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This page introduces and explains the pH scale measuring the relative acidity
and alkalinity of aqueous solutions, that is solutions of substances dissolved in
water. The use of indicators is described and several well known indicators
are tabulated showing their different colours in solutions of different pH. The
ionic theory of acids, bases and neutralisation is simply described and why
explains why solutions are either acid, neutral or alkaline. These revision
notes on the pH scale and the ionic theory of neutralisation of acids and
alkalis should prove useful for the new AQA chemistry, Edexcel chemistry &
OCR chemistry GCSE (91, 9-5 & 5-1) science courses.
GCSE/IGCSE Acid & Alkalis revision notes subindex: Index of all pH,
Acids, Alkalis, Salts Notes 1. Examples of everyday acids, alkalis, salts,
pH of solution, hazard warning signs : 2. pH scale, indicators, ionic
theory of acidsalkali neutralisation : 4. Reactions of acids with
metals/oxides/hydroxides/carbonates, neutralisation reactions :
5.Reactions of basesalkalis like ammonia & sodium hydroxide : 6. Four
methods of making salts : 7. Changes in pH in a neutralisation, choice
and use of indicators : 8. Important formulae of compounds, salt
solubility and water of crystallisation : 10. More on AcidBase Theory
and Weak and Strong Acids
o
o The diagram above gives the sort of range of colours you get from
using universal indicator, which is a complex mixture of different
dye molecules that respond to changes in pH.
Theoretically there is no limit to the pH scale, but most solutions are
between pH 0 and pH 14.
o For example, looking at the 'extremes', 1M hydrochloric acid (HCl)
has a pH of 0 and 10M HCl has a pH of 1 and these would be
described as strongly acidic solutions.
o 1M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) has a pH of 14, but 10M potassium
hydroxide (KOH) has a pH of 15 and these would be described as
strongly alkaline solutions.
o The closer the pH is to 7, the less strong is the acid or alkali.
o However the solubility limits of substances in water ensures that
its almost impossible to get below 1 or above 15 and most
laboratory measurements will be in the range pH 1 to pH 14
colour in neutral
Indicator colour in acid pH<7 colour in alkali pH >7
pH=7
litmus red 'purple' blue
phenolphthalein* colourless colourless >9 pink
<3.5 red, orange
methyl orange* about pH 5, > 6 yellow yellow
yellow
<5 red, orange, >6
methyl red* yellow yellow
yellow
bromothymol
<6 yellow green >8 blue
blue*
The lower the pH, the higher the hydrogen ion concentration, the
more acid the solution.
I know this seems confusing, but that's the way the pH scale has
been defined historically.