Introduction
Provide your students with exciting and valuable labs that cover the most important acid–base chemistry concepts! Flinn’s Exploring Chemistry™ is the perfect tool to introduce and have students become excited about learning chemistry. Build a solid foundation for student achievement with five activities—one experiment, two demonstrations and two POGIL™ activities.
Concepts
- Neutralization
- Conductivity
- Solubility
- pH scale
- Active metals
- Antacids
- Indicators
Background
What’s in this Acids and Bases Package?
Your package includes enough chemicals to perform the lab and learning activities listed. Quantities of chemicals are sufficient for three classes of 30 students working in pairs! Instructions for all activities may be found in Acids and Bases, Volume 13 in the Flinn ChemTopic™ Labs series, which is included in the package. Student handouts for each activity may be reproduced for classroom use. Comprehensive instructions and teacher notes, with real sample data and answers to all questions, are also provided for each activity. All of the lab activities were created under the direction of the Flinn Scientific Curriculum Advisory Board of master teachers and then tested and retested to optimize safety and success. These activities truly are the best of the best!
The following activities may be performed in any order. One possible lesson plan is described.
- Properties of Acids and Bases (Experiment)
- Calculating pH (POGIL™ Activity)
- Strong vs. Weak Acids (POGIL Activity)
- Indicator Sponge (Demonstration)
- Upset Tummy? MOM to the Rescue (Demonstration)
Experiment Overview
Properties of Acids and Bases
This is the perfect microscale experiment to explore the properties of aqueous solutions and to classify them as acidic, basic or neutral. In part A, the students utilize microscale equipment, such as well plates and graduated pipets, and classify each solution. Then, in part B, the students perform neutralization reactions. The results will be used to develop working definitions and to analyze the pH scale for identifying acids and bases.
Calculating pH
Assign this POGIL activity to help students understand pH and how this property can be measured using a pH probe or with an indicator paper strip. Students learn what is actually being measured in the solution and the meaning of the pH ranges of 1–14.
Strong vs. Weak Acids
This fun POGIL activity contains a series of guiding questions and figures to help your students understand the difference between a weak acid and a strong acid. It is important for students to differentiate that substances can be acids yet have different properties.
Indicator Sponge
A discrepant event is the perfect method to capture your students’ attention! Dip the indicator sponge into the red solution and have students observe the color change. Then, dip it into the blue solution, and again, students make observations on the color change. Stimulate a lively discussion of possible explanations.
Upset Tummy? MOM to the Rescue!
This is the perfect demonstration to incorporate an example of a consumer product with acid-base properties. Simply add universal indicator and amaze your students with the dramatic spectrum of color changes.
Materials
Properties of Acids and Bases
Acetic acid solution, 0.1 M, 280 mL
Ammonia solution, 0.1 M, 200 mL
Hydrochloric acid solution, 0.1 M, 500 mL
Magnesium ribbon, 12 ft
Phenolphthalein solution, 1%, 100 mL
Sodium hydroxide solution, 0.1 M, 500 mL
Universal indicator solution, 100 mL
Hydrion 1–12 pH test strips, vial of 100, 3
Litmus neutral test paper, vial of 100, 3
Indicator Sponge
Food dye, blue, 15 mL
Food dye, red, 15 mL
Hydrochloric acid solution, 1 M, 700 mL
Sodium hydroxide solution, 1.0 M, 700 mL
Indicator sponge
Upset Tummy? MOM to the Rescue
Hydrochloric acid solution, 3 M, 250 mL
Milk of Magnesia, 150 mL
Universal indicator solution, 50 mL
|
|
|
