Source Institutions
Source Institutions
Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive

In this fun and in depth hands-on experiment, learners test various liquid samples (distilled water, lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda mixed with water) to determine their pH levels and identify each sample as either acid, base or neutral chemical. Then, over the course of several weeks, learners perform a number of tests and observe the affects of pH level on plants. The wrap up section of this activity discusses acid rain and its dramatic impact on aquatic animals, and tips for going further.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 to 4 weeks
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 11 - 18
- Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- four 3-5 oz. clear plastic cups or 50 mL test tubes
- distilled water (13.5 tbsp.)
- lemon juice (3.5 tbsp.)
- baking soda solution (1 tsp baking soda/3.5 tbsp. water)
- vinegar
- pH wide range tablets
- pH color chart
- 3 small plastic-coated plates or Petri dishes
- 24 corn seeds, radish seeds or lima beans
- vinegar solution (1 cup vinegar/1 cup water)
- baking soda solution (1 cup baking soda/1 cup water)
- 1-liter water sample (rainwater, tap water or local pond or lake water)
- paper towel sheets
- 1-gallon clear plastic storage bags
- rule (cm)
- permanent marker
- student journals and writing tools
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth Structure
- Oceans and Water
-
Earth Structure
-
Life Sciences
-
Diversity of Life
- Plants
- Animals
-
Ecology
- Ecosystems
- Human Impact
-
Human Senses and Perception
- Smell
-
Diversity of Life
-
Physical Sciences
-
Chemistry
- Acids and Bases
- Chemistry of Life
- Solutions
-
Chemistry
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
-
The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- read
- smell
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Source Collection
- Science After School Consumer's Guide
Rights:
- All rights reserved, State of New Jersey, 2006
Funding Source:
- No Child Left Behind Act of 2001