What a difference an oxygen atom makes. This lab experiment will introduce you to acids and bases, and how hydrogen (H) and hydroxide (OH) bond with other elements to create interesting molecules. You will work with diluted acids and bases to understand how the pH scale works in determining hydrogen potential, including a number of ways to test acidity. Some included chemicals are common in households, like vinegar and soap which represent real-world applications. But we don’t want the experiment to be too easy. We’ve included some “unknown” solutions that will require using the knowledge learned to identify.

The acid and base experiment has been a staple part of high school science curricula for decades. This complete experiment set includes everything needed to conduct proper experiments. It has been developed with the following educational concepts:

This experiment set is appropriate for high school level science classes, and should only be used under the supervision of adults. Chemicals are heavily diluted to limit causticity, but precautions should always be taken. A safety data sheet (SDS) is included for information and precautions related to all chemicals used.

Acidity is important in everyday life. It’s how we digest food. It determines what kind of plants can be grown in any given soil. It can make food sour or bitter. It’s also one of the factors used in making batteries. Understanding how acids and bases work will provide important insight into how the world works.

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