Question

You have been provided with three test tubes. One of them contains distilled water and the other two have an acidic solution and a basic solution respectively. If you are given only red litmus paper, how will you identify the contents of each test tube?

Answer 1

1. Put red litmus paper in each test tube, turning as needed. A basic solution is one that converts red litmus into blue. The blue litmus paper created can be used to test the acidic solution.
2. Put the blue litmus paper in the remaining two test tubes, one at a time. An acidic solution will cause blue litmus paper to turn red.
3. Distilled water is the solution that does not affect litmus paper and is considered neutral.