Experiment 1 Neutralization of Acids and Bases

Experiment Inventory
Materials Labware
8 pH test Strips (with color reference chart) 2 Pipettes
5 mL 4.5% Acetic Acid (vinegar), C2H4O2 2 Weigh Boats
0.5 g Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda), NaHCO3 10 mL Graduated Cylinder
*Permanent Marker
100 mL Graduated Cylinder
*Pen or Pencil
250 mL Beaker
*Distilled Water

*Camera / Smart Phone

Note: You must provide the materials listed in *red.

EXPERIMENT 1: NEUTRALIZATION OF ACIDS AND BASES

In this experiment you will learn how to properly neutralize and dispose of acid and basic solutions. The procedure will be part of
lab clean up processes during your General Chemistry Lab experience. Remember, when a solution has a pH of 7 it is considered
neutralized.

PROCEDURE

1. Use the permanent marker to label two of the weigh boats as A and C.
2. Use the permanent marker to label a 250 mL beaker B.
3. Set the containers in the order A, B, and C.
4. Use your 10 mL graduated cylinder to measure and pour 5 mL of water into weigh boat A.
5. Add 0.5 g sodium bicarbonate to beaker B.
6. Use the 100 mL graduated cylinder to measure and pour 100 mL of water into beaker B. Gently pipette the solution up
and down until the sodium bicarbonate is fully dissolved in the water. Leave this pipette in beaker B to mix the solution in
future steps.
7. Use the 10 mL graduate cylinder to measure and pour 5 mL acetic acid solution to weigh boat C.
8. Use the pH test strips to determine if the substances in containers A - C are acidic, basic, or neutral. Briefly dip an un-
used strip of the pH paper in each of the weigh boats. Look at the pH color reference chart to determine the acidic, basic,
or neutral nature of the solutions tested. For an accurate reading, record your color results in Table 1 of your experiment
data sheet immediately after dipping the pH paper.
9. Pipette 1 mL of acetic acid from weigh boat C into beaker B. Ensure the transfer pipette does not touch the solution in
beaker B.
10. Gently pipette the solution in beaker B up and down to mix.
11. Test the pH of beaker B using new pH paper and immediately record your result in Table 1 of your data sheet.
12. Repeat Steps 9-12 four more times until all the acetic acid has been added to beaker B.
Data Sheet Table 1: pH Results
Experiment Data Sheet

Trial Weigh Boat A pH Beaker B pH Weigh Boat C pH