In this task, students will work in teams and use their current knowledge about acids, bases, and neutralization reactions.
They will design and conduct an experiment to determine the pH of a fictional drug (Relieve IT) intended to relieve cold/flu symptoms and the pH of four unknown solutions. Then students will determine which solution or combination of solutions can be used to neutralize any excess acid or base. After analyzing their data, each team will generate recommendations as to which solution or solutions should be used to neutralize Relieve IT.
Each team will make an oral presentation to share their procedures, findings, and recommendations to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel. Each student will prepare an individual lab report including recommendations for “fixing” the pH levels of Relieve IT.
