-Lab # 12

Title: Indicators
Aim: To investigate the effect of neutral, basic and acidic substances on indicators
Mat/ app: phenolphthalein indicator, universal indicator solution, methyl orange solution
(write in words as well -HCl, NaOH, H2SO4, NH3,) water , 8 droppers, spotting titles, a
sheet of white paper
Diagram: spotting tile with labels
Method:
1. place the spotting tile on a sheet of white paper
2. Use a clean propette to place 4 drops of water in each of wells A1,A2 and A3.
3. Use a clean propette to place 4 drops of hydrochloric acid( 1M HCl) in wells B1, B2 and
B3.
4. Use a clean propette to place 4 drops of sulphuric acid(1M H2SO4) in wells C1, C2 and
C3
5. Use a clean propette to place 4 drops of sodium hydroxide solution( 1M NaOH ) in
wells D1,D2 and D3
6. Use a clean propette to place 4 drops of ammonia solution( 1M NH3) in wells E1,E2 and
E3.
7. Use a clean propette to add 1 drop of phenolphthalein indicator in each of wells
A1,B1,C1,D1 and E1
8. Use a clean propette to add 1 drop of methy orange solution in each of wells A2, B2,
C2,D2 and E2
9. Use a clean propette to add 1 drop of universal indicator solution in each of wells A3,
B3,C3,D3 and E3.
Observation/ Results
Table showing …………….( don’t forget to include an appropriate title)
In HCl(aq) In H2SO4(aq) In NaOH(aq) In NH3(aq) In tap
water
Colour of
phenolphthalein
Colour of
Methyl Orange
Colour of
Universal
indicator
solution

You may also include a pic of your results here

Discussion:
What are indicators?
and how are they used in chemistry ?
what effect/s do bases, acids and neutral substances have on
phenolphthalein?
methyl orange ?
and universal indicator ?
When an acid is dissolved in water we get an acidic solution. When a base dissolves in water it is
alkali and makes an alkaline solution. If a solution is neither acidic nor alkaline it is neutral.
Indicators are substances that change colour when they are added to acidic or alkaline solutions.
Litmus, phenolphthalein, methyl orange and universal indicator solution are all indicators that
are commonly used in the laboratory.
Litmus indicator solution turns red in acidic solutions, blue in alkaline solutions and purple in
neutral solutions. Blue litmus paper turns red in acidic solutions where as red litmus paper turns
blue in alkaline solutions
( do likewise for other indicators)

phenolphthalein –colourless in acidic, colourless in neutral and pink/ magenta in alkaline

methyl orange- red in acidic, yellow in neutral, yellow in alkaline
universal indicator-
Conclusion:

References
Cambridge University Press. (2014). Cambridge International As and A Level Biology Coursebook. United
Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Durant, C. (2013). BIology forCape Examinations. London: Macnillion Education.

MindTouch. (2019, june 5). starch and iodine. Retrieved from Chemistry LibreText:
https://chem.libretexts.org/

Weebly. (2019, 12 11). Food Tests. Retrieved from Brilliant Biology Student:
brilliantbiologystudent.weebly.com