Chapter 2
Exploring Substances: Acidic, Basic, and Neutral
Introduction
On 28 February, the school celebrated National Science Day with a science fair. At the
entrance, Ashwin and Keerthi were given plain white sheets of paper. They were puzzled-
why a blank sheet?
Soon, a volunteer sprayed a liquid on their sheets, and like magic, the words "Welcome to
the Wonderful World of Science" appeared! This amazing trick made them very curious.
At the Colourful World of Substances stall, they saw many experiments where mixing
things changed their colour. Excited to learn more, they decided to explore the science behind
it.
Nature - Our Science Laboratory
We can determine if a substance is acidic, basic, or neutral by using special tools called
indicators, which change color or smell when mixed with different substances.
1. Litmus as an Indicator
What is Litmus?
• Litmus is a natural material obtained from lichens, which are organisms formed by a
fungus and an alga living together, often found on rocks and trees in rainy, clean areas.
• Forms of Litmus: It is available as blue and red litmus paper strips, used to test
substances
• It is called as an acid-base indicator
How Litmus Works:
• If a substance turns blue litmus paper red, it is acidic.
• If a substance turns red litmus paper blue, it is basic.
• If there's no color change in either litmus paper, the substance is neutral.
Properties of Acids and Bases
Acids:
• Taste sour, like lemon juice, tamarind, or vinegar.
• Contain specific acids, e.g., citric acid in lemon, lactic acid in curd, tartaric acid in
tamarind, and acetic acid in vinegar.
• Turn blue litmus red and red rose extract red.
Bases:
• Feel slippery or soapy when rubbed, like baking soda solution or soap.
• Often taste bitter, but not all bitter things are bases (e.g., bitter gourd is not basic).
• Turn red litmus blue, red rose extract green, and turmeric paper red.
Neutral Substances:
• Do not have a strong taste or slippery feel.
• Do not change the color of indicators like litmus, red rose extract, or turmeric.
2. Red Rose as an Indicator
Preparation of Red Rose Extract
• Red rose extract is prepared by collecting fresh rose petals
and washing them properly.
• The petals are then crushed and soaked in hot water.
• After some time, the mixture is filtered to get a red-colored
liquid known as red rose extract.
How It Works:
• In acidic substances, the extract changes to a shade of red.
• In basic substances, it changes to a shade of green.
• In neutral substances, the extract's color remains
unchanged.
• Red rose extract is an acid-base indicator because it
shows different colors for acidic and basic
substances, similar to litmus.
Some examples:
• Lemon juice (acidic) turns the extract red.
• Soap solution (basic) turns it green.
• Neutral substances like sugar solution don't affect
the color.
3. Turmeric as an Indicator
Preparation:
Turmeric powder is mixed with water to make a paste, spread on filter paper, and dried to
create yellow turmeric paper strips.
How It Works:
• Basic substances turn turmeric paper red.
• Acidic and neutral substances do not change the yellow color of turmeric paper.
• A turmeric stain on a shirt changes color when soap (basic) is applied, showing its
indicator property.
• Turmeric paper can only identify basic substances, not distinguish between acidic and
neutral ones.
Here are the test results showing the nature of samples using turmeric paper:
S No. Name of the Sample Colour of the turmeric paper after putting a drop
of the sample
1 Lemon Juice No Change
2 Soap Solution Turns Red – Brown
3 Amia Solution No Change
Fascinating Facts: Why is Turmeric Called the 'Golden' Spice?
Turmeric, also known as Haldi, is a bright yellow spice that belongs to the ginger family.
Grown widely in India and other countries, it's a common ingredient in everyday cooking.
But turmeric is much more than just a flavouring agent!
In the Ayurvedic system of medicine, turmeric is believed to offer several health benefits.
That's why it plays a key role in many traditional home remedies. Its rich golden color and
healing properties have earned it the name 'Golden Spice'.
Researchers today are also studying turmeric for its potential benefits beyond taste and color-
making this age-old spice even more special!
4. Olfactory Indicators
• Olfactory indicators are special substances whose smell changes when they come in
contact with acidic or basic substances.
• for example, A cloth soaked in onion juice retains its smell in an acidic solution (like
tamarind water) but loses its smell in a basic solution (like baking soda).
• These indicators are useful because they help us identify whether a substance is acidic
or basic just by observing changes in smell.
5. Other Natural Indicators
Substances like beetroot, purple cabbage, red hibiscus (gudhal), and Indian blackberry
(jamun) can also act as acid-base indicators, changing colors in acidic or basic solutions.
What Happens When Acidic Substances Mix with Basic Substances?
1. Neutralization Process
• When an acid (e.g., lemon juice) is mixed with a base (e.g., lime
water) in the right amount, they react to form a solution that is
neither acidic nor basic.
• This reaction is called neutralization.
• Neutralization shows how acids and bases balance each other,
creating a neutral substance that doesn't affect indicators.
• This process is key to understanding how substances interact chemically.
2. Products of Neutralization
• The reaction produces salt, water, and releases heat.
• Acid + Base → Salt + Water + Heat
Neutralization in Daily Life
Situation 1: Ant Bite
• When a red ant bites, it injects formic acid into the skin, causing redness and stinging
pain.
• Applying moist baking soda, which is a base, neutralizes the formic acid, relieving the
pain and reducing swelling.
• Different regions may use other basic remedies, like lime water, for ant bites.
Situation 2: Soil Treatment
• Farmers may notice poor plant growth if the soil becomes too acidic due to excessive
use of chemical fertilizers.
• Adding lime (a base, like calcium oxide) neutralizes the acidic soil, making it suitable
for plant growth.
• If the soil is too basic, organic matter like manure or composted leaves is added, which
releases acids to neutralize the basic soil.
• Neutral soil may still need nutrients if plants are unhealthy, showing that soil health
involves more than just acidity or basicity.
Situation 3: Factory Waste
• Acidic waste from factories can pollute lakes, harming fish and other aquatic life.
• Before releasing waste into lakes, basic substances are added to neutralize the acidity,
making the water safe for fish.