Measurement of acidity and basicity
An acid is any hydrogen-containing substance that is capable of donating a proton
(hydrogen ion) to another substance. A base is a molecule or ion able to accept a
hydrogen ion from an acid.
Acidic substances are usually identified by their sour taste. Bases, on the other hand,
are characterized by a bitter taste and a slippery texture. A base that can be dissolved
in water is referred to as an alkali. When these substances chemically react with
acids, they yield salts.
In chemistry, pH is a scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous
solution. Acidic solutions (solutions with higher concentrations of H+ ions) are
measured to have lower pH values than basic or alkaline solutions.
Measurement of pH:
by addition of a pH indicator into the solution under study. These are the
organic compounds of natural or synthetic origin whose colour is dependent on
pH. The pH indicators are either weak acids or weak bases having different
colors in un- dissociated and dissociated forms as Phenolphthalein and Methyl
orange.
Name Acid Color Base Color
Methyl violet Yellow Blue
Thymol blue Red Yellow
Methyl orange Red Yellow
Bromocresol green Yellow Blue
Methyl red Red Yellow
Bromothymol blue Yellow Blue
Thymol blue Yellow Blue
Phenolphthalein Colorless Pink
Alizarin yellow R Yellow Red
23 Prepared by : Dr. Ebtesam Salem
