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Common Indicators Used in The Lab

The document discusses common indicators used to test the acidity and alkalinity of solutions in a lab setting. It describes how litmus paper can indicate if a solution is acidic (turns red) or alkaline (turns blue). Universal indicator solution or paper can provide a more precise measurement of the pH level on a scale from 0-14. Other indicators like phenolphthalein and bromothymol blue are also mentioned that change color over specific pH ranges. Neutralization reactions between acids and bases are covered, as well as their use in antacid medicines.

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Mangetsu Hozuki
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189 views4 pages

Common Indicators Used in The Lab

The document discusses common indicators used to test the acidity and alkalinity of solutions in a lab setting. It describes how litmus paper can indicate if a solution is acidic (turns red) or alkaline (turns blue). Universal indicator solution or paper can provide a more precise measurement of the pH level on a scale from 0-14. Other indicators like phenolphthalein and bromothymol blue are also mentioned that change color over specific pH ranges. Neutralization reactions between acids and bases are covered, as well as their use in antacid medicines.

Uploaded by

Mangetsu Hozuki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Common Indicators Used in the Lab

Litmus

Litmus indicator solution turns red in acidic solutions and blue in alkaline solutions. It turns purple in neutral
solutions.

Litmus paper is usually more reliable, and comes as red litmus paper and blue litmus paper. The table shows
the colour changes it can make.

Red litmus Blue litmus


Acidic solution Stays red Turns red
Neutral solution Stays red Stays blue
Alkaline solution Turns blue Stays blue

Universal Indicator and the pH scale

Universal indicator is supplied as a solution or as universal indicator paper.

It is a mixture of several different indicators.

Unlike litmus, universal indicator can show us how strongly acidic or alkaline a solution is, not just that the
solution is acidic or alkaline. This is measured using the pH scale, which runs from pH 0 to pH 14.

Universal indicator has many different colour changes, from red for strongly acidic solutions to dark purple for
strongly alkaline solutions. In the middle, neutral pH 7 is indicated by green.

Important points about the pH scale:

 neutral solutions are pH 7 exactly


 acidic solutions have pH values less than 7
 alkaline solutions have pH values more than 7
 the closer to pH 0 you go, the more strongly acidic a solution is
 the closer to pH 14 you go, the more strongly alkaline a solution is
Other Indicators

There are many other indicators used in the lab. Some of these only work across a small range of pH.

Indicator In Acid In Alkali

Phenolphthalein Colorless Pink

Bromothymol blue Yellow Blue

Methyl red Yellow Red


Methyl orange Red Yellow

Making Neutral Substances

When an acid and a base (or alkali) is mixed in the same amount, they neutralize each other and form a
neutral substance.

This is a chemical reaction that we call a neutralization reaction.

acid + base  neutral substance + water


This is why we use basic (or alkaline) medicines such as milk of magnesia, eno, or digene when we have acid
reflux or heartburn. These medicines are called antacids.

Acid reflux is caused when too much stomach acid is produced.

When we take alkaline medicines, they neutralize this excess stomach acid and make the symptoms of acid
reflux go away.
Questions
1. What is the test for acids and bases using litmus paper?

2. What name is given to those substances which do not change the colour of either red or blue litmus
paper?

3. Name two naturally occurring indicators.

4. Which of the following sets of substances contains acids?


A. Grapes, lime water
B. Vinegar, soap
C. Curd, milk of magnesia
D. Curd, vinegar

5. We use litmus paper and universal indicator paper to check the acidity and alkalinity of substances in
the lab.
(a) Which indicator tells us whether a substance is acidic or basic (alkaline)?

(b) Which indicator tells us how acidic or how basic (alkaline) a substance is?

6. Why does a turmeric stain on a white shirt turns to red when it is washed with soap?

7. Acid rain is a result of air pollution.


Gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides are released into the atmosphere as a result of
burning fossil fuels. These gases combine with rain water and form acid rain.
(a) When acid rain falls on buildings and statues made of marble, it dissolves them. Why do you think
this happens?

(b) Why do fish and plants die when acid rain falls on water bodies?
8. Look at the figure below. What colour is expected, when a piece of red litmus paper is dropped in each
test tube?

9. While playing in a park, a child was stung by a wasp. Some elders suggested applying baking soda
paste and others suggested applying lemon juice as remedy. Which remedy do you think is appropriate
and why?

10. A small amount of hydrochloric acid is always produced in the stomach.


(a) Is it useful or harmful for us?

(b) If excess acid is produced in the stomach, what should we do?

11. You are provided with three test tubes A, B and C as shown in figure below. What will you observe
when you add:
(a) a piece of blue litmus paper in each test tube?

(b) a piece of red litmus paper in each test tube?

(c) a few drops of phenolphthalein solution to each test tube?

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