1.

Indicators were indentified with the observation that the colour of

some flowers depends on soil composition

Classify common substances as acidic, basic or neutral

An acid is a substance which in solution releases hydrogen ions, H+, or more

strictly, H3O+ (since H+ doesnt exist by itself in solution), sometimes called
hydronium ions.
A base is a substance which either contains the oxide O2- or hydroxide ion
OH-, or which in solution produces the hydroxide ion. A soluble base is called
an alkali.
Common Properties of Acids
Have a sour taste
Are corrosive (sting or burn the skin)
Are electrolytes and can conduct an electric current in solution
Acid + reactive metal -> hydrogen + salt
Acid + carbonate -> carbon dioxide + water + salt
Acid + metal oxide -> salt + water
Acid + metal hydroxide -> salt + water
Thus, from the above 2: acid + base -> salt + water
Common Properties of Bases
Alkalis have a soapy feel
Have a bitter taste
Are electrolytes and can conduct an electric current in solution
Acid + base -> salt + water
Acidic (pH < 7)
Lemon juice (pH 2)
Vinegar (pH 2)
Urine
Car battery acid
(sulphuric acid) (pH
1)
Orange juice and
soda water (pH 3)
Black coffee and
bananas (pH 5)
Gastric juice (pH 1.3)
Coca Cola (pH 3)
Milk and saliva (pH
6.5)

Neutral (ph 7)
Distilled water
Sugar solution
NaCl solution
Alcohol-water
solution

Basic (pH > 7)

Oven cleaner (pH 14)
Bleach (pH 13)
Ammonia (pH 12)
Lime water (pH 10.5)

Lactose solution

Baking soda (pH 8)

Identify that indicators such as litmus, phenolphthalein, methyl orange

and bromothymol blue can be used to determine the acidic or basic

nature of a material over a range, and that the range is identified by

change in indicator colour
Hydrangeas produce blue flowers when grown in acidic soil and pink flowers
when grown in basic soil. This occurs because the flowers of hydrangeas
contain a chemical substance that changes colour depending on the
chemical composition of the soil.
Many of the acid-base indicators used in laboratories are made from
pigments extracted from the leaves and flowers of plants. These indicators
are simply chemical substances that change colour depending on whether
they are in acidic or basic solutions.
Litmus, the best known acid-base indicator, is a blue dye extracted from
various species of lichen. Litmus is red in acidic solutions and blue in basic
solutions. Another readily available indicator is anthocyanin, which can be
extracted from red cabbage leaves and the flowers of poppies. Anthocyanin
goes from red in acidic solutions to green in mildly basic solution to yellow in
very basic solutions. These indicators change colour over different acidity
ranges, thus different indicators are used in different situations.
In addition to using plant extracts, chemists have developed a wide range of
synthetic acid-base indicators, which allow chemists to determine the range
of acidity and basicity within very narrow limits. Universal indicator is a
mixture of several indicators and therefore undergoes a series of colour
changes of a large range of pH values.
Colour ranges of common acid-base indicators in HCl (acidic) solutions of increasing
dilution
HCl Concentration
1.0
10^-1
10^-2
10^-3
10^-4
10^-5
10^-6
0 (water)

Methyl Orange
Red
Red
Red
Orange-Red
Orange-Red
Orange
Yellow
Yellow

Litmus
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Bluish-Red
Blue-purple
Blue-purple

Bromothymol Blue
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow-Green
Green

Phenolphthalein
Colourless
Colourless
Colourless
Colourless
Colourless
Colourless
Colourless
Colourless

Colour ranges of common acid-base indicators in NaOH (basic) solutions of increasing

dilution.

NaOH Concentration
1.0
10^-1
10^-2
10^-3
10^-4
10^-5
10^-6
0 (water)

Methyl Orange
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow

Litmus
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue-purple
Blue-purple

Bromothymol Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Green-blue
green

Phenolphthalein
Red-Pink (crimson)
Red-Pink (crimson)
Red-Pink (crimson)
Red-Pink (crimson)
Deep Pink
Pink
Pale Pink
Colourless

Identify and describe some everyday uses of indicators including the

testing of soil acidity/basicity

Acid-base indicators are used a chemical lab to determine whether solutions

are acidic, basic or neutral, as well as to monitor the change in acidity during
volumetric analysis when an acid is being used to neutralise a base.
Acid-base indicators are also used in a range of everyday situations,
including in:

 The maintenance of particular acidity levels (pH 7.2 7.6) in swimming

pools. A pool test kit contains an acid-base indicator, phenol red, of
which several drops are added in to a sample of the pool water to
determine the acidity of the pool. The colour of the resulting solution is
then measured by a device or simply compared to a colour chart to
determine the acidity level (should be orange-red).
The testing of soil acidity, as its an important factor in determining
what crops and plants may be grown. Many plants do not grow well if
the soil is too acidic. Therefore indicators allow horticulturalists and
farmers to test the acidity of their soil and make adjustments as
required. If the soil is too acidic, chemicals such as lime (calcium oxide)
are added to make the soil more effective for growing particular crops.
If its too basic, fertilisers or compost and manure containing natural
acids can be added.
o

Method:

A method is to saturate a soil sample in a dish with

distilled water. White barium sulfate powder is added to the

surface, and the soil water is allowed to soak into the barium
sulfate. Drop of indicator are then added to the wet barium
sulfate and colour observed.
To indicate the completion of acid-base titrations