A student prepared solutions of (z) an acid and (ii) a base in two separate beakers. She forgot to label the solutions and litmus paper is not available in the laboratory. Since both the solutions are colourless, how will she distinguish between the two?
The student can perform a couple of tests to distinguish between an acid and a base.
1.The student can pour both the solutions on two different parts of any iron object. One of the solutions will react faster with the iron to evolve hydrogen gas. That solution is an acidic solution.
2.The student can put very small amount of vegetables or curry from his lunch box on two different comers of his handkerchief. His handkerch .ef will stain yellow due to turmeric in the curry. Then he should put a drop of one solution (say solution A) on one stain and another solution (say solution B) on the other stain. The solution which turns the yellow stain red is the basic solution while the one which does not affect the stain is acidic.
3.We can use phenolphthalein to check which of the beakers contains acid and which one contains a base.