Sour Science Lab Worksheet
Sour Science Lab
The Candy pH Challenge
Researcher:
Lab Date:
Pre-Lab Prep
The pH scale measures hydrogen ions (1-14). 7 is neutral. Lower is acidic; higher is alkaline.
1. What do you think "acidic" means?
2. Taste Test! Which candy is your favorite?
Hypothesis
Predict which candy will rank as the most acidic (lowest pH number):
I hypothesize that...
Safety Goggles Required Adult Supervision
Lab Procedure
1
Unwrap candies and sort by type. Put on your safety gear.
2
Melt candy in a pot with 1-2 cups of distilled water.
3
Heat hard candy to 300°F (medium) or chocolate to 115°F (low).
4
Have an adult remove the pot from heat once liquefied.
5
Dip pH paper into the liquid. Wait for color to appear.
6
Compare color to chart and record results below.
| Candy Group | Prediction (pH) | Observed Color | Actual pH |
|---|
| Sour (e.g. Warheads) | | | |
| Sweet (e.g. Smarties) | | | |
| Chocolate (e.g. Hershey's) | | | |
Lab Analysis
1. Was your hypothesis correct? Explain your findings.
2. Check the sour candy wrapper. What acids do you see?
3. Why do you think all the candies had a pH below 7?
The Tasty Science: Sourness is the taste that helps our bodies detect ____________________.
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Science Lab Worksheet