pH of Household Substances Inquiry Chemistry Lab

This inquiry lab is PERFECT for distance learning as a teacher demo or in-person for student lab groups. Students use prior knowledge of the pH scale, acids, and bases to predict the pH of common household substances as well as identify unknown substances based on their pH.

Students will test the pH of common household substances with red cabbage indicator solution. If you are in-person, any pH indicator can be substituted!

The student handout is written for a teacher demo (I used this for distance learning as a demo in my kitchen!) but can easily convert to an in-person student-led inquiry lab.

You will receive a print and go student lab handout with data tables, analysis questions, and conclusion questions AND a teacher PDF with lab prep instructions, materials list, lesson plan, and lab question answer key. Students need prior knowledge of the pH scale and what makes something an acid (H+) and base (OH-).