Guadalupe Hernandez
A’Lena Sessoms
Period 2
December 13, 2018
Neutralization of Bases and Acids
For this science fair project, a series of experiments will be conducted to answer the posing question; what is the effect of different pH level substances on the neutralization of vinegar? This topic was chosen since both of us share the curiosity of what vigorous chemical reactions between acids and bases look like. Additionally, controlling as well as picking different bases to react with vinegar will be intriguing, and it will help give us a basic understanding of the different levels of strengths that acidic and basic substances have. The use of neutralization is applied to agriculture when growable soil needs to be produced and is also used in factories where harmful acids are nullified to create safer working and natural environments. Neutralization is also more commonly known to be used medically, it reduces excess stomach acids within gastric people, and relieves pain from bee or wasp stings as well. Not only that, it is typically applied for domestic uses, like to treat dandruff, to create a rise in cakes, and to keep teeth healthy.
To understand the basics of this experiment, it's important to note what pH, an acid, a base, and a neutral substance is. pH stands for potential hydrogen, and it is a scale to measure the amount of acidity or basicity a substance has, depending on the number of hydrogen ions and hydroxides in the substances. An acid contains a high amount of hydrogen cations and has a pH level lower than 7, only when it is incorporated in water. In contrast, a base has a pH level higher than 7, and holds hydroxides, once it is dissolved in water as well (“Acids and Bases” [UXL]). For any solution in the middle, exactly having a pH of 7, it is considered neutral and the range of the pH scale only goes to 0 to 14 ("pH"). To put it briefly, the general idea of this project is that when acids and bases with equal amount of hydrogen cations and hydroxides are combined, a neutral product is formed, salt and water. This process is called a neutralization reaction, and it may lead to vigorous results, from producing gas, like carbon dioxide, heat, and other forms of released energies (Nelson).
Although there is no definite answer to who officially started experimenting neutralization, Robert Boyle conducted an experimentation to determine how strong the acidity of certain substances are by using plant compounds such as cabbage. Later on, Antoine Lavoisier regulated many experiments to test if oxygen was responsible for the unique properties that acids have. He incorrectly inferred that oxygen was responsible, yet his observations set the starting point for further studies and allowed Humphrey Davy, a chemist, to discover that hydrogen is the common element. After this discovery, scientists started testing out what would cancel, or neutralize the acidity levels in various objects and what reaction would occur (“Acids and Bases” [Explorable.com]). Thanks to Svante Arrhenius, he discovered simple definitions, that is still presently used, to what bases and acids are. He discovered that as acids and bases interact, they will fully neutralize and produce various salt compounds as well as water (“Acid Base Theories”).
With the knowledge we’ve obtained, we hypothesize that acids will just make the vinegar more acidic since we’re combining strong chemical properties, which juxtaposed the point of our experiment. If we add bases with a low pH level, we infer that a vigorous reaction will occur since they are both trying to subdue each other and create a more balanced chemical compound (Dunn and Chappell).There’s also a chance of producing gas due to the release of the hydrogen ions in vinegar or transferring chemical energy to thermal energy by an exothermic reaction. We also watched a few videos and read the experiment description, which stated that the reactions could produce a small fire or spark if not careful, that would have to be created by a strong alkali base, being added (Nelson, pH). Overall, we feel as if the neutralization process of vinegar will have to be subdued by an equally strong base.
In conclusion, what we expect to find from this science fair project are what pH leveled solutions will be able to neutralize with vinegar, and which solutions will create a weak basic, or more acidic product. We also anticipate vigorous reactions with certain base substances and discover the strengths of household objects, suchlike ammonia, borax, and baking soda. From those reactions, we assume that the results will be low heat, hydrogen oxide, salts, and carbon dioxide due to the fact that vinegar is not a strong acidic solution, therefore not capable of producing a stronger reaction. Our target is to discover what would neutralize vinegar with the least amount of substance and conclude what pH level substance is most effective. Overall, the knowledge we will soon gather will help us understand the process of neutralization, and why its impact on today is still useful.
Works Cited
“Acids and Bases”, edited by Oskar Blakstad, Explorable.com, 21 June 2012, explorable.com/acids-and-bases. Accessed 13 Dec. 2018
"Acids and Bases." UXL Encyclopedia of Science, edited by Amy Hackney Blackwell and Elizabeth Manar, 3rd ed., UXL, 2015. Student Resources In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CV2644300011/SUIC?u=fair54409&sid=SUIC&xid=71fb09ab. Accessed 13 Dec. 2018.
“Acid Base Theories: Svante Arrhenius”, Chem Team, www.chemteam.info/AcidBase/Arrhenius-AcidBase.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2018
Dunn, Katherine, and Carlynn Chappell. “Neutralization.” Chemistry LibreTexts, National Science Foundation, 26 Nov. 2018, chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Acids_and_Bases/Acid%2F%2FBase_Reactions/Neutralization. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018
“Experiment – Acid base neutralisation reaction” Youtube, uploaded by Lasec Education, August 4, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVOZe3fnoX0 Accessed 10 Dec. 2018
Nelson, M. Rae. "pH." Experiment Central: Understanding Scientific Principles Through Projects, edited by Kristine Krapp, 2nd ed., UXL, 2010. Student Resources In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CV2644200032/SUIC?u=fair54409&sid=SUIC&xid=ceb642c3. Accessed 10 Dec. 2018.
“Neutralisation.” Neutralisation in Our Daily Lives, Nurul Hidayah Abd Latip, 2009, www.fp.utm.my/projek/psm/webtlr/Neutralisation/learning2b.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2018
“Neutralization Reactions” Youtube, uploaded by Professor Dave Explains, October 26, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9wUdgxCLMQ&t=307s Accessed 11 Dec.2018
"pH." UXL Encyclopedia of Science, edited by Amy Hackney Blackwell and Elizabeth Manar, 3rd ed., UXL, 2015. Student Resources In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CV2644300743/SUIC?u=fair54409&sid=SUIC&xid=84dfd497. Accessed 13 Dec. 2018.