tell us whether a substance is acidic, alkaline or neutral, and

This pH scale is based on the colour that universal indicator turns in

Immediately inform a teacher about any

It may cause burns if Keep away from flames.

Immediately inform a teacher about any

If the substance to be tested is a solid, use

2. Add 2 drops of universal indicator to the

3. Record the colour that the mixture turns

5. Record the pH of the substance in the results table.

6. Identify whether the substance is an acid, an alkali or a neutral

7. Repeat steps 1 to 5 with a variety of different household

Strong Weak Weak

Strong Weak Weak Stron

Strong Weak Weak

You might also like