Science box - Sweet and Sour

We explored acid and base chemistry.

We learned that there is a scale to measure if something is acidic or basic, called a PH indicator.

Very acidic foods are close to 14 on the scale and very alkaline, or basic foods are near 0.

We made sherbet.

First we had to carefully measure amounts into our paper bag.

A teaspoon of icing sugar, 1/2 a teaspoon of citric acid, 1/2 a teaspoon of Raro flavour, and 1/4 of a teaspoon of baking soda.

 

 

 

We mixed them together then tasted our sherbet.

 

 

 
 It fizzed on our tongues and tasted sour!

I'm not sure if I like it!

I like it!

 

 

Making an Indicator

We made our own colour changing liquid called an indicator, using red cabbage. 

We set up our test tube racks.

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We tore red cabbage leaves into tiny pieces.

 We put the cabbage pieces into a plastic bag and added hot water.

 

 
We massaged the bag until the water turned purple.
Then we poured the liquid into our test tubes.

 
 When we dipped our PH paper into the liquid we checked the colour it turned against our PH scale.
It was green. Green is 7 on the scale, which makes it a neutral substance. This is why it is an indicator. When you put something acid or basic into the liquid it will change colour again.

We dropped some vinegar into one test tube.

 

 

We got different colours from different things.

 

Baking soda is basic, it turns the indicator pink.
Vinegar is acidic. it turns the indicator blue.