Qtr1 module2 acids & bases revised april 4

Suggested time allotment: 5 to 6 hours

MODULE
ACIDS AND BASES
2
In Module 1, you identified common properties of solutions using
different methods. You learned how to report the amount of the components
in a given volume of solution. You also found out that not all solutions are
liquid. Some of them are solids and others are gases. Towards the end of the
module, you investigated the factors that affect how fast a solid dissolves in
water.

Most of the solutions you studied in Module 1 form two classes or
groups of materials that are related to each other and are important in daily
life. They have common properties that can easily be identified. What do
you think are common properties among vinegar, calamansi juice, and soft
drinks? What are common among liquid sosa (drain cleaners), soaps, and
detergents? Which among these are called acids? Which are classified as
bases?

In this module, you will investigate the properties of acids and bases
using an indicator, a dye that changes into a specific color depending on
whether it is placed in an acid solution or in a basic one. Aside from
knowing the uses of acids and bases, you will also find out the action of
acids on metals and think of ways to reduce the harmful effects of acids.
Knowing the properties of acids and bases will help you practice safety in
handling these solutions, not only in this grade level, but in your future
science classes.

How acidic or basic are common household solutions?
Does water from different sources have the same acidity?
What is the effect of acid on some familiar metals?

__________________________________________________________________________

Activity 1

How can you tell if a solution is an acid or a base?
Acids and bases are all around us. How will you know if a solution is
an acid or a base? In this activity, you will distinguish between acids and
bases based on their color reactions to an indicator. An indicator is a dye
that changes into a different color depending on whether it is in acids or in
bases. There are many indicators that come from plant sources. Each
indicator dye has one color in an acidic solution and a different color in a
basic solution. A common indicator is litmus, a dye taken from the lichen
plant. Litmus turns red in acid solutions and becomes blue in basic
solutions.

You will first make your own acid-base indicator solution from plant
indicators available in your place. This is a colorful activity. You may select
a local plant in your community. You can use any of the following: violet
eggplant peel, purple camote peel, red mayana leaves or violet Baston ni San
Jose. These plant materials contain anthocyanins. These plant pigments
produce specific colors in solutions of different acidity or basicity.

In this activity, you will:

1. Prepare a plant indicator from any of the following plants: violet
eggplant peel, purple camote peel, red mayana leaves or violet
Baston ni San Jose;

2. Prepare indicator paper using the plant indicator; and

3. Find out if a given sample is acidic or basic using the indicator.

It is dangerous to taste
or touch a solution in
TAKE
order to decide if it is an
CARE!
acid or a base.

Grade 7 Science: Matter 2
Diversity of Materials in the Environment

Part A. Preparation of Indicator*

In this part of Activity 1, you will prepare a plant indicator that you
will use to determine if a given material is an acid or a base.

Materials Needed

1 pc mature, dark violet eggplant or camote leaves of Mayana or
Baston ni San Jose
alum (tawas) powder
sharp knife or peeler
small casserole or milk can
plastic egg tray or small transparent plastic cups
brown bottle with cover
alcohol lamp
tripod

Procedure

1. Peel an eggplant as thin as possible. (You may also use the skin of
purple camote or the leaves of red mayana or Baston ni San Jose.)

Cut the materials into small pieces and place in a small casserole or
milk can. You may keep the flesh of the eggplant or camote for other
purposes.

2. Add about ⅓ to ½ cup tap water to the peel depending on the size of the
eggplant or camote used. Boil for 5 minutes. Stir from time to time.

3. Transfer only the solution into a bottle while it is still hot. There is no
need to filter, just remove the solid portion. The solution may change if
left in open air for more than 5 minutes.

4. Immediately add a pinch (2-3 matchstick head size) of alum (tawas)
powder into the solution or until the solution becomes dark blue in
color. Stir well while still hot. This is now the indicator solution.

Note: Alum will stabilize the extract. The extract will be more stable with alum
but it is recommended that the solution be used within a few days. Keep the
extract in the refrigerator or cool dark place when not in use.

*University of the Philippines. National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education
Development (2001). Practical work in high school chemistry: Activities for students.
Quezon City:Author, pp. 29-33.

