Today, students experimented with vinegar (an acid) and baking soda (a base) in our neutralization lab. Students discovered the reactants of a neutralization reaction are an acid and a base; and the products of a neutralization reaction are water and a “salt.” A salt is an ionic compound made of a metal and nonmetal. Students were also introduced to another indicator called a universal indicator that was able to change several colors according to the strength of the acid or base. Here are some pictures of the lab:
**
**
**
**
**
As students added more and more baking soda to the vinegar, the indicator changed colors to indicate to students how close they are getting to green, which is neutral with a pH of 7. Here is a 7.
The best part of the lab was that the kiddos had to add SO MANY drops of baking soda to neutralize the vinegar; Some went up to 1000 drops!
KEY TERMS: Neutralization reaction, acid, base, water, salt, indicator, and pH
Here is a neat video to reinforce the concepts of acids and bases!
Mrs. Black's Science Class 
This was a very cool lab.
Our science teacher is the best teacher in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Hinal Rathi — February 21, 2010 @ 9:13 pm