Everything around us is made of tiny bits called chemicals. Some are acids and some are bases.
Acid A lemon is an acid. Acids often taste sour. 😖
Base Soap is a base. Bases often feel slippery. 🫧
Let's become little scientists and find out how to tell them apart — no tasting soap, promise!
Acids and bases give us little clues with our senses. Tap the cards below to reveal each clue.
Scientists use a special juice (from red cabbage!) that changes colour to spot acids and bases. We call it an indicator.
Drip a liquid into the beaker and watch the colour change:
We dripped cabbage juice on a slice of lime (a green sour fruit). Lime is very sour, like lemon.
What colour will the juice turn?
For each item, tap 🍋 Acid or 🧼 Base. Sour things are acids; slippery, soapy, cleaning things are usually bases.
Scientists measure acids and bases on a number line called pH, from 0 to 14.
0–6 acid 7 neutral 8–14 base
Slide to 7 — the neutral middle, where water sits:
Here's everything you discovered:
Next time you squeeze a lemon or wash your hands, you'll know the chemistry hiding inside. Keep being curious! ⭐