Chem 14.

1
Experiment 7: Acids, Bases and Salts
Introduction
Acids are reactive to most metals while bases are not. Additionally, acids have a sour taste
and bases taste bitter.
The pH level of bases range from 8-14 in the pH scale while that of acids is lower than 7.
Neutral substances have a pH level of 7.
The reaction between acids and bases is called neutralization.
Key Terms
Acids
Bases
Salts

Neutralization
Titration

Methodology and Results

A. Electrolytes and Household Items
1.
Prepare 5 drops each of the following:
sodium hydroxide C2H5OH
NH4Cl
distilled water
hydrochloric acid C12H22O11
HC2H3O2
Salt
2.
Test each with phenolphthalein, congo red and litmus paper
3.
Note change in color. Classify.
4.
Repeat procedure with the next set of items (diluted): shampoo, conditioner, feminine
wash, liquid sosa, liquid soap, fruit juice, softdrink
5.
Test conductivity of items from A.

B. Preparation of 1M NaOH using NaOH pellets

Molecular mass:
Sodium- 22.99 g/mol
Oxygen 15.99 g/mol
Hydrogen 1.01 g/mol
NaOH = 39.99 g/mol
(1 mol/L) (0.05 L) (39.99 g/mol) = 1.995 g
Pour 1M NaOH solution to a 100-mL
volumetric flask
Dilute with 100-mL distilled water
Use M1V1 = M2V2
(1M) (50mL) = M2 (100 mL)
M2 = 0.5M NaOH
Volume needed to prepare 100-mL of 0.1 M
NaOH
M1 = 0.5 M NaOH
M2 = 0.1 M NaOH
V2 = 100 mL
M1V1 = M2V2
(0.5M)V1 = (0.1M)(100mL)
V1 = 20 mL of NaOH

C.

Titration of an acid with a base

10 mL of unknown concentration of HCl

X (19.21 mL sa source ko) mL of 0.1M NaOH
neutralized unknown soln of HCl
NaOH + HCl NaCl + H2O
(X L of NaOH) (0.1mol NaOH/1 L NaOH) (1
mol HCl/1 mol NaOH) (1/0.01 L HCl)
0.1921 M HCl (from my source) or 0.19M

Discussion
The indicators used in order to classify whether a substance is basic or acidic are the
following: Congo red, litmus paper and phenolphthalein. Litmus paper changes from a blue
color to a red color due to acids while the opposite happens due to bases. No change
indicates that the substance is neutral.
Strong electrolytes are strongly acidic or strongly basic while weak electrolytes are slightly
acidic can be slightly basic. Strong electrolytes dissociate into ions completely while weak
electrolytes do not. Moreover, strong electrolytes are good conductors of electricity opposed
to weak electrolytes.
Titration is
Guide Questions
1. What relationship can be drawn between the acidity/basicity of a substance and its
electrolyte property?
Strong acids have more H+ ions and strong bases have more OH- ions
2.Why are electrolytes conductors of electricity?
Electrolytes produce ions in solution, and ions conduct electricity by transporting electrical
charge from one electrode to another. This then creates a complete electrical circuit, wherein
electricity flows.

The lighting of the bulb is due to electrolytes

Bulbs that lit up with dim light are weak acids or bases as opposed to the
brightly lit ones
which may be strong acids, strong bases or salts
Titration involves the combination of a standard solution (accurately known
concentration) to that of an unknown concentration. Titration ends upon the
completion of the chemical reactions between these two.