This is a hands-on experiment that explains the measurement of pH using red cabbage indicator paper. Are household solutions acidic or alkaline/basic?
These resources were created for the Cambridge science festival 2013.
If you teach primary science, see the headings below to find out how to use this resource:
Skill development
Children will develop their working scientifically skills by:
- Drawing conclusions and raising further questions to be investigated, based on their data and observations.
- Asking their own questions about scientific phenomena.
- Selecting and planning the most appropriate ways to answer questions, including:
- Grouping and classifying things.
Learning outcomes
Children will:
- Group substances according to whether they are acidic, neutral or alkaline.
- Compare and group together everyday materials on the basis of their properties.
Concepts supported
Children will learn:
- That substances can be acidic, neutral or alkaline, and that tests can be performed to determine which of the three a substance is.
Suggested activity use
You can use this activity as a whole-class investigation, allowing children to group substances into acids and alkalis. It will provide opportunity for discussion and questioning.
Alternatively, you could use this resource as part of a science week or at a science club.
Practical considerations
The red cabbage juice indicator can be prepared the prior to the lesson, which will save time.
A range of different substances to test will be required.
Downloads
Red cabbage pH Indicator: Handout
Handout | PDF, Size 82.26 kbRed cabbage pH Indicator: Briefing document
PDF, Size 73.02 kb
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