Briannas' Blog

Recently in science class, we completed a project, where we tested acids and bases using indicator and various household materials You can see the project in more depth in My Project Reflection. Using the notes we had from our last project, we tested the substances once more, using a Verier Lab Quest unit, or in its simpler form, a pH probe. I worked with Charmaine, because there was a limited number of probes to use, where as before, I was on my own. Looking at the difference in results using the probe method compared or our less accurate and more homemade technique. In the homemade method, we looked for color, and as of the pH probe, we looked at numbers. The pH scale, is a scale to determine weather and object or liquid, is a acid or a base. In the pH scale, the number go from 0-14, o being a strong acid, and 14 being a strong base. In our homemade testing, the colors ranged from hot pink, to neon green, hot pink being a strong acid, and neon green being a strong base. I really enjoyed having more of an educated prediction as to what the number would be, whereas before, where I just guessed quite randomly. The way you went about working the probe was that you had to have a cup with some distilled water to rinse in, and then whatever material you wanted to test. You would put the probe into the substance, and it would give you a number. And it wasn’t like, bam, insta number. If you watched it in distilled water before, it would probably be around a five or six. So once you put it into a substance, depending on what it is, it would go up, or down from there. I really enjoyed working with Charmaine on this one, because we shared notes, so I started out writing them, then halfway throughout, we would switch and I would use the probe. I really enjoyed comparing a more accurate way, with a slightly less accurate way. I thought that it was really a great experience, and I learned so much.