How to make home made PH scale
To create a homemade pH scale, you will need a few common household ingredients. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make one:
Materials needed:
1. Red cabbage
2. Distilled water
3. Blender
4. Several clear glass containers or bowls
5. Lemon juice (acidic solution)
6. Baking soda (basic solution)
7. Vinegar (slightly acidic solution)
8. Soap solution (slightly basic solution)
9. Various other household substances you want to test
Instructions:
1. Prepare the red cabbage indicator:
a. Chop the red cabbage into small pieces.
b. Put the cabbage pieces into a blender.
c. Add distilled water to the blender until the cabbage is fully covered.
d. Blend the mixture for a few minutes until you have a purple juice.
e. Strain the liquid from the cabbage pulp, and set it aside. This liquid is your red cabbage indicator.
2. Label the containers or bowls:
a. Take the clear glass containers or bowls, and label them with the pH values you want to test (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc.).
3. Prepare the solutions:
a. Pick a substance you want to test, such as lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, or soap solution.
b. Pour a small amount of the substance into one of the labeled containers or bowls.
c. Repeat this step for each substance you want to test, using a new container for each.
4. Test the substances:
a. Pour a small amount of the red cabbage indicator into one of the containers or bowls.
b. Observe any color changes that occur.
c. Compare the colors to the labeled pH values on your homemade pH scale.
d. Repeat this process for each substance, using a new container for each.
5. Assign pH values:
a. Based on the color changes observed, assign a pH value to each substance according to your homemade pH scale.
b. For example, if the indicator turns pink or red, it indicates an acidic substance with a low pH value (below 7). If it turns green or blue, it indicates a basic substance with a high pH value (above 7).
Note: This homemade pH scale is not as accurate as professional pH testing kits or pH meters, but it can provide a general idea of the pH values of different substances using a visual color reference.
To make a homemade pH scale, you will need a few common household items. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
1. Gather the materials: You will need red cabbage, hot water, glass jars or containers, and various acidic and basic substances like lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, and soap.
2. Prepare the indicator: Chop the red cabbage and place it in a heat-resistant container. Pour boiling water over the cabbage, cover it, and let it steep for about 30 minutes. This will extract the natural pigments from the cabbage, which act as a pH indicator.
3. Strain the liquid: After 30 minutes, strain the liquid from the cabbage using a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer. You should be left with a purplish-blue liquid.
4. Create the pH scale: Divide the liquid into several glass jars or containers. Label each jar from 1 to 14, representing the pH scale values.
5. Test the substances: Start by adding a small amount of lemon juice to one of the jars. Observe any change in color. If the color changes, compare it to the color of the jars and identify the pH value that most closely matches the color change. Repeat this process for vinegar, baking soda, soap, and other acidic or basic substances you have available.
6. Determine the pH value: Based on the color change observed, assign a pH value to each jar. For example, if the color of the liquid turns reddish, it indicates an acidic pH, while a greenish color indicates a more neutral pH. A bluish color may indicate a basic pH.
7. Complete the scale: Once you have tested several substances and assigned pH values to the jars, fill in any remaining gaps in the pH scale based on the observed colors.
8. Use the pH scale: You can now use your homemade pH scale to test the acidity or basicity of other substances by comparing their color changes to the jars in your scale.
Please note that this homemade pH scale may not be as accurate as commercially available pH strips or meters, but it can serve as a simple and fun way to understand the concept of pH.