Science and Technology - Laboratory Course (SCI103-1404A-04) - Lab Report Example

Assignment: SCI103 Phase Lab Report Measuring pH Levels Instructions: Enter the Virtual Lab, and conduct the experiments provided before going out into the virtual field for additional research. Please type your answers on this form. When your lab report is complete, submit it to the Submitted Assignments area of the Virtual Classroom.Part I: Answer the following questions while in the Phase 1 lab environment.Section 1: You will be testing 4 known solutions for pH levels using a standard wide-range indicator.

Based off of the results obtained in the lab room, fill in the following table:Solution NumberpH from LabAcid, Base or Neutral?Solution Name (what was in the test tube?)Solution 17neutralPure waterSolution 22acidLemon juiceSolution 312basebleachSolution 45acidcoffee1. How many drops of wide range indicator will you use for each test, based on industry standards such as the LaMotte field test?1 drop per indicator will be used for each testSection 2: Now that you understand how to read pH measurements, go out into the field to gather pH samples from 3 different lakes to take back to the lab for testing, and answer the following question:2.

What was the pH level measured at Lake 1? 6 3. What was the pH level measured at Lake 2? 4 4. What was the pH level measured at Lake 3? 55. Which two lakes have the highest levels of acidity in their water? lakes 2 and 3 have the highest levels of acidity6. Based off of the information gathered at each lake, explain why your results may have turned out this way. What environmental phenomenon is at work here?

From the information given in the virtual lab, the lakes described as 2 and 3 appear to be more acidic due to the fact that they are located on the downwind direction from the lake described as 1 which is surrounded by an industrial and settlement area. Carbon (iv) oxide and sulphur (iv) oxide are emissions associated with industrialization and are carried downwind by the wind and fall end up falling as acid rain. Lake 2 is found to suffer most from acidity as it is said to have a higher elevation as compared to Lake 3.

Acidity falls in the form of either snow, rain or fog.Part II: For the following questions, provide your response in short-answer format (2–3 detailed sentences each). Use this Phase’s activities and resources to assist you in answering.7. What is pH?PH can be defined as the measure of how acidic or basic a solution is.8. What is a base?A base is basically a substance that accepts hydrogen ions from another substance.9. What is an acid?An acid is a substance that accepts hydrogen ions from another substance10.

What does it mean if a solution has more hydrogen ions (H+)?If a solution has more hydrogen ions, it means that the solution is more acidic.11. What does it mean if a solution has more hydroxide ions (OH-)?If a solution has more hydroxide ions, it means that the solution is more basic.12. What does it mean if a solution is neutral?A solution is said to be neutral if the concentration of hydrogen ions occurs in the same quantity as that of the hydroxide ions in the solution.13. Explain the pH scale and how it is used to indicate acidic, alkaline, and neutral solutions.

The pH scale usually has a range running from 0-14. A pH value that is equal to 7 is said to be neutral. A pH value that is less than 7 is said to be acidic in nature and a pH that is greater than 7 is said to be basic. The PH scale is normally used to measure the concentration of hydrogen ions that is present in a solution. A low pH usually represents solutions that have a high concentration of hydrogen ion while high PH usually represents solutions with low concentration of hydrogen ions. Acids on a PH scale are substances that when added to water increases the concentration of hydrogen ions thus lowering the PH.

A base on the other hand usually lowers the concentration of hydrogen ions thus raising the PH. There are other substances called buffers that enable solutions to resist changes in PH. 14. What does it mean in terms of strength when the pH of an acid changes from 5 to 4?A decrease in pH values from 5 to 4 will mean that the acidity of the solution is 10 times greater.