Manya is blindfolded. She is given two unknown solutions to test and determine whether they are acidic or basic. Which indicator should Manya use to test the solutions and why?
Manya should use an olfactory indicator such as onion or vanilla essence.
Olfactory indicators are substances whose odour changes in acidic or basic medium.
Since Manya is blindfolded and cannot see colour changes, she can rely on her sense of smell to detect the change in odour.
Onion strips, when exposed to acidic or basic solutions, show a noticeable change in their characteristic smell, allowing identification without visual observation.
Explanation
The chapter introduces olfactory indicators in Activity 2.6, explaining that these are substances whose odours change in acidic or basic medium. Onion is mentioned as an example where the odour changes when in contact with acidic or basic substances. This makes olfactory indicators suitable for visually impaired individuals or situations where visual observation is not possible.
Solution Steps
Manya should use an olfactory indicator such as onion or vanilla essence
Olfactory indicators are substances whose odour changes in acidic or basic medium
Since Manya is blindfolded and cannot see colour changes, she can rely on smell to detect the change
Onion strips show a noticeable change in smell when exposed to acidic or basic solutions