Acids, alkalis and salts

The experiments in this section cover the reactions of acids and alkalis to form soluble salts. The use of indicators is also covered.

While we are still at an early stage with this website it's probably more useful to look at the page with our complete list of experiments in alphabetical order. See the list on About this website.

We are starting with GCSE-level experiments.
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Experiments

• The reaction between carbon dioxide and water

  The acidic nature of carbon dioxide in solution in water is explored using exhaled air as the source of the gas, leading to an explanation of the reaction involved.

• A thermometric titration

  A titration between sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid using the accompanying temperature change as a means of determining the end-point.

• Using indigestion tablets to neutralise an acid

  This experiment shows how you can measure the amount of hydrochloric acid neutralised by one indigestion tablet.

• pH of oxides

  Students test the pH of various metal and non-metal oxides ‘solutions’.

• The acidic reactions of ethanoic acid

  Students compare the acidic properties of ethanoic acid and hydrochloric acid.

• Preparing salts by neutralisation with oxides and carbonates

  In these experiments sulfuric acid is neutralised by oxides and carbonates to produce soluble salts that can be recovered by crystallisation.

• Preparing an insoluble salt

  In this experiment a salt is produced by a precipitation reaction.

• Acid-base neutralisation – a microscale titration

  This investigation into neutralisation makes use of a microscale titration technique.

• The part that water plays in acidity

  This experiment shows what part water plays in the characteristic properties of acids.

• Properties of hydrogen chloride

  This experiment looks at preparing hydrogen chloride and investigating some of its properties.

• Preparing a soluble salt by neutralisation

  In this experiment a soluble salt is produced by the neutralisation of an acid with an alkali, and recovered by crystallisation.

• Metals and acids

  This experiment shows how metals react with acids to form salts and hydrogen gas.

• Developing a glue

  This experiment shows how to make a glue from soured milk and a base.

• How do acids and alkalis react?

  This experiment shows the neutralisation of an acid by an alkali.

• Titrating sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid

  This experiment involves producing sodium chloride crystals from the neutralisation of sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid.

• Making magnesium carbonate: an example of a salt which is insoluble in water

  A short experiment forming an insoluble precipitate by mixing the solutions of two soluble salts.

• What makes a substance ‘acidic’?

  A series of short experiments that demonstrate the role that water plays in acidity (and alkalinity).

• Neutralisation – ‘curing acidity’

  Simple experiment to show the pH and temperature changes when an acidic solution is neutralised by the addition of slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or limestone (calcium carbonate).

• Exothermic metal-acid reactions

  Measuring the rise in temperature in the exothermic reactions of metal powders with dilute acids.

• Universal Indicator ‘Rainbow’

  A fascinating but simple and quick demonstration to illustrate the full range of colours of Universal indicator.

• pH scale

  A simple experiment to explain the relationship between the numbers on the pH scale.

• Making and testing ammonia

  Students produce ammonia gas and carry out a small-scale, simplified version of the ammonia fountain experiment.

• Making a pH indicator

  Students make a pH indicator from red cabbage.

• Indicators and dry ice: demonstration

  A colourful and spectacular demonstration in which solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is used to cause a colour change in one or more indicators.

• Acid or alkali? Acidic or alkaline?

  Testing everyday household substances to find out if they are acidic or alkaline.

• Sulfuric acid as a dehydrating agent

  Two short demonstrations which highlight the dehydrating properties of sulfuric acid.

• Ammonia fountain

  This spectacular demonstration highlights the high solubility of ammonia in water. The ammonia is shown to form an alkaline solution.

• Reacting copper(II) oxide with sulfuric acid

  The reaction of a dilute acid with a metal oxide