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DIY pH Indicators strips
One of the questions I get asked is; how long are pH indicator solutions and pH strips good for (shelf life)?
Short answer: I'm not sure
Complicated answer (potentially no longer than fruit stays good in your refrigerator or in outside storage). and you wonder why the different strips and indicator liquids give such varying results???
a way around this mess..is to make your own..and before you freak out..not to worry..if you have kids or grandchildren, this is not only an easy project, but something that can help them get a good grade in any science class!!
simple pH strips:
It's easy, safe, and fun to make your own pH paper test strips. This is a project that kids can do and that can be done from home, though calibrated test strips would work in a lab, too.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes plus drying time
Here's How: Cut a red cabbage (or purple) into pieces such that it will fit into a blender.
Chop the cabbage, adding the minimum amount of water needed to blend it (because you want the juice as concentrated as possible).
If you don't have a blender, then use a vegetable grater or chop your cabbage using a knife.
Microwave the cabbage until it's at the boiling point. You'll see the liquid boil or else steam rising from the cabbage. If you don't have a microwave, soak the cabbage in a small volume of boiling water or else heat the cabbage using another method.
Allow the cabbage to cool (about 10 minutes).
Filter the liquid from the cabbage through a filter paper or coffee filter. It should be deeply colored.
Soak a filter paper or coffee filter in this liquid. Allow it to dry.
Cut the dry colored paper into test strips.
Use a dropper or toothpick to apply a little liquid to a test strip.
The color range for acids and bases will depend on the particular plant.
If you like, you can construct a chart of pH and colors using liquids with a known pH so that you can then test unknowns.
Examples of acids include hydrochloric acid (HCl), vinegar, and lemon juice.
Examples of bases include sodium or potassium hydroxide (NaOH or KOH) and baking soda solution.
Tip: If you don't want colored fingers, soak only half of the filter paper with the cabbage juice, leaving the other side uncolored. You'll get less usable paper, but you will have a place to grab it.
So if you want accuracy, consistency..nothing beats having your own quality control and using the different acids and bases..you can do your own quality control to determine if the pH strips are losing effectiveness!!
This is a tip that is not only fun, but should make you a better inspector at the same time!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bob Higgins on -
almost forgot...the color change legend will be as follows when using cabbage:
pH:
2 (red)
4 (purple)
6 (violet)
8 (blue)
10 (blue-green)
12 (greenish-yellow)
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Permalink Reply by Stephen on -
HI Bob. Did you learn this in science class in school? Neato, sounds like a good science project for my kid.
I guess you hear me complaining about the ph sticks in the CaCl test kits!
I'm going to try that this weekend. It'll drive the wifey nuts! lol
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Permalink Reply by Bob Higgins on
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Yes...and because it is so time-tested..woe to anyone who tries to challenge the results!!
No one else would have the quality control you could boast by doing this! I was gratified to learn this hadden't changed in 40 years...facts tend to weather trends...
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Permalink Reply by Stephen on
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OK! Speaking of quality control....when drying make certain your cutting board or drying surface is not contaminated. I can tell this is working already. Most of the paper is violet (which makes sense since violet is neutral) but some strips are turning green! Yikes!
So, next batch I used the left over juice which I concentrated some more and hung up with clothes pins on my solar drying device....the emergency clothesline. ;)))
The wife is reminding me how much the price of a cabbage has gone up. I only used an eighth of a cabbage which is enough to make one hundred Ph strips.
Seems like the coffee filters are much like Ph paper in the way they absorb water.
FYI- Might not matter since your boiling but I used filtered water. I did not have any distilled on hand.
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Permalink Reply by Stephen on
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I just tested about everything in my household..cleaning supplies etc, I'm finding it it practically impossible to find anything highly alkalaine
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Permalink Reply by Bob Higgins on
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Since there has been a push for more environmentally safe cleaners, that isn't surprising..plain house hold bleach is fairly alkaline, and drain cleaners containing sodium hydroxide are VERY alkaline
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