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Lesson 9 of 14

Indicators you can smell

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4 min

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A chopped onion has a strong smell. A base can remove that smell. Test each jar with an onion strip.

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The idea

Some things change in smell, not colour, with an acid or base. They are olfactory indicators. Olfactory means about smell. Onion is one.

Two onion strips. Both have a strong smell.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Two onion strips. Both have a strong smell.
  2. A drop of acid on the first. The smell stays strong.
  3. A drop of base on the second. The smell fades.
  4. A fading smell points to a base.

An olfactory indicator changes its smell. Onion smell stays in an acid and fades in a base.

A teacher does this test. Never sniff an unknown liquid.

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