Baking Soda Diffusion Lab

Sarah Broadbent

Title
Lesson Description

Baking soda (NaHCO3) can easily dissolve in water. When it does, it forms what is known as a basic (or alkali) solution with a pH of around 8.3. A basic solution is one with a pH of more than 7. pH is a chemical property that can be easily measured using several different methods, one of which is a pH indicator.

In this lab, students will use what they know about testing pH to observe color changes as particles of baking soda diffuse through a beaker of water.

Grade(s)/Age
9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
Science Subject Matter
Strand BIO.2: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF LIFE, Strand CHEM.2: THE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF MOLECULES, Strand CHEM.3: STABILITY AND CHANGE IN CHEMICAL SYSTEMS