Question

You have been provided with three test tubes. One of them contains distilled water and the other two contain an acidic solution and a basic solution, respectively. If you are giver only red litmus paper, how will you identify the contents of each test tube?​

Answer 1

When exposed to a base, red litmus paper becomes blue; yet, when exposed to an acid or neutral solution, it remains red. As a result, you may use red litmus paper to differentiate the basic solution from the other two solutions:

Dip the red litmus paper into the first distilled water test container. The water is neutral if the paper remains red.

In the second test tube, place the red litmus paper. If the paper becomes blue, the solution is straightforward. If the solution remains red, it is either neutral or acidic.

In the third test tube, place the red litmus paper. The solution is neutral if the paper remains red. If the paper becomes blue, the solution is straightforward.