CHEMISTRY HSC MODULE 2 - THE ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT

Essay by rabeh223High School, 12th grade August 2008

download word file, 16 pages 5.0 1 reviews

Downloaded 35 times

YEAR 12 CHEMISTRY

HSC MODULE 2: THE ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT

Indicators were identified by observing that the colour of some flowers depends on soil composition.

Classify common substances as acidic, basic or neutral.

Strong acidic solution has a pH range of 1-3, whereby a weak acidic solution has a pH range of 4-6. However, a strong basic solution has a pH range of 12-14, and a weak basic solution of 8-11. A solution of pH 7 is considered neutral.

ACIDIC

NEUTRAL

BASIC

Vinegar

Fruit juices

Carbonated soft drinks (e.g. coke)

Car battery acid

Lactic acid

Water

Salt water

Glucose solution

Alcohol-water solutions

Lactose solution

Ammonia solutions

Washing soda solution

Baking soda solution

Lime water

Oven cleaners

Identify that indicators such as litmus, phenolphthalein, methyl orange and bromothymol blue can be used to determine the acidic or basic nature of a material over a range, and that the range is identified by change in indicator colour.

Chemists have developed a wide range of synthetic acid-base indicators.

These indicators allow chemists to determine the range of acidity or basicity within very narrow limits.

Identify and describe some everyday uses of indicators including the testing of soil acidity and basicity.

Indicators are used for several things such as monitoring or finding the pH of swimming pools or testing the acidity of soil.

Testing pH of swimming pools

PH of swimming pools should be near 7.4 so to avoid any health problems such as irritation in eyes of skin.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is added to kill microbes. This then reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid and hydroxide ions.

Hydroxide ions raise the basicity of the water, thus HCl is added to return water to normal pH.

Phenol red is a suitable indicator in determining the correct acidity level...