CHEMISTRY LABORATORY 101, Sec E

Activity No. 10
Title: Acids and Bases

Name: Ferolino, Angela Pia V.

Group No. 39

Date Performed: September 29, 2015

Date Submitted: October 5, 2015

Rating:
1. Objective
2. Data, Results and Discussion
3. Q & A
4. Conclusion
5. N & F
Total Score

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I. Introduction
The term acid came from the Latin term acere, which means "sour". In the 17th century,
Robert Boyle, an Irish writer and amateur chemist, classified substances as either acids or
bases (alkalies), based on the following characteristics:
Acids taste sour, are corrosive to metals and change litmus (a dye extracted from
lichens) to red. While Bases change litmus to blue. Both become less acidic/basic when mixed
with each other.
During the late 1800s, Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist, offered an idea that water
can dissolve many compounds by separating them into their individual ions. Arrhenius said that
acids are compounds that contain hydrogen and can dissolve in water to release hydrogen ions
into solution. For example, hydrochloric acid (HCl) dissolves in water as follows:
HCl

H2O

H+(aq)

Cl-(aq)

Arrhenius defined bases as substances that dissolve in water to release hydroxide ions
(OH-) into solution. For example, a typical base according to the Arrhenius definition is sodium
hydroxide (NaOH):
NaOH H2O

Na+(aq)

OH-(aq)

The Arrhenius definition of acids and bases explains a number of things. Arrhenius's
theory explains why all acids have similar properties to each other and so do the bases:
because all acids release H+ into solution and all bases release OH-. The Arrhenius definition
also explains Boyle's observation that acids and bases counteract each other. This idea, that a
base can make an acid weaker, and vice versa, is called neutralization.

An indicator is a large organic molecule that works somewhat like a " color dye".
Whereas most dyes do not change color with the amount of acid or base present, there are
many molecules, known as acid-base indicators, which do respond to a change in the
hydrogen ion concentration. Most of the indicators are themselves weak acids.
The most common indicator is found on "litmus" paper. It is red below pH 4.5 and blue above pH
8.2.
Color
Acid
Base

Blue Litmus
turns red
stays same

Red Litmus
stays same
turns blue

II. Objectives:
1. To be able to recognize and differentiate the relationship between acids and bases.
2. To be able to identify the chemical and physical properties of acids and bases.
III. Data & Results:
Table 1. Properties of Acids
Properties

CH2COOH

HCl

H2So4
Turned to red

Calamansi
Extract
Turned to red

Carbonated
Drink
Turned to red

Color with blue

litmus
Color with red
litmus
Color with
Methyl Orange
Color with
phenolphthalei
n
Color with
bromthymol
blue

Turned to red

Turned to red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Colorless

Colorless

Colorless

Colorless

Colorless

Yellow
Orange

Red Orange

Red Orange

Yellow
Orange

Yellow
Orange

Table 2. Strength of Acids

Reaction with

CH2COOH

HCl

H2So4

CaCO3
Aluminum

Moderate
Slower

Fast
Fast

Slow
Very fast

Calamansi
Extract
Slowest
Slow

Carbonated
Drink
Slower
Slowest

Table 3. Properties of Bases

Properties
Color with blue litmus
Color with red litmus
Color with methyl
orange
Color with
phenolphthalein
Color with
bromthymol blue

NaOH
Blue
Red
Yellow orange

Detergent Solution
Blue
Blue
Orange

Toothpaste Solution
Blue
Red
Orange

Purple

Purple

Purple

Blue

Blue

Blue

IV. Discussion:
Table 1. Properties of Acids
Properties

CH2COOH

HCl

H2So4
Turned to red

Calamansi
Extract
Turned to red

Carbonated
Drink
Turned to red

Color with blue

litmus
Color with red
litmus
Color with
Methyl Orange
Color with
phenolphthalei
n
Color with
bromthymol
blue

Turned to red

Turned to red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Red

Colorless

Colorless

Colorless

Colorless

Colorless

Yellow
Orange

Red Orange

Red Orange

Yellow
Orange

Yellow
Orange

Table 1 shows the different properties of acids. Acids turn blue litmus papers into red.
Litmus paper changes color in different pH solutions because it contains a chemical called
flavin, which is a pigment present in red cabbage. This molecule is an anthocyanin, which is
soluble in water and changes color, red and blue, when came into contact with different types of
solutions. When in contact with an acidic solution, it turns red. While with a basic solution, it
turns greenish. In the presence of a neutral solution, it turns purple. This shows that acetic acid,
hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, calamansi extract and carbonated drink are all acidic
substances. Methyl Orange is an indicator commonly used in titrations because of its clear and
different colour change. Because it changes colour at the pH of a mid-strength acid, it is usually
used in titrations for acids. Unlike a universal indicator, methyl orange does not have a full
spectrum of colour change, but has a sharper end point. Methyl orange changes to red when
added to an acidic solution. When Methyl orange was added to each of the substances, it
turned into colour red and it was overlying the substances. Hence, these substances are acids

and the solutions are heterogeneous. Phenolphthalein is usually used as an indicator in acid
base titrations. It turns colorless if added to acidic solutions and pink or purple in basic solutions.
Therefore, all the substances are acids. Bromthymol blue is mostly used in measuring
substances that would have a relatively neutral pH (near 7). A common use is for measuring the
presence of carbonic acid in a liquid. Different shades of red and orange were seen to each of
the substances when bromthymol blue was added into each of it.
Table 2. Strength of Acids
Reaction with

