ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT

Elizabeth Weir
1. INDICATORS were identified with the observation
that the colour of some flowers depends on soil
composition.

a) First-hand Investigation: Natural Indicators

Indicator: a substance which shows visibly the pH of another substance through colour
change.
e.g. Hydrangea flower..
The flower head is placed in a blender with water and some ethanol. The filtrate is blue,
and turns pink in basic solutions.
COLOUR
Material Water HCl CH3COOH NH3 NaOH
Purple Purple Red Red Green Green

Cabbage
Hydrange Blue Blue Blue Pink Pink

a
Geranium Red Bright Red Bright Red Brown Yellow-Brown
Hibiscus Pink Bright Red Bright Red Green Green
Bougainvi Pink Dark Pink Pink Yellow Green

llea
Turmeric Yellow- Bright Yellow Bright Yellow Red Orange
Orange

b) Indicators – colour changes

INDICATOR pH RANGE COLOUR RANGE
Methyl Orange 3.1 - 4.4 Red to yellow
Methyl Red 4.4 – 6.0 Pink to yellow
Bromothymol Blue 6.2 – 7.6 Yellow to blue
Litmus 6.2 – 7.4 Red to blue
Phenol Red 6.8 – 8.4 Yellow to red
Phenolphthalein 8.3 – 10.0 Colourless to red

c) Prepared indicators
Phenolphthalein: - Colourless in acidic & neutral substances

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ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT
Elizabeth Weir
- Red in basic substances

Bromothymol Blue: - Yellow in acidic substances

- Blue in basic & neutral substances
Methyl Orange: - Red in acidic substances
- Orange in neutral & basic substances
Litmus Solution: - Red in acidic substances
- Purple in basic & neutral substances
Universal Indicator: - Red in acidic substances
- Green in basic substances
- Purple in neutral substances

d) Acidic/Basic/Neutral
• Acetic Acid – CH3COOH – Acidic – found in vinegar

• Ethanol – C2H5OH – Slightly Acidic – formed from the fermentation of sugar

• Sodium Bicarbonate – NaHCO3 – Basic – used in cakes

• Magnesium Sulfate – MgSO4 – slightly basic – Epsom salts

• Hydrochloric Acid – HCl – Acidic – stomach acid
• Sodium Hydroxide – NaOH – Basic – drain/oven cleaner

e) Acidity/Basicity – Household Substances

Basic Acidic Neutral
Oven/Drain Cleaner Detergent Table Salt
Ammonia Sugar
Window Cleaner Methylated Spirits
Sodium Bicarb Vinegar

f) Uses of indicators
Soil: Indicators can be used to find pH. Barium sulphate added to aid visual colour
change and universal indicator is then added.
Pool: Indicators can be used in determining the pH of pool water. The water should,
ideally, be neutral so litmus paper is used to test this.
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ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT
Elizabeth Weir
2. While we usually think of the air around us as
neutral, the atmosphere naturally contains ACIDIC
OXIDES of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. The
concentrations of these acidic oxides have been
increasing since the industrial revolution.

a) Oxides of non-metals as acids

Oxides which act as acids are non-metallic oxides (e.g. SO2, CO2). They act as acids when
added to a neutral substance (e.g. water) which form an acid, OR when added to a base
(e.g. Sodium Hydroxide) they cause neutralisation to occur.
e.g.
(a) SO2(g) + H2O(l) H2CO3(aq) [sulphurous acid]

(b) CO2(g) + H2O(l) H2CO3(aq) [carbonic acid]

b) Periodic table & acidity of oxides

From the periodic table, it is apparent that…..
• Most metal oxides are basic
• Most non-metal oxides are acidic
• There are approximately five amphoteric substances
• Group VIII forms no oxides as they are noble gases and have a valency of zero.

c) Le Chatelier’s Principle
If a system in equilibrium is disturbed, the system adjusts itself in order to minimise total
disturbance.
The CHARACTERISTICS of a system in equilibrium are that:
i. it is a closed system – no energy or matter can leave or enter
ii. the macroscopic properties are constant
iii. concentrations of reactants and products are constant
iv. microscopic change between reactants and products is continual
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ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT
Elizabeth Weir
v. the rate of forward reaction = the rate of backward reaction

d) Factors effecting equilibrium

• Change in concentration of products or reactants
• Change in temperature
• Change in pressure

e) Solubility of CO2
CO2(g) CO2(aq)

