Mom, dad, we learned about pH at school today. What does this mean?

One morning, Zeynep was having breakfast with her mother and father. There was orange juice, yogurt, and water on the table.

pH shows whether something is acidic or basic, honey. For example, this orange juice is acidic.

Water is neutral, meaning it is neither acidic nor basic. Yogurt is also slightly acidic..

So even food has a pH.

 I felt like a scientist!

Her mother went to the kitchen and brought out small colored papers.

These are pH test papers.  If you want, we can measure the pH of a few things together

Zeynep jumped happily.

They dipped the paper in orange juice — it turned orange.

They dipped it in water — it stayed green.

They dipped it in yogurt — it turned yellow.

From that day on, Zeynep started measuring the pH of everything in the house. Maybe she would be a future scientist.

This is great! Science is so much fun!

Science is everywhere at home, Zeynep. All you have to do is be curious.

Zeynep was ready for another pH adventure.

Let's test some new foods today, she said excitedly.

Great! Let's try milk, vinegar and honey this time.

She handed Zeynep the colourful pH test strips.

Zeynep dipped a strip into milk, it stayed light green. Next was vinegar, the strip turned bright red!

That's really acidic! Zeynep said with wide eyes.

Zeynep tried the strip in honey. It turned yellow.

Honey is a little acidic, but not like vinegar, she said.

Ecactly! You're starting to think like a real scientist.

Maybe I'll be a food chemist!

I'm writing all my results in a notebook.

That's how real scientists work. Test, observe and record.

From that day on, Zeynep tested everything in the kitchen.. And maybe one day, she would test  food in a real science lab. 

Zeynep found research on pH in food so interesting that the next day she decided she wanted to try it in cleaning products as well, so she went down to the kitchen, where she met his father.

Hi Dad, I wanted to know if you could help me check pH in cleaning products today.

That would be great!

OK, Zeynep, you can now carefully insert the pH strips into the bleach.

Appears in a purplish colour!

Perfect! With bleach values ranging between 11 and 13, it has a high pH.

How interesting, let's see how we do with another product!

Dad, what do you think if we try now with the cleaning vinegar you use for the windows?

Good idea, Zeynep. Let’s check it out.

Okay, I’ve got the strip ready… Look, it turns orange!

That means it has an acidic pH, between 2 and 3. It’s great for disinfecting without being too harsh.

Mom, Dad is helping me measure the pH of cleaning products. Look how the strips change color!

That’s great, sweetie! What have you tested so far? 

the cleaning vinegar has a very high pH, between 11 and 13. It’s very alkaline. 

I like how each one is different!

Yes, it is! For example, your stomach has a very acidic pH to help digest food.

Dad, yesterday we learned that even our own body has pH levels. Is that true?

Wow! What pH level does the stomach have?

It’s usually around 1.5 to 3.5 — really acidic!

That’s why we shouldn't drink too much soda or acidic drinks, right?

So, is there also pH in our saliva?

Exactly. Too much acid can hurt your stomach lining.

Yes! Saliva is slightly basic, with a pH around 6.5 to 7.5 — it helps protect your teeth.

Mom, can I test my saliva with the pH strip?

Of course! Just make sure your hands are clean first.

Okay, I did it… It’s turning light green!

That means your saliva is healthy — right around neutral. Good job, scientist!

Can I also test my sweat?

So cool! The body uses pH to protect itself!

Sweat is usually slightly acidic, between 4 and 6. It helps your skin fight off germs.

Exactly! The body is smart — every part has its perfect pH balance.

What a good thing we did to come to the forest

Okay daddy,

 let's start

 Getting fresh air will be beneficial for both our minds and our experiences, Let's collect hydrangeas!

Why are their colors different?

What is pH?

Do you want to see how pH can change the color of Hydrangea? Let's examine the soil and plants in the lab

.

Because soil properties are different from each other

Soil affects the pH of the plant and therefore its properties.

 PH is the unit of measurement that describes the degree of acidity or basicity of a solution.

This pH meter will help us find out whether the soil is acidic or basic.

 We can also measure the pH of the soil with litmus paper.

 So is pink hydrangea or purple hydrangea acidic?

Let's try and learn!

So is there a way to test pH at home?