Question 1: pH
To begin with, you remember that acids are at a pH below 7, bases are above 7, they turn litmus paper red or blue, and water is neutral. To further brush up your memory, you can refer to buffers. You decide to investigate further. Run the pH simulationand open the ‘Micro’ investigation. Notice on the simulation screen:
The pull down menu of substances at the top right
The 3 adjustable faucets on the right
pH scale in the middle
water components on left
Look at how the settings change with different substances.
Choose a substance such as battery acid (a 1.0 molar solution) with a pH of 1.0. Check the molecule and ratio boxes on the bottom of the screen.
Your objective is to discover what happens to the pH of battery acid when it is diluted with water. To find out, adjust the amount of battery acid to 0.5 liter (bottom faucet) and add water (top right faucet) to restore the volume to 1.0 liter (0.5 M). Record your answers for each of the following questions.
Part A
What happens to the pH of the battery acid?