Group # ____

Experiment #3
Acids and Bases (Vegetable Indicator)

Objectives:
To test the physical and chemical properties of some common acids, bases and salts.
To identify plants that can be used as acid-base indicators
To determine qualitatively the pH of a solution; and
To observe color changes associated with pH changes.

Background:
A convenient way of determining the acidity and basicity of substance is through pH. It is a
measurement of concentration of hydronium ions (H3O+) in a solution. If the solution has a greater
hydronium (H3O+) concentration, it will have a lower pH and therefore it is acidic. However, a basic
solution has less hydronium ion concentration with a higher pH value. The pH scale is range of numbers
from 0 to 14. The lower the pH value of a solution, the more acidic is the solution. On the other hand,
the higher the pH value of the solution, the more basic the solution. Substances with pH equal to 7 are
considered to be neutral.
An indicator is the substance that changes color depending on the pH. This is quiet convenient because
you can actually see the color change. In addition, most indicators come from natural sources. Plants
usually contains pigments called flavins, an anthocyanin that are sensitive to pH changes.

Materials:
Camote leaves Medicine Dropper
Small Basin Plastic cups (6 or 8 oz)
Electric kettle Water

Reagents:
Baking soda Bleach
Calamansi Juice Carbonated Drinks
Milk (any brand you prefer) Distilled Water
Vinegar Soap (soaked in water)
Urine Shampoo (soaked in water)

Procedures:
1. Prepare the 10 clean plastic cups and write the samples that you want to put in each cup
2. Put the samples in their respective plastic cups.
3. Boil the water using electric kettle by putting camote leaves inside.
4. After boiling, put it out on the small basin.
5. Get a medicine dropper to pour the boiled water in each given samples.
6. Put the boiled camote leaves at least 10 – 15 drops each samples.
7. Observe the color changes in each samples and tabulate the results.

Test the pH of the given samples listed in the table below and classify each samples as acidic, basic or
neutral
Samples pH levels Acidic, Basic or Neutral
Baking Soda
Calamansi juice
 Milk
Vinegar
Urine
Bleach
Carbonated Drinks
Distilled Water
Soap
Shampoo

Guide Questions:
1. What is the color of your indicator at neutral pH?
2. What color changes did you observe from acidic going to basic?
3. Which among the samples have similar pH values?

Generalization: