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ScienceAges 16-18

Acids, bases & the pH scale

Use the 0–14 pH scale, indicators and neutralisation reactions to classify acidic, neutral and alkaline solutions. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Acids, bases & the pH scale

Take your time. Show your thinking.

  1. 1. What is the chemical test that confirms a gas is oxygen (O₂): it relights a glowing wooden splint, or it turns limewater milky?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  2. 2. Which salt is formed when hydrochloric acid (HCl) is neutralised by sodium hydroxide (NaOH): sodium chloride or sodium sulfate?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  3. 3. Why do indigestion tablets (antacids) contain mild bases such as magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate: to neutralise excess stomach acid, or to add more acid?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  4. 4. Because the pH scale is logarithmic, a decrease of 1 pH unit (e.g. from pH 4 to pH 3) means the H⁺ ion concentration increases by a factor of: 10 or 2?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  5. 5. Why do farmers sometimes spread powdered calcium carbonate (limestone) or calcium oxide on fields: to neutralise overly acidic soil, or to make the soil more acidic?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  6. 6. Which ion is released by all Arrhenius acids when dissolved in aqueous solution: hydrogen ions (H⁺) or hydroxide ions (OH⁻)?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  7. 7. What colour does Universal Indicator turn in a neutral solution of pH 7: green or red?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  8. 8. What weak organic acid gives vinegar its sour taste: ethanoic (acetic) acid or nitric acid?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  9. 9. What colour is phenolphthalein indicator in an acidic solution vs a basic solution: colourless in acid and pink in alkali, or blue in both?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  10. 10. Which ion is present in all aqueous alkaline solutions: hydroxide ions (OH⁻) or chloride ions (Cl⁻)?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  11. 11. On the standard pH scale (0 to 14) at 25 °C, what is the pH of a neutral solution such as pure water: 7 or 0?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  12. 12. Which solution is more strongly acidic: Solution A with pH 1, or Solution B with pH 5?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution
12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Acids, bases & the pH scale

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

  1. 1. What is the chemical test that confirms a gas is oxygen (O₂): it relights a glowing wooden splint, or it turns limewater milky?

    It relights a glowing wooden splint

    Pure oxygen supports rapid combustion and relights a glowing splint.

  2. 2. Which salt is formed when hydrochloric acid (HCl) is neutralised by sodium hydroxide (NaOH): sodium chloride or sodium sulfate?

    Sodium chloride

    HCl + NaOH → NaCl (sodium chloride) + H₂O.

  3. 3. Why do indigestion tablets (antacids) contain mild bases such as magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate: to neutralise excess stomach acid, or to add more acid?

    To neutralise excess stomach acid

    Antacids are weak bases that neutralise excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

  4. 4. Because the pH scale is logarithmic, a decrease of 1 pH unit (e.g. from pH 4 to pH 3) means the H⁺ ion concentration increases by a factor of: 10 or 2?

    10

    pH = −log₁₀[H⁺], so each whole unit decrease represents a tenfold increase in [H⁺].

  5. 5. Why do farmers sometimes spread powdered calcium carbonate (limestone) or calcium oxide on fields: to neutralise overly acidic soil, or to make the soil more acidic?

    To neutralise overly acidic soil

    Basic calcium compounds neutralise excess soil acidity so crops can grow well.

  6. 6. Which ion is released by all Arrhenius acids when dissolved in aqueous solution: hydrogen ions (H⁺) or hydroxide ions (OH⁻)?

    Hydrogen ions (H⁺)

    Acids produce aqueous hydrogen ions (H⁺ / H₃O⁺) in water.

  7. 7. What colour does Universal Indicator turn in a neutral solution of pH 7: green or red?

    Green

    Universal Indicator is green at neutral pH 7, red in strong acid, and purple in strong alkali.

  8. 8. What weak organic acid gives vinegar its sour taste: ethanoic (acetic) acid or nitric acid?

    Ethanoic (acetic) acid

    Vinegar is a dilute aqueous solution of ethanoic (acetic) acid.

  9. 9. What colour is phenolphthalein indicator in an acidic solution vs a basic solution: colourless in acid and pink in alkali, or blue in both?

    Colourless in acid and pink in alkali

    Phenolphthalein is colourless below pH 8.2 and turns pink-magenta in alkaline solutions.

  10. 10. Which ion is present in all aqueous alkaline solutions: hydroxide ions (OH⁻) or chloride ions (Cl⁻)?

    Hydroxide ions (OH⁻)

    Alkalis dissolve in water to release hydroxide ions (OH⁻).

  11. 11. On the standard pH scale (0 to 14) at 25 °C, what is the pH of a neutral solution such as pure water: 7 or 0?

    7

    A pH of 7 is neutral, with equal concentrations of H⁺ and OH⁻ ions.

  12. 12. Which solution is more strongly acidic: Solution A with pH 1, or Solution B with pH 5?

    Solution A with pH 1

    Lower numbers on the pH scale indicate higher hydrogen-ion concentration and stronger acidity.

