This activity should only be introduced to the students after they are familiar with laboratory safety, as well as acids and bases. Also, students should know how to read a pH meter. This investigation can be completed in one 50 minute class period. Place the 10 different substances in the proper beakers. Students are to get one of the samples and place the pH meter into the sample.
Students are to wait a moment or two for the pH meter to adjust .
Students should return the sample they just tested, and get another sample. They are to repeat steps 3 - 5 until all the samples have been tested. After taking all the samples, students should finish filling out the data table. If a pH meter is not available, students can use litmus paper. For this, the teacher will need to tell the students what the different samples are.