Student Name: Julia DiOrio

Subject: Chemistry
Topic: pH
Grade Level: 10-11
Duration: 15-20 min
Essential Questions: What is pH and how does it affect the color of a solution containing an indicator?
Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs):
CH.4 The student will investigate and understand that chemical quantities are based on molar relationships. Key
concepts include:
a) Avogadros principle and molar volume;
b) stoichiometric relationships;
c) solution concentrations; and
d) acid/base theory; strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes, and nonelectrolytes; dissociation and
ionization; pH and pOH; and the titration process.
Objectives:
Students will know:
o that pH is a number scale ranging from 0 to 14 that represents the acidity of a solution
o the pH number denotes hydrogen (hydronium) ion concentration
o indicators are used to show pH
Students will understand that changes in hydronium concentration (pH) affect the color of solutions
containing an indicator.
Students will be able to predict the color of an indicator solution at a specified pH.
Materials/Resources:
Equipment:
6 250-mL beakers
2 1000-mL beakers
1 2000-mL Erlenmeyer Flask
6 disposable pipettes

Chemical:
~1 L of 0.5M NaOH solution
~50 mL of concentrated (12M) H2SO4
solution
phenolphthalein
thymolphthalein
p-nitrophenol
~100-300 mL of 50% or 95% ethanol
distilled water

Safety
Sulfuric acid has a strong odor, is moderately toxic by ingestion and corrosive to eyes, skin, and other
body tissues. It generates considerable heat when diluted with water; always add acid to water. Splash
goggles, chemical resistant apron, and chemical resistant gloves should be worn when handling. Spills
should be neutralized by calcium hydroxide. Tissue that comes in contact with the acid should be
flushed or cleaned for at least 15 minutes. If ingested, consume 1 to 2 cups of milk followed by Milk of
Magnesia and contact Poison Control (MSDS: sulfuric acid, 2010).
Sodium hydroxide is odorless, slightly toxic by ingestion and skin absorption, irritating to body tissue,
and can cause severe eye burns. Splash goggles, chemical resistant apron, and chemical resistant gloves
should be worn when handling. Spills can be disposed of by sand or absorbent materials. Tissue that
comes in contact with the acid should be flushed or cleaned for at least 15 minutes. If ingested, dilute
with large quantities of water and contact Poison Control (MSDS: sodium hydroxide, 2010).
Students will have completed a safety certification lesson at the beginning of the year, so the class
will be able to discuss the dangers of the two major chemicals used in this demonstration with reference
to the MSDS sheets. Additionally, I will talk through my safety precautions as I perform the
demonstration. (For example, Now, I put on my goggles and gloves before I come near any chemicals
to protect myself from splashes.

Disposal: The final solution contains a salt and water, and it can be poured down the drain.

