60 LABORATORY MANUAL 



CHAPTER IX 



ACIDS, BASES, AND NEUTRAL SUBSTANCES 



Exercise 34. Acids and Bases. 



Object: To determine the properties of acids and 

 bases. 



Apparatus 



Hydrochloric acid (dilute) Red litmus paper 



Nitric acid (dilute) Blue litmus paper 



.Sodium hydroxide Glass rod 



Ammonium hydroxide Beaker 



Directions: Examine some of the dilute hydro- 

 chloric acid. Describe its odor. Dip the glass rod 

 into the acid and touch it to the tip of the tongue. 

 What is its taste ? Rub some acid between the fingers. 

 Describe its "feel." Dip a piece of red litmus paper 

 into the acid. What is the effect of the acid on the 

 paper? Dip a piece of the blue litmus into the acid. 

 What effect does the acid have on the blue paper? 



Apply the above tests to the nitric acid. Are the 

 results the same as those obtained with the hydro- 

 chloric acid? These are methods commonly used to 

 detect any acid. 



Examine some sodium hydroxide. Describe its odor, 

 taste, "feel," using the methods given in the study of 

 acids. Test this substance with both red and blue 

 litmus paper. What are the results? Examine ammo- 

 nium hydroxide in the same manner. How do the 

 results compare with those obtained with sodium 



