Academic Language Development Lesson Plan

Content area: Chemistry

Lesson Title: Acids, Bases, pH Scale
Background: This lesson builds upon previous lessons in Chemistry. Students have a basic
understanding of molecules, compounds, balancing chemical equations, types of chemical reactions,
ions, and periodic table trends. This chapter continues the understanding of chemical reactions. Review
the balanced equation for water and characteristics of ions to connect balancing equations and the
hydrogen and hydroxide ions presented in more detail in this lesson.
English language proficiency: Advance beginners to advanced.
Grade: 9,10,11,12
Sunshine State Standards and Benchmarks
CCSS: Standard - SC.912.P.8.11: Relate acidity and basicity to hydronium and hydroxyl ion concentration
and pH.
By the end of the lesson the students should be able to understand that an acid contains an increase in
hydrogen (H+) or hydronium ion (H3O+) concentration, a base contains an increase in hydroxyl ion (OH-)
concentration, and the pH scale is a measurement of the concentrations of both. Allow ESOL students to
have dictionary.
Content objective: The student will be able to
a.
b.
c.
d.

Define pH and pOH

Classify a substance as acidic, basic, or neutral.
Understand the use of indicators to determine pH.
Identify properties of acids and bases.

Language objective:
a. Students will read about the nature of acids and bases and understand key terms
b. Use will use appropriate scientific terms to describe substances as acidic and basic or
neutral.
Key Expressions: Acid, Base pH scale, hydrogen, hydronium, hydroxyl, salt, ion, concentration, indicator,
concentration.
Materials: Power Point presentation (see note, paper copy attached); reference sheet, data sheet and
answer sheet; small containers for testing; pH indicator paper. Containers are filled with substances from
the reference sheet. (The attached reference sheet are suggestions for substances to be measured. If
these are not available other substances may be used. A variety of pH levels should be included. Safety

of reagents should be considered. This lesson uses baking soda, bleach, egg white, lemon juice, milk,
soap, and tomato juice.) A copy of the reading passage, and reading passage worksheet.
Length of lesson: This lesson can be completed in two 45 minute sessions. First the power point is
presented with discussion as necessary. Next the students proceed with the measurements of pH. The
second session reviews the results of pH measurement. Then the reading passage is assigned with the
included worksheet. If needed the reading passage worksheet can be assigned for homework.
Motivation: Have some examples of substances that have different pH such as soap, lemons, oranges,
vinegar, etc. Discuss the usefulness of knowing pH and how useful acids a bases are. For example
making cheese or marinating meats.
Steps and Procedures:
1. Introduction: Discuss what students already know about acids and bases. Do they use them with
cleaning, cooking, washing clothes, water softeners, etc? Introduce the lesson by reviewing the
element hydrogen and how it can combine with other elements. Also review ions and their charges.
Write key words on board: Acid, Base, pH. Discuss prior knowledge with students to determine if they
need any further review. Use the picture reference sheet or examples throughout the lesson to show
common items as acids or bases and the associated pH values (lemons, cleaning supplies, vinegar,
etc.)
2. Presentation (Presentation/Providing input):
a.

Present the attached Power Point presentation. Discuss what an acid is; what a base is; what the
pH scale is; and how they are related. Proceed with lesson using notes attached to power point
slides. Show video demonstrations. Stop when necessary to review key terms for ESOL students.
Monitor their level of attention to be sure they are engaged in learning.

b. Review and demonstrate the proper use of the pH indicator paper. Demonstrate how the students
will measure pH and record their results on the answer sheet. Have the students measure pH of
the substances in the containers.
c.

Assign the reading passage. Have students fill in the reading passage worksheet as they
progress through the passage.

d. Once they have read the passage, discuss the samples and review if they have increased
concentrations of hydrogen or hydroxide ions. Relate how the water in the solution affects the pH
and concentrations of the ions?
3. Practice/Application (Guided Practice/interaction):

a.

If students have access to computers via desktop, laptop or tablet, have them log onto the phet
site to practice the online demonstration of acid/base reactions. If they do not have access
project the site and demonstrate for the whole class. Use the
http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/acid-base-solutions/latest/acid-base-solutions_en.html (Links
to an external site.) site to demonstrate the relationship between pH, H+ and OH-. Continue
reviewing vocabulary. Assess students ability to predict the pH or pOH in relationship to the
concentration of hydrogen or hydroxide.

b. Allow students to measure the pH of various liquids. Have them predict what the pH might be of
the substance before they measure it with the pH paper. Asses their ability to understand the pH
scale as they measure the various liquids. They can record their observations on the attached
data sheet.
c. Once the liquids have been measured the pH can be compared to the chart of pH values. The
students can determine the liquid from comparing the chart and the values they obtained.
d. Have students group results into substances that are acids, bases, or neutral solutions.
4. Reading assignment: The reading passage can be viewed online at
https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-textbook/acids-and-bases15/acids-and-bases-107/nature-of-acids-and-bases-448-10697/ or printed out for each student.
5. Review/Assessment (Evaluation/output):
a. Evaluate students results from the practice section. Review the phET demonstration. What did
they discover using the phet program? Can they explain how the change in pH relates to the
change in concentration of H+ and OH- ions? Where they able to identify the liquids based on
their pH? Review any errors. If they were able to do the lab did the results match with the key?
What may have been a source of error?
b. Hand out the reading assignment worksheet. This worksheet can be used as a quiz or a review.
Students may or may not use the reading passage to help them answer the questions.
6. Extension (Follow-up activities): Set up a combination of solutions with different pH values and
indicators and discuss what will happen when they solutions are mixed. How will the pH change?
Discuss the production of the salt. If it is not feasible to do the demonstration, show the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WNdFxNR9tY and discuss the use of the light source to
determine the solubility of the ions.

