Questions / instructions:
Before student arrives:

• put water in the jug;
• set up small containers on the laminated sheet with 1 teaspoon of the appropriate substance in each of them;
• put the water measuring spoon next to the jug,
• put 5 spatulas on the table.

In this activity you will be testing and then sorting household substances by whether they are acids, bases or neither.

First, measure about 2 teaspoons of water into each container with the spoon.
Do that now.

Now, stir the substances in each container with a spatula.
Use a clean spatula for each container.

When the student has finished ask them:
1. Why do you think I asked you to use a clean spatula for each container?

Mentions contamination danger

Now remember that you are going to be testing each substance to see if it is an acid, base or neither.

You can use litmus paper to find out if a substance is an acid or a base. Blue litmus paper goes pink in an acid. Pink litmus goes blue in a base.

Now I want you to test each substance with the litmus paper.
You will need to use a new piece of litmus paper each time.

After you have tested each substance,
write down whether it was an acid, base, or neither.

Acids around the home Results sheet

orange drink

All 5 correct