Acid or Base? Sorting Activity

Acid and Alkali Sort

Activity Overview

After completing their pH scale with single examples, this activity will have students sort different substances into the three categories: Acid, Neutral, and Base. This is a great graphic organizer for students to use as a reference point for the rest of the unit.

To make this activity more challenging, have students research different substances to put in each category instead of providing them with the list included in the instructions. Encourage them to select at least seven of each and try to find ones that are less commonly known. To extend this activity, students can list the substances in order of pH from the most acidic to the most basic.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-8

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Group

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Template and Class Instructions

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Student Instructions

Create a T-Chart storyboard that sorts substances into three categories: acid, neutral, and base.

Sort the following substances into the correct cell as either an acid, neutral substance, or a base.

Salt Water
Coffee
Dish Soap
Toothpaste
Hydrochloric Acid
Drain Cleaner
Milk
Soda
Tomato Juice
Bee Sting
Oven Cleaner
Pure Water
Bleach
Sodium Hydroxide
Vinegar
Antacid Tablets
Rubbing Alcohol
Orange Juice
Wasp Sting
Lemon Juice
Washing Detergent

Basic Sorting Activity Template

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Rubric

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Sorting Assignment

Sort the terms into the correct categories and add visualizations to illustrate them.

	Proficient 33 Points	Emerging 16 Points	Beginning 0 Points
Sorting the Terms	Nearly all the terms are correctly sorted into the cells.	Most of the terms are correctly sorted into the cells.	Some of the cells are correctly sorted into the cells.
Visualizations	There are a range of visualizations to illustrate the terms in each category.	There are some visualizations to illustrate the terms in each category.	There are few or no visualizations to illustrate the terms in each category.
Evidence of Effort	Work is well written and carefully thought out.	Work shows some evidence of effort.	Work shows little evidence of any effort.