:Acid or Base?
Trend Task
Loading Images

Approach:  Station Level: Year 8
3.9Mb
Focus: Testing acid or base 
Resources: 5 small sample cups with solution in each, layout sheet, 6 teaspoons,
5 ice block sticks, litmus paper

Questions/instructions:

Set out the equipment before the experiment begins, as follows. Set up the 5 small sample glasses in the correct place on the layout sheet. Put a teaspoonful of the appropriate substance into each container and half fill the container with water. Mix well using a clean ice block stick for each solution. The solutions and the litmus papers need to be replaced for each student.

You have five different solutions set out on the mat.Use the litmus paper to find out if each solution is an acid,a base or neither. Use a new piece of litmus paper for each solution.

An acid turns blue litmus paper pink.
A base turns pink litmus paper blue.

% responses
2003 ('99)
y8
 
Tick one box for each solution
 
acid
base
not acid or base
orange juice
3
cleaner
3
vinegar
3
water
3
baking soda
3
 
 
 
83 (73)
82 (69)
84 (78)
88 (88)
78 (70)
2. If an acid was spilt and was making a hole in the carpet what could you do to help stop the acid from working?
add a base (to neutralise acid)
43 (38)
add water (to dilute)
43 (45)
   
Total score:



6
32 (23)
5
38 (36)
4
10 (12)
2–3
12 (16)
0–1
8 (13)
Commentary
Students enjoyed this task and performed quite well. There was a modest improvement between 1999 and 2003.
 
Loading Images