What are acids and alkalis like and where do we use them?
Activities Elicit pupils’ ideas about acids by asking them to work in pairs or small groups to suggest words they would use to describe an acid and examples of where acids are used. Show pupils a range of household acids that can be safely handled, eg vinegar, fruit juices, and ask them to explore and describe the appearance and smell of these. If appropriate, pupils could be asked to taste drops of the solutions that are food products. Provide packaging or labels from additional household materials (that do not have hazard warnings) and ask pupils to find the names of acids contained in them. Ask pupils to compare what they found with the ideas they had about acids, and to highlight differences. Outcomes identify some acids, eg vinegar, lemon juice identify some everyday uses of acids, eg in foods, medicines, cleaning materials Objectives that many household materials are acids and are not hazardous Points to note This activity could be used to reinforce the idea that not all colourle