CH2COOH

HCl

H2So4

CaCO3
Aluminum

Moderate
Slower

Fast
Fast

Slow
Very fast

Calamansi
Extract
Slowest
Slow

Carbonated
Drink
Slower
Slowest

Table 2 shows the strength of the different acids. The strength of an acid refers to its
tendency to lose a proton (H+). A strong acid completely ionizes a solution. In water, 1 mole of a
strong acid dissolves yielding one mole of H+ (as hydronium ion H3O+) and 1 mole of the
conjugate base, A. Essentially, none of the non-ionized acid remained. HCL reacted with
CaCO3 and dissolved the CaCO3 the fastest. Thus, making it the strongest acid among all the
others. While when aluminium was added to each of the substances, it reacted with H2So4 the
fastest and there was even an occurrence of an outburst during the reaction.
Table 3. Properties of Bases
Properties
Color with blue litmus
Color with red litmus
Color with methyl
orange
Color with
phenolphthalein
Color with
bromthymol blue

NaOH
Blue
Red
Yellow orange

Detergent Solution
Blue
Blue
Orange

Toothpaste Solution
Blue
Red
Orange

Purple

Purple

Purple

Blue

Blue

Blue

Table 3 shows the properties of bases. Red litmus paper turns into blue when in contact
with a basic substance. While in the given results, NAOH and toothpaste solution it only remain
red maybe because it wasnt in proper contact with the substances or the litmus paper was
contaminated with a foreign substance and the like. Methyl orange remain orange or changes to
other shades of orange when in contact with a basic substance. As being discussed, when
phenolphthalein is added to a neutral substance, it results to a purple-coloured solution.
Therefore, these substances are neutral. And lastly, when bromthymol blue is added to a basic
solution, the solution becomes blue. Hence, it is evident that these substances are all bases.

V. Answers to Questions:

1. What can be said about the relative strengths of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide,
calcium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide?
Potassium hydroxide is a strong base, calcium hydroxide also a strong base and
ammonium hydroxide is a weak base.

2. Define and give example of a mono-acidic base, a di-acidic base and a tri-acidic base.
A Monoacidic base can only accept 1 proton per molecule of a base. An example is
NaOH. A Di-Acidic base is a base which can accept 2 protons per molecule of base. Ca(OH)2 is
an example of Di-acidic base. And Tri-Acidic base is a base which can accept 3 protons per
molecule of base. Al(OH)3 is a Tri-acidic base.

3. What is an amphoteric hydroxide? Cite an example.

An amphoteric hydroxide is a substance which has characteristics of both acids and
bases. The presence of strong acid it will act as a base but in presence of a strong base it will
act as acid.
Examples:
Amphoteric oxide acting as a base is HCO3HCO3- + H2O a `->` H2CO3 + OHAn Amphoteric oxide acting as an acid
HCO3- + H2O a `->` CO32- + H3O+
4. Are the precipitates (formed after the addition of 1.0 N NaOH) bases? Explain.
The precipitates are bases because the red litmus paper turns to blue the methyl orange
also turned into yellow orange, and the bromthymol blue remained blue. These evidences
proves that the precipitates are bases.

5. Give the formula of the gas produced in the addition of ammonium chloride to calcium
hydroxide. What test can be done to confirm its presence?
The balanced chemical reaction of ammonium chloride and calcium hydroxide is:
2NH4Cl + Ca(OH)2 = CaCl2 + 2NH3 (g) + 2H2O
The gas produced is NH3.
It can be proven by placing red litmis paper at top the top of the test tube and above the
water during the reaction. And if ammonia gas is present the red litmus will turn blue.
VI. Conclusion

In this experiment, acids and bases can be proven by using the different tests: using the
litmus papers of blue and red, mixing them with methyl orange, phelonphthalein, and
bromthymol blue. Acids turn blue litmus papers into red while bases turn red litmus papers into
blue. Methyl orange turns into red when added with acids while it remains orange or changes to
a similar shade of orange when added to bases. Phenolphthalein proves the neutralization of
substances by making the solutions turn into a purple color. Bromthymol blue changes the
solution into different shades of orange such as yellow orange and red orange when being
added to an acid. While it remains blue when added to a base substance, thus making the
solution blue-colored.
An acids strength can be tested by reacting them with different substances like CaCO3
and aluminium. The faster it dissolves with the substance, the stronger the substance is. Or if
the aluminium settles down or reacts with the substance fast, then it is a strong acid. It means
that it completely ionizes a solution.

Sources/ References:
http://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/Acids-and-Bases/58
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Acids_and_Bases/Ionization_Constants/Acid_a
nd_Base_Strength/How_To_Predict_The_Relative_Strength_Of_Acids
https://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071002031016AAJrU2A
http://blogs.rediff.com/chemistrytutoring/2013/02/13/amphoteric-hydroxides/
http://chemistry.elmhurst.edu/vchembook/186indicator.html
http://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_chemistry_behind_pH_paper_How_does_it_cha
nge_into_different_colors_Is_there_a_single_compound_in_pH_strip_or_many_compounds
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_orange
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenolphthalein
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromothymol_blue
http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-happens-when-you-react-ammonium-chloride-with432408