How do you test something is acidic?

Without using a pH meter or indicator?

Could you just add a base and if a reaction occurs then the origional solution was acidic and if no reaction occurs then the origional soultion was also a base?

Basically i have to conduct an experiment to prove NH4Fe(SO4)2 (Ammonium iron sulphate) is acidic.
Now adding a strong base such as NaOH will result in ammonium gas being formed
Adding a strong acid such as HCl will have no effect as it won't result in any visible products.
So if the base reacts but the acid doesn't, i've prooved that the reactant solution is acidic?

Reply 1

Kyalimers

No! - You have prroved there is a reaction. But a reaction with what??? could be anything.

drink it and seee!

Add 1M sodium carbonate solution. If it produces bubbles pass them through limewater. If the limewater turns cloudy the gas was CO2 and the solution you added the Na2CO3 to was acidic. Acid + carbonate = salt + water + carbon dioxide. This works as long as the acid has a higher Ka value than carbonic acid as a stronger acid displaces a weaker one. The carbonic acid displaced from the carbonate decomposes into water and CO2.