How to Neutralize Water pH
Defined by the Carlsberg Research Center, whose scientists created the idea and the scale, as "power of Hydrogen", pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution. The scale ranges from 0 to 14, with the lower portion representing a higher concentration of hydrogen, and the higher representing the opposite. Water in its purest form is said to have a pH of 7, but without distillation, water is essentially full of ions other than those belonging to the H2O.
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Things You'll Need
- Test tubes
- Water Sample (10-12oz.)
- Stirring stick
- pH scale
- pH testing paper
- pH testing chemical
- Acid (lemon juice will suffice)
- Base (baking soda)
Instructions
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1
Fill a test tube half full with the water sample. Following the instructions on the pH indicator bottle, add the amount of drops it says. Cover and shake the test tube until the solution is one color. Compare this color to the pH scale to determine whether the water is above or below neutral.
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2
Add a small amount of baking soda to the water sample if it is too acidic or add a small amount of lemon juice if too basic.
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3
Test the water sample again, noting how much the reading differs from the first. Repeat until the solution reads normal.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember, the pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that each step on the scale is a difference of hydrogen concentration by tenfold.
Add acids and bases in small amounts, so as not to "overshoot" the neutral mark.
Add acids and bases separately, as they can create a chemical reaction if mixed together.
