Aim: We did this experiment to test the pH levels of different household items.
Equipment:
- Safety glasses
- Litmus Paper (the red and blue little pieces of paper)
- Universal indicator
- Spotting tile
- Household chemicals (Toilet Cleaner, Spray ‘n’ Wipe, Floor Cleaner, Vinegar, and Fabric Softener)
- Pipette (Dropper)
Method:
- Gather your equipment (Safety glasses, Litmus paper, Universal indicator, Spotting tile, and pipette)
- Put your safety glasses on, and put your litmus paper and universal indicator on the side.
- Go around and gather 5 different household chemicals using the pipette (different one each time) add five droplets of each household chemical into the spotting tile (the household chemicals my group gathered: Toilet Cleaner, Spray ‘n’ Wipe, Floor Cleaner, Vinegar, and Fabric Softener)
- Once you have all your household chemicals, put your litmus paper in each household chemical, and write down the colour of each litmus paper once it is in each household chemical.
- Once you have written down the colour of each litmus paper add 2 droplets of the universal indicator in each household item in your spotting tile, and write down the colour you got after you put in the universal indicator.
- After you have written down your results put your litmus paper in the bin tip the household chemicals down the sink (with the water running) and wash the spotting tile. Then wash the 5 pipettes you used and put them away (in the right area it goes) then you have to put away the spotting tile (in the right location) after that put away all the chemicals you used (Toilet Cleaner, Spray ‘n’ Wipe, Floor Cleaner, Vinegar, Fabric Softener, and the universal indicator) (in the right area) after all that cleaning up take your safety glasses off and put them away and wash your hands.
Results:
Discussion:
Why do we need to know how to test pH levels? Understanding how to test pH levels is crucial for determining the safety of ingesting various chemicals. By testing the pH levels of substances, we can assess their acidity or alkalinity, which is essential for evaluating their potential impact on the human body. This knowledge helps in making informed decisions about the safety of consuming different substances and in designing appropriate precautionary measures. Why did different household chemicals change different colours? The reason for this is that all different household chemicals have different pH levels and therefore react differently to the universal indicator that is combined in the chemicals This increases the concentration of ions in the solution. How did you know if these chemicals were acidic or basic? We know if these chemicals are acidic or basic if we place the litmus paper in the chemicals if the litmus paper turns/stays red it is acidic and if it turns/stays blue it is more basic. Why might universal indicator (U.I) be more useful than Litmus paper? A universal indicator is a mixture of dyes that changes colour based on the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, helping to determine its pH level.
Conclusion:
Did all your experiments work? Yes, all of my experiments were successful, and we obtained all the necessary answers to complete the experiment. What could I improve in your science next time? I could probably be more diligent and less prone to distraction. I often get distracted by some of my pairs, leading to less focused work. If I can improve my ability to stay on task and give each task the attention it deserves, I believe I can become more efficient and produce higher-quality results.