Part B. Determining the acidity or basicity of some common household
items

In this part of the activity, you will find out if a given household
material is acidic or basic using the plant indicator you have prepared in
Part A.

Materials Needed

vinegar
distilled water
tap water
baking soda
baking powder
calamansi
Other food/home items with no color:
(toothpaste, shampoo, soap, detergent, fruit juice like buko
juice, sugar in water, soft drink)
2 plastic egg trays or 12 small plastic containers
6 droppers
6 plastic teaspoons
stirrer (may be teaspoon, barbecue stick or drinking straw)

Procedure

1. Place one (1) teaspoon of each sample in each well of the egg tray.

2. Add 8-10 drops (or ½ teaspoon) of the indicator solution to the first
sample.

Note: If the sample is solid, wet a pinch (size of 2-3 match heads) of the solid
with about ½ teaspoon of distilled water.

Use one dropper for one
TAKE kind of sample. Wash each
dropper after one use. Do
CARE! not mix samples!

3. Note the color produced. Record your observations in column 2 of
Table 1.


Table 1. Acidic or basic nature of household materials

Sample Color of indicator Nature of sample
calamansi
tap water (water from
the faucet)
Distilled water
vinegar
sugar in water
baking soda
baking powder
soft drink (colorless)
coconut water (from
buko)
toothpaste
shampoo
soap

4. Repeat step number 1 of Part B for the other samples.

5. Determine the acidic/basic nature of your sample using the color
scheme below for eggplant or camote indicator and record the nature of
each sample in Table 1.

Strongly acidic: red to pale red
Weakly acidic: blue
Weakly basic: green
Strongly basic: yellow

Part C. Determining the acidity or basicity of water from different
sources

In this part of Activity 1, you will find out how acidic or basic the
samples of water from different sources are.


Materials Needed

At least one cup water from each of the following sources of water:

rainwater
river, lake or stream
pond
canal
faucet
deep well or hand pump
bottled water (mineral water) or distilled water
2 plastic egg trays or 8 small plastic containers
6 droppers
6 plastic teaspoons

Procedure

1. Place one (1) teaspoon of each sample in each well of the egg tray.

2. Add 8-10 drops (or ½ teaspoon) of the indicator solution to the first
sample.

Note: If the sample is solid, wet a pinch (size of 2-3 match heads) of the solid
with about ½ teaspoon of distilled water.

Use one dropper for
one kind of sample.
TAKE
Wash each dropper
CARE!
after one use.
Do not mix samples!

3. Note the color produced. Record your observations in column 2 of
Table 2.


Table 2. Acidic or basic nature of water from different sources

Water sample from
Color of indicator Nature of sample
source
rainwater
river, lake or stream
pond
canal
water from faucet

4. Determine the acidic/basic nature of your sample using the color
scheme below for eggplant or camote indicator and record the nature of
each sample in Table 2.

Strongly acidic: red to pale red
Weakly acidic: blue
Weakly basic: green
Strongly basic: yellow

Part D. Preparing an eggplant/camote acid-base indicator paper

Note: This activity is optional. You may do this if you need to use an
indicator to test solutions in other science activities.

1. Pour the indicator solution prepared in Part A into a shallow plastic or
ceramic container. (Do not use a metal container.)

2. Cover the entire filter or bond paper with the indicator solution by
dipping the paper into the solution.

3. Air dry for about five minutes. (There is no need to air dry the paper
completely at this point.)

4. Repeat procedure numbers 1 and 2 three times or until the color of the
paper becomes dark.

5. Continue drying the indicator paper. When the paper is completely dry,
cut the paper into small square pieces. This is your indicator paper. Keep
it in a covered bottle.

6. Label the bottle properly (with name of material and date of preparation).
______________________________________________________________________


You can now operationally distinguish between acids and bases using
indicators. More than that, using the plant extract you have prepared
allowed you to further determine the degree of acidity/basicity of a solution,
that is, you were able to find out how strongly acidic or basic the solutions
were.

Another method can be used to distinguish acids from bases. It is
through the use of the pH scale, which extends from 0 to 14. The pH scale
was proposed by the Danish biochemist S.P.L. Sorensen. In this scale, a
solution with pH 7 is neutral. An acidic solution has a pH that is less than 7.
A basic solution has a pH that is greater than 7. In general, the lower the
pH, the more acidic the solution and the higher the pH, the more basic is
the solution.

