Here is a easy acid and base testing experiment for your young students that uses stuff you probably just have around the house.
Materials
- Turmeric
- Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
- 6 containers
- Labels
- Variety of substances to test: baking soda, water, bleach, lemonade, soap, vinegar (anything else you want to test)
- spoon
Step 1: Make the Tumeric Solution Tester
- Tumeric Tester Solution:
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
- Mix together until well combined
- We’re going to use a turmeric solution to see if a substance is an acid or base
- If it turns red, the substance is a base
- If there is no color change, the substance is acidic or neutral
Step 2: Prepare the test
- Divide turmeric solution among 6 containers
- Label each container with the substance to be tested:
- Baking Soda
- Water
- Bleach
- Lemonade
- Soap
- Vinegar
- Any substance your kids want to test
Step 3: Run the Acid and Base Test
- Pour each substance into the turmeric solution
- Stir
- Watch the color change to see if the substance is an acid or a base
- Remember: red means it is a base, no change means it is an acid or neutral
- As an extra for older students, you could add an acid (like vinegar) to a base (like bleach) and watch the colors changes back again.