References:
Source: Boundless. Nature of Acids and Bases. Boundless Chemistry. Boundless, 10 Nov.
2014. Retrieved 03 Apr. 2015 from https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistrytextbook/acids-and-bases-15/acids-and-bases-107/nature-of-acids-and-bases-448-10697/

Reference Sheet

Unknown
Bottle Number

Results:
pH

What is it?

1.

Milk

2.

Egg whites

3.

12

Bleach

4.

Water

5.

10

Soap

6.

Lemon juice

7.

Tomato juice

8.

Baking Soda

Name: _______________________
pH Lab
Data sheet

Unknown
Bottle Number
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Results:
pH

What is it?

Name: _______________

Pd.______

Nature of Acids and Bases

Answer the following questions:
1. What is an aqueous solutions?
a. A solid
b. A gas
c. A liquid of one substance
d. A liquid in water
2. A substance that is a proton donor is a
a. Lewis acid
b. Arrhenius acid
c. Bronsted Lowry acid
d. Bronsted Lowry base
3. Hydroiodic acid is a
a. Strong acid
b. Weak base
c. Strong base
d. Weak acid
4. A substance that donates an electron pair is considered
a. A Bronsted Lowry acid
b. A Lewis base
c. An Arrehnius acid
d. A Lewis acid
5. In your own words describe the properties of an acid and a base.

6. Describe a neutralization reaction.

Answer Key

Nature of Acids and Bases

Answer the following questions:
1. What is an aqueous solutions?
a. A solid
b. A gas
c. A liquid of one substance
d. A liquid in water
2. A substance that is a proton donor is a
a. Lewis acid
b. Arrhenius acid
c. Bronsted Lowry acid
d. Bronsted Lowry base
3. Hydroiodic acid is a
a. Strong acid
b. Weak base
c. Strong base
d. Weak acid
4. A substance that donates an electron pair is considered
a. A Bronsted Lowry acid
b. A Lewis base
c. An Arrhenius acid
d. A Lewis acid
5. In your own words describe the properties of an acid and a base.
An acid has a pH less than 7. An acid has an increased concentration of
hydrogen ions.
An acid can accept a pair of electrons or donate a proton.
An acid is sour and turns litmus paper from blue to red

A base has a pH greater than 7. A base has an increased concentration

of hydroxide ions.
A base can accept protons from other compounds.
6. Describe a neutralization reaction.
A neutralization reaction is when an acid and base combine to produce
water and salt.

The following is an example of the power point presentation along with the teacher notes. To
view as a power point file presentation please go to
http://mrsparsonschemistryclass.weebly.com and click on the ESOL Lesson Plan Acid/Base
and pH.
Slide 1

Review what the class knows

about acids and bases. Class
what can you tell me about an
acid, about a base?

Slide 2

These are not objects we

usually consider with acids and
bases but lemons contain citric
acid and eggs whites are a
base.

Slide 3

Explain that an acid contains an

extra proton in the form of H+.
When added to water the extra
H+ disassociates to form
hydronium or H30+. A base
will take a H+ from water
leaving the OH- ion. Explain: An
acid is defined as a substance
that produces hydrogen ions
(H+) or hydronium ions (H3O),
hydronium is an H2O molecule
with an extra proton which is
also an extra hydrogen
molecule. The positive
hydrogen ion is simply a proton
without an electron. A base is
defined as a substance that
donates electrons or hydroxide
ions (OH-) or accepts protons.
The pH scale measures the
concentration of hydrogen ions
in a solution. The scale has a
range of 0-14. The lower the
pH, the greater the
concentration of hydrogen ions.
An acid has a pH of less than 7,
a base has a pH of greater than
7 and a substance with a pH of
7 is considered neutral.
ESOL students must know the
H+ stands for the hydrogen
positive ion and the OH- stands
for the hydroxyl negative ion.

Slide 4

When an acid and base are

mixed together the H+ions and
OH- ions form water. Whatever
is left is called a salt.

Slide 5

Review again the acid and

base. Acid is the HCL and the
base is the Sodium hydroxide.
They can be added together to
form salt and water. Table salt is
formed from this reaction but
other reactions can also form
other types of salts.

Slide 6

Watch the video to see how

acids and bases react.

Slide 7

Introduce the pH scale. Explain

that the p stands for
potential and the H stands for
hydrogen. The pH scale is a
measurement of the
concentration of H+ and OHions present in a solution. The
scale is logarithmic meaning
that each place on the scale is
a multiple of ten.

Slide 8

Explain that acids and bases

are very useful and found in
many common things. For ESOL
students, review what each
picture is and what it is used
for. Compare the taste and feel
of the different foods. Acids are
sour, bases are bitter and feel
slippery.

Slide 9

An indicator can be used to

determine the pH of a
substance. Different substances
will change color depending on
the pH. Litmus paper has
substances on them that
change color depending on the
pH.

Slide 10

Play the video to demonstrate

how acids and bases react.

Slide 11

This slide demonstrates the

PhET demonstration. If
available each student or
groups of students can use the
simulation on their own. If not
each student can raise their
hand and decide what variable
should be changed.

Slide 12

Explain that the unknown

liquids will be measured for pH
using the litmus paper.
Record the data in the data
table
Do not insert the litmus into the
liquid.
Use the glass stir rod to drop
the liquid onto the litmus paper.
Once you have recorded all the
pHs, compare them to the
chart of liquids.
Determine which liquid is which
by the pH
Be careful, some liquids may
burn your skin. Do not touch
the liquids.