It is useful for you to know the pH of some samples of matter as
shown in Table 1 and illustrated in the pH scale drawn in Figure 1.

Table 3*. The pH values of some samples of matter

Solution pH
Gastric juice 1.6-1.8
Lemon juice 2.1
Vinegar (4%) 2.5
Softdrinks 2.0-4.0
Urine 5.5-7.0
Rainwater (unpolluted) 5.6
Milk 6.3-6.6
Saliva 6.2-7.4
Pure water 7.0
Blood 7.4
Fresh egg white 7.6-8.0
Seawater 8.4
Laundry detergents 11
Household bleach 12.8
Drain cleaner 13.0

*Adapted from: Hill, J. W. & Kolb, D. K. (1998). Chemistry for changing times, 8th
ed., p. 187.


Figure 1. The pH values of some samples of matter.

__________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2
Color range, pH scale!

In this activity, you will use the results in Activity 1, Parts B and C, to
determine the pH of the solutions you tested. Use the following pH scale for
eggplant indicator to determine the pH of the common solutions you tested
in Activity 1. Present your results in a table similar to Table 3.

The eggplant indicator shows the following color changes.

pH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
red/ pale/ blue /green /yellow
red

ACIDIC N BASIC
E
U
T
becoming more acidic R becoming more basic
A
L


Table 4. pH of samples from Activity 1

Sample pH based on eggplant/camote Acidic or Basic
indicator

___________________________________________________________________________

Now that you are aware of the pH of some common solutions, why do
you think is it important to know about pH? The following facts give you
some information on how pH affects processes in the body and in the
environment, as well as in some products you often use.

Importance of pH

pH and the Human Body

Acids and bases perform specific functions to balance the pH levels in
the body. When your body has too much carbon dioxide, the blood becomes
too acidic. You breathe slowly. Breathing is slowed to increase the pH in the
blood. If pH in the body is too basic, you will hyperventilate to lower the pH.
This acid and base control is an important part of biological homeostasis
(balance) in humans. In fact, human life is sustained only if the pH of our
blood and body tissues is within a small range near 7.4.

Use of pH in Food Processing and Fruit Preservation

During food processing, pH is closely followed. Changes in pH affect
the growth of microorganisms, which cause food spoilage. Most bacteria
grow best at or near pH 7. To prevent the growth of harmful bacteria,
pickling is an effective food preservation method because it lowers pH.


The control of pH is also needed in wine and jam preparation. A few
species of bacteria grow in a basic medium of pH 9-10. This is the pH range
of stale eggs. Most molds grow within the pH range of 2- 8.5. In acidic
conditions, many fruits and products made from fruits are easily attacked
by molds unless the fruits are properly protected.

Control of pH in Soil

The pH of soil is very important. Some plants grow well in acidic soil
while others prefer basic soil. Farmers need to know the pH of their soil
since plants will only grow in a narrow pH range. The pH also affects how
much nutrients from the soil become available to plants.

Most plants in the Philippines grow in acidic soils. These plants are
banana, kaimito, durian, pineapple, soybean, coffee, eggplant, squash,
kamote, and rice. Other plants like grapes and pechay require basic soils.
Some plants grow best in almost neutral soil like orange, peanut,
watermelon, beans, cabbage, tomato, corn garlic, and onion.

pH of Rainwater

The average pH of rain is 5.6. This slightly acidic pH is due to the
presence of carbon dioxide in the air. In many areas of the world, rainwater
is much more acidic, sometimes reaching pH 3 or even lower.

Rain with a pH below 5.6 is called “acid rain.” The acidic pollutants in
the air that come from the burning of fuels used in power plants, factories,
and vehicles produce gases which are acidic. These gases enter the
atmosphere and dissolve in water vapor in the air. Some acid rain is due to
natural pollutants like those from volcanic eruptions and lightning.

Maintaining pH of Personal Care Products

Most personal care products have pH kept at specific levels to avoid
harmful effects on the body. This is true for hair products. For example, at
pH 12, hair already dissolves, that is why hair removers usually have pH of
11.5 to12. Most shampoos are within the pH range of 4 to 6. This is
because the pH of the product must be compatible with that of the hair,
which is in the range pH 4 to 5. Hair is least swollen and is strongest at this
pH range. But very often, using shampoo leaves the hair basic. So, in order
to avoid eye irritation and stinging, shampoos for infants and children have
a pH similar to that of tears (pH 7.4).


