radicals willing to be pushedoutof their molecules. Theseneutralsubstances,
therefore,are neither acids nor bases.
Lookingat your record of what happened before and afterdiluting the
solutions,you should be able to draw someconclusion aboutthe effect of
dilutionon the acidity oralkalinityofa solution.
HOW YOU-CAN NEUTRALIZE AN ACID WITH ABASE
Gather these materials: Acetic acid (CHaCOOH); a calcium hydroxide
solution(Ca(OH)2); red and blue litmuspaper;2 eyedroppers;1 tablespoon
and 1teaspoon;and 2 smalljarsthatare alike.
Follow this procedure:Put 3tablespoonfulsof acetic acidand 2 tablespoon-
fuls of water into one jar. Label thejar"aceticacid."Put one eyedropperand
the tablespoonyou used next to it. Put 1teaspoonfulof calcium hydroxide
solutioninto theotherjar.Put theteaspoonand theothereyedroppernext to
it. Fill thisjarhalfway with water. Stir thecontentsof eachjarwith itsindividual
spoon. Remember, these spoons must not be used forcookingagain.
Test thecontentsofbothjarswith red and blue litmuspaperto see which
solutionis acid and whichsolutionis alkaline. Place thejarof acid directly in
frontof you. Place the alkalinesolutionto the right and slightly behind the acid
(unless you are left-handed). Now, with thedroppernear the calcium hydroxide,
add 3dropsof it to the acetic acid, stir with thespoonnear the acetic acid,
andtest the newsolutionwith blue litmus paper. Repeatthisprocedureover
and over,countingthe drops carefully, and noting theamountof change in