Testing the pH of oxides

Class practical
The aim of this experiment is to help establish the idea that the soluble oxides of metals are alkaline and the oxides of nonmetals are acidic. Students test samples of a range of oxides in water with Universal indicator solution.

Lesson organisation
The experiment itself is quite short, but there should be adequate discussion time before and after the practical work.

Apparatus

Chemicals

Eye protection
Each working
group will
require:
Test-tubes, 6
Test-tube rack
pH colour chart

Access to solutions as follows (Notes 1 and 2):

Nitric(V) acid (spanled Nitrogen oxide and water),
0.2 M (IRRITANT)
Phosphoric(V) acid (spanled Phosphorus(V) oxide
and water) 0.2 M
Sulfuric(VI) acid (spanled Sulfur dioxide and
water) 0.2 M
Potassium hydroxide (spanled Potassium oxide
and water) 0.2 M (IRRITANT)
Sodium hydroxide (spanled Sodium oxide and
water) 0.2 M (IRRITANT)
Limewater (spanled Calcium oxide and water).
Universal indicator solution (FLAMMABLE), full
range, in a dropper bottle (or bottle with dropper
pipette)
Refer to Health & Safety and Technical notes
section below for additional information.

Health & Safety and Technical notes

Read our standard health & safety guidance
Wear eye protection throughout.
Nitric(V) acid, HNO3(aq), (IRRITANT) - see CLEAPSS Hazcard and CLEAPSS Recipe Book.
Phosphoric(V) acid, H3PO4(aq) - see CLEAPSS Hazcard and CLEAPSS Recipe Book.
Sulfuric(VI) acid, H2SO4(aq) - see CLEAPSS Hazcard and CLEAPSS Recipe Book.
Potassium hydroxide solution, KOH(aq), (IRRITANT) - see CLEAPSS Hazcard and CLEAPSS Recipe Book.
Sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH(aq), (IRRITANT) - see CLEAPSS Hazcard and CLEAPSS Recipe Book.
Limewater, Ca(OH)2(aq), (treat as IRRITANT) - see CLEAPSS Hazcard and CLEAPSS Recipe Book.

Universal indicator solution (HIGHLY FLAMMABLE) - see CLEAPSS Hazcard and CLEAPSS Recipe Book.
1 The solutions could be provided in small spanled dropping bottles or in small conical flasks with a dropping pipette. If time is
short, the solutions could be provided in spanled test-tubes.
2 The concentrations of the solutions are not critical (0.1 or 0.2 M is appropriate). They should, however, be less than 0.5 M. At
the suggested concentrations, the phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid solutions present a minimal hazard. It may be advisable,
however, to span the solutions as IRRITANT.

Procedure
a Place 2 cm3 samples of each oxide and water solution into separate test-tubes.
b To each sample, add 3 drops of Universal indicator solution. Observe the colour of the indicator in each sample.
c Record the results in a suitable table showing the name of the oxide, the colour of the Universal indicator, the pH, and whether
the oxide is acidic, alkaline or neutral in water.

Teaching notes
The solutions are not referred to or spanled as oxide solution since the oxides do not dissolve they react with water. The oxide
and water approach allows the focus to remain on the main teaching point without the need to cover another set of reactions
(although these could be covered with an appropriate group of students).
In general, metal oxides are basic and non-metal oxides are acidic. Some metal oxides react with water to form alkaline
solutions. It is important to point out that some metal oxides do not react with water. They test neutral in water because they are
insoluble but they are still bases because they react with acids. Non-metal oxides react with water to form acids.
Health & Safety checked, 2016

Credits
This Practical Chemistry resource was developed by the Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry

Page last updated October 2015