Hair has a protective covering called sebum. The use of conditioners
after using shampoo puts back this oily coating and penetrates the hair
shaft itself.

You may look up other references to learn more about the importance
of knowing about pH.

Now that you have discussed with your teacher the importance of
keeping the proper pH in the human body, in food processing and food
preservation, in farming and in personal care products, it is also essential
that you know the effects of acids on some common metals. An important
property of acids is their tendency to react with certain metals. At higher
grade levels, you will learn that the nature of the metal determines how it is
affected by specific types of acid. However, in this grade level, you will
simply investigate the effect of an acid on two common metals, iron and
copper.

Effect of Acid on Metals

What do you think will happen when an acid and a metal come in
contact with each other? What happens after the metal has been in contact
with the acid for some time? What changes take place?

In Activity 3, you will investigate the effect of an acid on two common
metals, iron and copper. In Module 1, you have learned that vinegar is about
4.5% acetic acid. You will be using vinegar in this investigation since it is
safe to handle and easily available. Vinegar will simply be an example that
can show the action of an acid when it comes in contact with a metal. There
are other acids that affect metals but you will learn about them in Grades 8
and 9.

___________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3

What happens to metals when exposed to acids?
Objective

In this activity, you will find out the effect of an acid, like vinegar, on
iron.


Materials Needed

3 pieces, small iron nails (about 2.5 cm long)
1 cup white vinegar (with 4.5 to 5 % acidity)
3 small, clear bottles or 100 mL beaker
1 cup water
2 droppers

Procedure

1. Prepare a table similar to the one below.

Setup Observations
After one day After 2 days After 3 days
Iron nail (1)

Iron nail (2)

Iron nail (3)

2. Clean and wide dry all the iron nails and the bottles.

3. Place one piece of the iron nail in each bottle.

Q1. Why do you think are there three different bottles for each sample of
iron nail?

3. Put two to three drops (just enough to barely cover the sample) of vinegar
on top of the iron nail in each bottle.

4. After adding vinegar to all samples, put aside the bottles where you can
observe changes for three days.

5. Write your observations after one day, two days, and three days on the
data table in step #1.

Q2. At the end of three days, describe completely what happened to each
sample.

Q3. Give explanations for the results you have observed.


You have observed the action of acid on metals such as iron in Activity
3. Do you think other types of acids act in the same way with other metals?
What about other types of materials? You will learn a lot more about the
action of acids on metal and different types of materials in Grades 8 and 9.

Safety in Handling Acids and Bases

Now that you know the properties of acids and bases, you can handle
them carefully. Acids and bases with high concentrations can cause serious
burns. For example, hydrochloric acid (commonly called muriatic acid) is
used in construction to remove excess mortar from bricks and in the home
to remove hardened deposits from toilet bowls. Concentrated solutions
(about 38% hydrochloric acid) cause severe burns, but dilute solutions can
be used safely in the home if handled carefully. You can find the following
caution in a bottle of muriatic acid:

Harmful or fatal if swallowed.
Strong irritant to eye, skin, and mucous
membrane. Do not take internally.
Avoid contact with eyes, nose and mouth.
Use only in well ventilated areas. Keep
tightly sealed. Do not store above 60 oC.
Keep out of reach of children.

Acids can easily “eat away” your skin and can make holes in clothes.
However, since vinegar is only 5% acetic acid, it will not irritate the skin and
destroy clothes.

Sodium hydroxide (commonly called lye or liquid sosa) is used to open
clogged kitchen and toilet pipes, sinks, and drains. Its product label shows
the following warning:

POISON. Avoid contact with any part of
the body. Causes severe eyes and skin
damage and burns. Store in a cool dry place
and locked cabinet. Harmful or fatal if
swallowed.


For your safety, you should make it a habit to read product labels
before using them. It is also important to know the proper way of storing
these products, as shown in the label of liquid sosa.

What happens when acids and bases combine?

