Indicators and pH scale

The differences between acids and bases

 Acids and bases play important roles in chemistry, but we can
also find them around the house. Therefore, knowing the
difference between the two is important for safety.
 While there are several key differences in chemical
properties between acids and bases, the main one is their pH
level.
 Acids have a pH level lower than 7.0 while bases have a pH
level higher than 7.0.
 A solution with a pH of 7 is neutral (pure water).
Definition of pH

 The concentrations of hydrogen ions and indirectly hydroxide

ions are given by a pH number. 
 The letters pH stand for potential of hydrogen.
 pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion
concentration. The equation is:
pH = - log [H+]
similarly, pOH = - log [OH-]
  pH ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral.
pH Scale

 The pH scale was devised by the Danish chemist Søren Peder

Lauritz Sørensen at the Carlsberg Laboratory in 1909 and later
modified to its modern form in 1924.
pH Scale

 The pH scale is a numeric scale, a logarithmic scale in fact,

used to specify the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of an aqueous
solution.
 A solution that has a pH of 0 is very acidic with a high
concentration of hydrogen ions. The lower the pH, the more
acidic the solution.
 A pH of 7 is a neutral solution, equal concentrations of
hydrogen ions and their basic counterpart hydroxide ions.
 pH 14 represents a high concentration of hydroxide ions. The
higher the pH, the more alkaline the solution.
Acid-base Indicators

 Acid-base indicators are chemicals used to determine whether

an aqueous solution is acidic, neutral, or alkaline.
 Because acidity and alkalinity relate to pH, they may also be
known as pH indicators.
 An acid-base indicator is either a weak acid or weak base that
exhibits a color change as the concentration of hydrogen (H+)
or hydroxide (OH-) ions changes in an aqueous solution.
Using Indicators

 Several indicators that are commonly used in the laboratory

are:
 Litmus,
 Phenolphthalein,
 Bromothymol Blue Indicator,
 Methyl Red Indicator,
 Universal indicator.

 The natural world has given us numerous plants, from beets to

grapes to red cabbage, that can be used to test the pH levels of
a solution. 
Litmus

 Litmus indicator solution turns red in acidic solutions, blue

in alkaline solutions, and purple in neutral solutions.
 Litmus paper comes as red litmus paper and blue litmus
paper. The table shows the color changes it can make:

Red Litmus Blue Litmus

Acidic solution Stays red Turns red
Neutral solution Stays red Stays blue
Alkaline solution Turns blue Stays blue
Litmus

Acids turn blue litmus paper red Alkalis turn red litmus paper blue
Phenolphthalein

 The phenolphthalein indicator is a weak acid that has two

different structures based on whether it is in an alkali (pink) or
acid (colorless) solution.
 The alkali solution absorbs light in the visible light spectrum,
and the human eye perceives a color change to pink, continuing
to bright magenta at pH 10 and above.
Bromothymol Blue Indicator

 Bromothymol blue, a weak acid, is most commonly used as an

indicator for solutions that are relatively neutral —weak acids
and bases. Its pH range is between 6 and 7.6. The solution
appears yellow up to pH 6, in a neutral solution it is green, and
it turns blue in basic solutions above pH 7.6.
 In the laboratory, bromothymol blue is often used as
a biological slide stain, for testing photosynthesis and can be
used to test the pH of swimming pools.
Bromothymol Blue Indicator

Different colors of bromothymol blue at marked pH

conditions.
Methyl Red Indicator
 As an acid and base indicator, methyl red turns red in acidic
solutions at pH 4.4 and below and turns yellow when pH 6.2 is
reached. In between these color endpoints, in the pH range 4.4
to 6.2, the color is orange.
 Methyl red may be used as an acid and base indicator in the
laboratory and as an azo dye, the largest group of
synthetic dyes, commonly used to treat textiles.
Universal indicator
 A universal indicator is a solution that contains a mixture of
indicators, often phenolphthalein, methyl red and bromothymol
blue. Identification of an approximate pH is obtained by adding
several drops of a universal indicator to a solution.

 Red indicates a strong acid, in the range of pH 1 to 4, while a

weak acid has an orange hue. In a neutral solution, the color
turns yellow-green. Purple indicates a strong base, above pH
11, while weak bases exhibit a bluish tint.
Universal indicator
Natural pH Indicators
 Red cabbage
We should take some red cabbage and chop it. Put the leaves into
distilled water, just covering them with the liquid and bring to a
boil. Strain and collect the blue liquid. The liquid in neutral pH
will be blue, in acidic will turn red, and in basic will be green or
yellowish.