Colourful Chemistry 2016

The Big Picture

How does this topic apply to everyday life?

Everyday context: Tooth Decay and Acid Rain

Related careers: Paramedic, Nurse, Doctor, Science Teacher, Food Scientist, Pool
Cleaner, Chemical Engineer, Water Treatment Plant Operator, Tanner, Soap Maker,
Hair Stylist

The Three Big Ideas

1. How can Indicators be
used to tell the
difference between an
acid and a base?
2. How does the pH scale
relate to the strength of
an acid or a base?

3. What is neutralisation?
Key Skills
1.

Key Competencies Participating and

Contributing during practical
investigations

2.

Numeracy Using colour and the pH scale

to determine the strength of an acid or a
base

3.

Science Capabilities - Gather and

interpret data about acidic and basic
substances

4.

Literacy using writing to communicate

scientific understanding of acids and
bases

Colourful Chemistry
Learning intentions (Find out..)
1.

Where acids and bases are found in the home

2.

The properties of acids and bases

3.

How to classify substances as acidic, basic or

neutral by using Red Cabbage filtrate

4.

How to classify substances as acidic, basic or

neutral by using Blue and Red Litmus paper

5.

How to classify substances as acidic, basic or

neutral by using Universal Indicator

6.

What the pH scale is and what pH some common

household substances are.

7.

How an acid and a base neutralise each other

8.

How neutralisation reactions are used in everyday

life

Success criteria (I can.)

o List at least 2 household acids and bases.
o List at least 2 common acid and base used
in the laboratory
o List 2 properties of acids
o List 2 properties of bases
o Classify substances as acidic, alkaline or
neutral by describing the change in colour of
Red Cabbage filtrate
o Classify substances as acidic, alkaline or
neutral by describing the change in colour of
Blue and Red Litmus paper
o Classify substances as acidic, alkaline or
neutral by describing the change in colour of
Universal Indicator
o Match the colours ROYGBIV with the
appropriate pH number.
o Identify weak and strong acids and alkalis
by the colour change of Universal Indicator
with the pH number
o Describe what a neutralisation reaction is.
o Describe the colour changes that occur to
universal indicator during a neutralisation
reaction.

Some important
words:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Acids
Alkalis
Neutral
Sour
Bitter
Weak
Strong
Litmus
Universal
Indicator
Neutralisation
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet
Bases
Corrosive

o Describe an everyday situation where an

acid or base is neutralised

Tip: During the topic identify the Learning intention being covered and attempt the Success criteria for each. Colour the box at the end
green = the criteria was easy, orange =still need some help, red = had no idea. You can then ask your teacher for help where you need
it.