Look back at the pH color chart of Activity 2. You will find a pH value
that is not acidic or basic. Solutions that are not acidic or basic are called
neutral solutions. When an acid mixes with a base, water and salt are
produced. Such a process is called neutralization. You will observe
neutralization from a demonstration that your teacher will perform.

Observe what happens when about one teaspoon of baking soda,
called sodium hydrogen carbonate (or sodium bicarbonate) is dissolved in 10
mL of vinegar.

What is the pH of the vinegar? What is the pH of the baking soda?
When the eggplant indicator was placed in the container after the baking
soda was mixed with the vinegar, what happened to the pH of the solution?
Write all your observations.

From your teacher’s demonstration, you observed that if a base is
added to a solution of an acid, the solution will no longer have the properties
of the acid (vinegar). In the same way, if enough acid is added to a solution
of a base, the properties of the base (baking soda) are changed. This is
because the vinegar and the baking soda neutralize each other to produce a
solution with a different set of properties.

The process of neutralization has some uses in everyday life. The
following are some examples:

Treating insect stings. When a bee stings, it injects an acidic liquid into
the skin. The sting can be neutralized by rubbing baking soda (sodium
hydrogen carbonate) on the affected part of skin and it will reduce the
pain.

Treating indigestion. Our stomach produces acid, called hydrochloric
acid to help in the digestion of food. If we eat too much food, the
stomach produces more acid which leads to indigestion and pain. To
cure indigestion, the extra acid must be neutralized by tablets called
antacids. These contain bases to neutralize the excess acid in the
stomach.


Using toothpaste to avoid tooth decay. Bacteria in the mouth can
change sweet types of food into acid. The acid then attacks the outermost
part of the tooth and leads to tooth decay. Toothpaste contain bases that
can neutralize the acid in the mouth.

Treating soil. You will recall in the earlier part of this module that some
plants grow well in acidic soil while others prefer basic soil. Farmers
need to know the pH of their soil. Most often, the soil gets too acidic.
When this happens, the soil is treated with bases such as quicklime
(calcium oxide), slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or calcium carbonate.
The base is usually spread on the soil by spraying.

Treating factory waste. Liquid waste from factories often contains acid.
If this waste reaches a river, the acid will kill fish and other living things.
This problem can be prevented by adding slaked lime to the waste in
order to neutralize it.

After completing this module, you learned about the properties of
acids and bases, two classes of solutions important in everyday life. You can
now prepare indicators from plants anytime you need to use them. You are
more aware of the use of the pH scale, which will become more helpful as
you study science in higher grade levels. You now recognize the importance
of knowing the acidity or basicity of common solutions we use, as well as the
relevant uses of the process of neutralization.

References and Links

Brady, J.E. & Senese, F. (2004). Chemistry: Matter and its changes, 4th
edition. River Street Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Bucat, R.B. (Ed.) (1984). Elements of chemistry: Earth, air, fire & water,
Volume 2. Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia: Australian Academy of
Science.

Bucat, R. B. (Ed.) (1983). Elements of chemistry: Earth, air, fire & water,
Volume 1. Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia: Australian Academy of
Science.

Burns, R. A. (1999). Fundamentals of chemistry, 3rd edition. Upper Saddle
River, N.J. Prentice-Hall, Inc.


Elvins, C., Jones, D., Lukins, N., Miskin, J., Ross, B., & Sanders, R. (1990).
Chemistry one: Materials, chemistry in everyday life. Port Melbourne,
Australia: Heinemann Educational Australia.

Gallagher, R. & Ingram, P. (1989). Co-ordinated science: Chemistry. Oxford,
England: Oxford University Press.

Heffner, K. & Dorean, E. (n.d.) Must it rust? The reaction between iron and
oxygen. Retrieved Feb 16, 2012 from
http://www.haverford.edu/educ/knight-booklet/mustitrust.htm

Heyworth, R. M. (2000). Explore your world with science discovery 1. First
Lok Yang Road, Singapore. Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.

Hill, J.W. & Kolb, D.K. (1998). Chemistry for changing times, 8th edition.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Philippines. Department of Education. (2004).Chemistry: Science and
technology textbook for 3rd year. (Revised ed.). Quezon City: Author.


Qtr1 module2 acids & bases revised april 4

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