Final answer:
Chemistry labs utilize pH paper and various indicators like phenolphthalein to estimate the pH of solutions; pH paper changes color according to pH levels, and the pH scale measures solution acidity or basicity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of pH paper and indicators, such as universal indicators and phenolphthalein, is a common practice in chemistry labs to estimate the pH of a solution. The pH scale, which ranges from 1 to 14, measures the acidity or basicity of a solution. A low pH indicates a high concentration of hydrogen ions and is considered acidic, while a high pH indicates a low concentration of hydrogen ions and is basic. The pH paper contains a mixture of indicators that change color at different pH levels, which makes it possible to determine the pH range by simply comparing the paper's color to a standard chart. Phenolphthalein, on the other hand, is a pH indicator that becomes pink at a pH level around 9 to 10, signaling a slightly basic solution.