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Acids, bases & the pH scale

Take your time. Show your thinking.

  1. 1. What is the chemical test that confirms a gas is oxygen (O₂): it relights a glowing wooden splint, or it turns limewater milky?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  2. 2. Which salt is formed when hydrochloric acid (HCl) is neutralised by sodium hydroxide (NaOH): sodium chloride or sodium sulfate?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  3. 3. Why do indigestion tablets (antacids) contain mild bases such as magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate: to neutralise excess stomach acid, or to add more acid?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  4. 4. Because the pH scale is logarithmic, a decrease of 1 pH unit (e.g. from pH 4 to pH 3) means the H⁺ ion concentration increases by a factor of: 10 or 2?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  5. 5. Why do farmers sometimes spread powdered calcium carbonate (limestone) or calcium oxide on fields: to neutralise overly acidic soil, or to make the soil more acidic?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  6. 6. Which ion is released by all Arrhenius acids when dissolved in aqueous solution: hydrogen ions (H⁺) or hydroxide ions (OH⁻)?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  7. 7. What colour does Universal Indicator turn in a neutral solution of pH 7: green or red?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  8. 8. What weak organic acid gives vinegar its sour taste: ethanoic (acetic) acid or nitric acid?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  9. 9. What colour is phenolphthalein indicator in an acidic solution vs a basic solution: colourless in acid and pink in alkali, or blue in both?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  10. 10. Which ion is present in all aqueous alkaline solutions: hydroxide ions (OH⁻) or chloride ions (Cl⁻)?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  11. 11. On the standard pH scale (0 to 14) at 25 °C, what is the pH of a neutral solution such as pure water: 7 or 0?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution

  12. 12. Which solution is more strongly acidic: Solution A with pH 1, or Solution B with pH 5?

    pH Scale: 0 (Acid) → 7 → 14 (Alkali) · Indicator Solution
12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Acids, bases & the pH scale

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

  1. 1. What is the chemical test that confirms a gas is oxygen (O₂): it relights a glowing wooden splint, or it turns limewater milky?

    It relights a glowing wooden splint

    Pure oxygen supports rapid combustion and relights a glowing splint.

  2. 2. Which salt is formed when hydrochloric acid (HCl) is neutralised by sodium hydroxide (NaOH): sodium chloride or sodium sulfate?

    Sodium chloride

    HCl + NaOH → NaCl (sodium chloride) + H₂O.

  3. 3. Why do indigestion tablets (antacids) contain mild bases such as magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate: to neutralise excess stomach acid, or to add more acid?

    To neutralise excess stomach acid

    Antacids are weak bases that neutralise excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

  4. 4. Because the pH scale is logarithmic, a decrease of 1 pH unit (e.g. from pH 4 to pH 3) means the H⁺ ion concentration increases by a factor of: 10 or 2?

    10

    pH = −log₁₀[H⁺], so each whole unit decrease represents a tenfold increase in [H⁺].

  5. 5. Why do farmers sometimes spread powdered calcium carbonate (limestone) or calcium oxide on fields: to neutralise overly acidic soil, or to make the soil more acidic?

    To neutralise overly acidic soil

    Basic calcium compounds neutralise excess soil acidity so crops can grow well.

  6. 6. Which ion is released by all Arrhenius acids when dissolved in aqueous solution: hydrogen ions (H⁺) or hydroxide ions (OH⁻)?

    Hydrogen ions (H⁺)

    Acids produce aqueous hydrogen ions (H⁺ / H₃O⁺) in water.

  7. 7. What colour does Universal Indicator turn in a neutral solution of pH 7: green or red?

    Green

    Universal Indicator is green at neutral pH 7, red in strong acid, and purple in strong alkali.

  8. 8. What weak organic acid gives vinegar its sour taste: ethanoic (acetic) acid or nitric acid?

    Ethanoic (acetic) acid

    Vinegar is a dilute aqueous solution of ethanoic (acetic) acid.

  9. 9. What colour is phenolphthalein indicator in an acidic solution vs a basic solution: colourless in acid and pink in alkali, or blue in both?

    Colourless in acid and pink in alkali

    Phenolphthalein is colourless below pH 8.2 and turns pink-magenta in alkaline solutions.

  10. 10. Which ion is present in all aqueous alkaline solutions: hydroxide ions (OH⁻) or chloride ions (Cl⁻)?

    Hydroxide ions (OH⁻)

    Alkalis dissolve in water to release hydroxide ions (OH⁻).

  11. 11. On the standard pH scale (0 to 14) at 25 °C, what is the pH of a neutral solution such as pure water: 7 or 0?

    7

    A pH of 7 is neutral, with equal concentrations of H⁺ and OH⁻ ions.

  12. 12. Which solution is more strongly acidic: Solution A with pH 1, or Solution B with pH 5?

    Solution A with pH 1

    Lower numbers on the pH scale indicate higher hydrogen-ion concentration and stronger acidity.

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification