Experiment 1: To Find the pH of Given Samples and Study
Properties of Acids and Bases
Aim: 1. To find the pH of the given samples (dilute HCl, NaOH, CH3COOH, lemon juice, water, and
NaHCO3). 2. To study the properties of acids and bases by their reactions with litmus solution, zinc,
and sodium carbonate.
Materials Required: Test tubes, pH paper, glass rod, dilute HCl, NaOH, CH3COOH, lemon juice,
water, sodium bicarbonate, litmus solutions, zinc granules, sodium carbonate, lime water, beaker.
Theory: Acids give H■ ions and bases give OH■ ions in aqueous solution. The pH value indicates
whether the solution is acidic (pH<7), neutral (pH=7), or basic (pH>7). Acids turn blue litmus red and
bases turn red litmus blue.
Procedure: 1. Test each sample using pH paper and note the pH. 2. Record color changes and identify
acidic/basic nature. 3. Test HCl and NaOH with blue/red litmus. 4. Add zinc to both HCl and NaOH and
test gas evolved. 5. Add sodium carbonate to HCl and NaOH and pass gas through lime water.
Observation: pH recorded and gas/litmus reactions observed for each solution.
Result: 1. HCl and CH3COOH are acidic. 2. NaOH and NaHCO3 are basic. 3. Lemon juice is acidic. 4.
Water is neutral. 5. HCl reacts with Zn to produce H■ and with Na■CO■ to produce CO■.
Precautions: 1. Use fresh lemon juice. 2. Wash glass rod before reuse. 3. Don’t taste chemicals. 4.
Handle acids carefully. 5. Ensure apparatus is airtight during gas tests.
Experiment 2: To Perform and Observe Various Types of
Chemical Reactions
Aim: To perform and classify the following reactions: (a) Combination, (b) Decomposition, (c)
Displacement, (d) Double displacement.
Materials Required: Quick lime, water, FeSO4, hard glass tube, iron nails, CuSO4 solution, sodium
sulphate, barium chloride, burner, test tubes.
Theory: Quick lime reacts with water to form Ca(OH)■ (combination). Heating FeSO■ gives Fe■O■,
SO■, SO■ (decomposition). Iron displaces copper from CuSO■ (displacement). BaCl■ + Na■SO■ →
BaSO■ + NaCl (double displacement).
Procedure: 1. Add water to quicklime and observe reaction. 2. Heat FeSO■ crystals and note residue
and gases. 3. Place iron nails in CuSO■ solution. 4. Mix Na■SO■ and BaCl■ solutions.
Observation: Heat evolved with CaO + H■O; FeSO■ decomposes to brown residue; iron nails coated
with copper; white ppt in BaCl■ + Na■SO■.
Result: 1. Reaction of CaO + H■O is combination. 2. Heating FeSO■ is decomposition. 3. Fe +
CuSO■ is displacement. 4. BaCl■ + Na■SO■ is double displacement.
Precautions: 1. Do not touch hot container. 2. Handle CuSO■ and BaCl■ carefully. 3. Do not inhale
gases. 4. Use small quantities only.
Experiment 3: To Study the Action of Metals on Salt
Solutions
Aim: To study the action of metals like Al, Zn, Fe, Cu on salt solutions and arrange them in decreasing
order of reactivity.
Materials Required: Aluminium foil, copper turnings, zinc granules, iron filings, FeSO■, CuSO■,
ZnSO■, Al■(SO■)■ solutions, test tubes.
Theory: More reactive metals displace less reactive metals from their salt solutions. The order of
reactivity is Al > Zn > Fe > Cu.
Procedure: Add each metal to solutions of ZnSO■, FeSO■, CuSO■, and Al■(SO■)■ in separate test
tubes. Observe color change or metal deposition.
Observation: Al displaces Zn, Fe, Cu; Zn displaces Fe, Cu; Fe displaces Cu; Cu shows no reaction.
Result: Order of reactivity: Al > Zn > Fe > Cu.
Precautions: 1. Handle chemicals carefully. 2. Wash hands after use. 3. Note color changes
accurately.
Viva Questions:
Q1. Which metal is most reactive? — Al.
Q2. What type of reaction occurs? — Displacement reaction.
Q3. Write equation for Fe + CuSO■. — FeSO■ + Cu.
