American Chemical Society: Chemistry's Colorful Clue Lab Activity

Real world application of chemistry on natural water sources.

This lab activity is developed by the American Chemical Society through grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institute of Health (NIH). Through the lessons in this lab, students will learn how human activity may affect natural water sources. Using an indicator, students will determine how acids and bases impact the pH of water.

Upon completion of this activity, students will then create carbon dioxide gas through a chemical reaction and determine if the carbon dioxide could have affected the pH of a local stream.