Procedures:
Procedures should be appropriate in scope, sequence [introduction, demo presentation, and closure] and in time
frame. They should be aligned with the objective(s), activities and assessment.
Preparation: (~15 min)
1. Label 6 beakers RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, BLUE, GREEN, and VIOLET
2. Using a balance, measure out the appropriate masses of indicator for each color as follows:
a. RED: 1.5 g phenolphthalein + 3.0 g p-nitrophenol
b. ORANGE: 0.45 g phenolphthalein + 6.0 g p-nitrophenol
c. YELLOW: 6.0 g p-nitrophenol
d. GREEN: 0.6 g thymolphthalein + 6.0 g p-nitrophenol
e. BLUE: 1.5 g thymolphthalein
f. VIOLET: 0.9 g phenolphthalein + 0.4 g thymolphthalein
3. Add enough ethanol to each beaker to completely dissolve the powdered indicators
4. Label the 6 250-mL beakers the same colors as indicated above
5. Using the disposable pipettes, put 3-4 drops of the correct indicator in each beaker
6. Set those beakers aside to dry for a few hours or overnight
7. Make the NaOH solution by adding 1 g of solid NaOH to 1000 mL of distilled water (The
demonstration requires roughly 1 L of NaOH solution.)
Introduction: (~2 min)
A brief introduction to the class that we will be discussing pH and pH indicators in todays lesson as
well as a review of safety while handling strong acids and bases.
o What safety precautions should be taken?
Demonstration: (~5 min)
1. Arrange the 6 beakers containing the dried indicators so the spectrum of colors is presented to the
audience
2. Use the large 1000-mL beakers to hold the NaOH solution
3. Use the 2000-mL Erlenmeyer flask to hold approximately 50 mL of H2SO4 solution
4. Pour enough NaOH solution into each beaker in order to develop the correct color (NOTE: Not all
beakers will have the same amount of solution, and it takes approximately 150 mL for each.)
a. **Showmanship opportunity as the clear NaOH solution will magically change color in a
new beaker as students will not be able to see the dried indicator at the bottom.
5. If a color does not come out the correct hue, use a stir rod or wood splint to stir the solution or add more
indicator to the solution
6. Once all colors are developed, pour each beaker into the Erlenmeyer flask containing the sulfuric acid
Conclusions: (~10 min)
The demonstration will conclude by revealing to the students that one beaker contains sodium
hydroxide and the other contains sulfuric acid. Additionally, they will be informed that each beaker
contained a different indicator and be provided a chart to show where color changes happen for the
various indicators used.
We will hold a class-wide discussion to piece together what has happened chemically in this
demonstration:
o Shown a chart of indicator color changes with pH, what pH is the initial solution poured into
the beakers?
o If the pH must be above 9, is the solution an acid or a base? Why?
o If the initial solution is a strong base, NaOH, then the Erlenmeyer flask must contain the
sulfuric acid. What kind of reaction occurs when we mix a strong acid with a strong base?
o What is the pH of the final solution?
Assessment:
Students will be assessed using a short exit card activity asking three questions:
o Circle the correct answers: A pH of 12 indicates a (acidic/basic) solution that is (high/low) in
hydronium concentration.
o Why does pH decrease with the addition of an acid to a basic solution?

Provided an indicator chart: What color would a solution with a pH of 4 turn if phenolphthalein
were added?

Closure:
The lesson will conclude with a question posed by the teacher: You have discovered an unlabeled
solution, and you dont know if it is acidic or basic. How would you determine its pH?
o This will require students to synthesize all they have leaned about pH and indicators to design a
rough experimental procedure.
Students will work in pairs to come up with a plausible experiment and a few groups will be chosen at
random to share their ideas.
Accommodations for individual differences:
Students with certain physical disabilities will be allowed to sit closer to the demonstration so that they
may see and/or hear better.
Intentional grouping can be used for the final closure activity so that students that grasped the concepts
easily might help struggling students.
More scaffolding from the teacher may be needed for English Language Learners to understand
difficult content area vocabulary in order to complete their exit cards.
Behavioral and organizational strategies:
Appropriate lab safety will be the major focus to model in this demonstration. Students will see proper
lab attire, use of gloves and safety goggles, as well as how to handle strong acids and bases.
o At the end of the demonstration, a neutralized salt solution can be poured down the sink. It may
be useful to ask students if they would drink a solution they could pour down the sink. This
would be a useful reminder that you should never ingest anything in the lab as you can never be
certain of what solutions contain or to what strength.
Resources/References:
Material Safety Data Sheet: sulfuric acid (1M-6M). (Nov. 19, 2010). Flinn Scientific, Inc. Retrieved June 5,
2011, from http://www.flinnsci.com/Documents/MSDS/S/SulfuricAcidSol1M-6M.pdf
Material Safety Data Sheet: sodium hydroxide (0.5M or less). (Nov. 22, 2010). Flinn Scientific, Inc. Retrieved
June 5, 2011, from http://www.flinnsci.com/Documents/MSDS/S/SodiumHydroxideSol0.5M.pdf