CO2(aq) + H2O(l) H2CO3(aq)

H2CO3(aq) H+(aq) + HCO3-(aq)

HCO3-(aq) H+(aq) + CO32-(aq)

As temperature decreases, the solubility of carbon dioxide increases. An equilibrium shift

to the LHS produces CO2 while a shift to the RHS dissolves it.

f) Calculating Gas Volumes

At 100 kPa one mole of any substance will occupy 22.71L at 0°C and 24.79L at 25°C.

g) First hand investigation: Decarbonation of a soft drink

Carbonated soft drinks are manufactured by dissolving carbon dioxide in water under
pressure (approx 400 – 500 kPa). This system will remain only if the bottle is sealed.

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ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT
Elizabeth Weir
e.g. (Question 23 – NEAP 2006)
At 25°C and 100kPa.
A bottle was left open overnight, then resealed.
Initial mass of sealed bottle (g) = 125.5
Final mass of sealed bottle (g) = 124.8
Change in mass (g) = 0.7
Volume of gas lost is calculated…
Number of moles = mass (m) ÷ molar mass (M) = 0.7 ÷ 44.01 = 1.59 x 10-2

Volume = number of moles x molar volume = 1.591 x 10-2 x 24.79

= 0.394 L or 394 mL of carbon dioxide was released

h) Natural and industrial sources – sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide

About two-thirds of sulphur dioxide released to the atmosphere comes from natural
sources, e.g. volcanoes and hot springs. The main human activities contributing to
sulphur dioxide emissions are the burning of fossil fuels and the extraction of metals
from sulphide ores.
e.g. S (in compounds) + O2(g) SO2 (g)

Oxides of nitrogen… Power stations and cars both generate large amounts of nitric oxide
and nitrogen dioxide, however the main source of atmospheric nitric oxide is lightning.
Atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen combine, nitric oxide slowly reacts with further oxygen
to for nitrogen dioxide.
e.g. O2(g) + N2(g) 2NO (g)

2NO (g) + O2(g) 2NO2 (g)

i) Chemical reactions releasing SO2 and NOx

S (in compounds) + O2(g) SO2 (g)

O2(g) + N2(g) 2NO (g)

2NO (g) + O2(g) 2NO2 (g)

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Elizabeth Weir
j) Formation/effects of acid rain

k) Evidence – changes in atmospheric oxides

Since SO2 and NO2 are water soluble and therefore washed out of the atmosphere by
rain, there appears to be little significant build-up of their concentrations over the last
century. However, it is difficult to be sure about these two oxides as there is a lack of
data for periods before 1950. It has only been in the last few decades that
concentrations of these gases has been measured in a way that is accurate and reliable.

l) Industrial Origins – Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen

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ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT
Elizabeth Weir
3. ACIDS occur in many foods, drinks and even
within our stomachs.
a) First-hand Investigation: Using a pH meter/probe

b) Acids: Proton Donors

c) Common Acids

d) Natural Acids and Bases

e) pH scale

f) & g) concentrated vs. dilute vs. strong vs. weak

h) Ionic equations – acid ionisation

i) Modelling Acids

j) pH calculations

k) Strong/Weak – ionisation

l) the strong-weak equilibrium

m) strong/weak – pH

n) Acids as food additives

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ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT
Elizabeth Weir
4. Because of the prevalence and importance of
acids, they have been used and studied for
hundreds of years. Over time, the DEFINITIONS OF
ACID AND BASE have been refined.

a) Secondary sources
- Not examined

b) Ideas & Development

c) Bronsted-Lowry

d) & e) Conjugate acids/base pairs

f) First hand investigations: pH of salt solutions

g) Explaining the pH of salts

h) Amphiprotic substances

i) Neutralisation – proton transfer reaction

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Elizabeth Weir

5. ESTERIFICATION is a naturally occurring process

which can be performed in the laboratory.