Acids and Bases
Recommended for grades 6–12.
Introduction
Organisms are often very sensitive to the effect of acids and bases in their environment. They need to maintain a stable internal pH in order to survive—even in the event of environmental changes. Many naturally occurring biological, geological, and man-made chemicals are capable of stabilizing the environment’s pH. This may allow organisms to better survive in diverse environments found throughout the earth. Using the pH Sensor, each lab group will measure the effect of an acid and a base in water. Each group will also test the effect of an acid and a base on a biological material assigned to them. All groups will share their data at the end of the class.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Add an acid to a material and note the extent to which it resists changes in pH.
- Add a base to a material and note the extent to which it resists changes in pH.
- Work with classmates to compare the ability of different materials to resist changes in pH.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
See all standards correlations for Science with TI-Nspire Technology »
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.