Water pH Science Experiment: Simple Science for Kids

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Kids in preschool and kindergarten love hands-on activities, which means this is the perfect age to introduce science experiments and the basics of the scientific method. This is a super fun water pH science experiment activity that shows kids how to use litmus test strips and how different types of water can have varying water pH. I used this activity to introduce kids to the pH scale and how to conduct a science experiment.

Getting the Water pH Science Experiment Ready:

The set-up for this experiment is simple, which is one reason why it’s perfect for the younger age group. Here’s what you need:

Litmus pH test strips
Several jars
Filtered water
Tap water
Pond or outdoor water (optional)
Vinegar
Salt
Baking soda

Doing the Water pH Science Experiment

After filling each jar with a different type of water, we taped labels to each jar.

I asked the kids to predict whether they thought each water would be acidic or basic.

We tested the baking soda and vinegar waters first, to act as our controls for the most base and most acidic liquids. The kids then tested the other types of water one at a time.

While the papers were drying, we talked about the pH scale and what the different colors on the test strips meant. We talked about why water that was too acidic or too basic might cause problems in the body and be harmful to drink.

When the papers were dry, the kids lined up the liquids in order from most acidic to most basic.

We were surprised to see that even though the baking soda water was a dark green and almost turned blue, that the pond water was almost equally basic. Compared with the pond water, the filtered, drinkable water was almost acidic.

The Science Behind Water pH

The pH scale is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. pH 7 is neutral, and will appear yellow on a litmus test strip. Anything orange to red is acidic, while green to purple is basic. Our results found that the water we tested was slightly more alkaline on the pH scale, with a rating of about 8. Our vinegar came in as a pH of 3, the saltwater was just about 7, and our pond water and baking soda water both had a pH of 8. Use this lesson to talk to kids about the pH scale, how to measure the pH of a liquid, and why pH is an important part of water filtration.

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Brenda Priddy

Brenda Priddy is a mom of two and STEM enthusiast. Once a science hater, she quickly found a secret passion for STEM when her eldest refused to read anything other than science books. Brenda blogs about STEM activities and other hands-on teaching ideas at Schooling a Monkey.