How do you test the strength of acid?

Question

using houshold items only

Answer 1

Most if not all of the previous answers mix the strength of an acid with the concentration of protons in the solution. So they are just suggesting ways to determine the pH of the solution. It is true that the lower the pH, the more acidic it will be, but this is only because it is more concentrated. Of course when it is more concentrated it is more effective in your daily uses so in every day terminology it is more "strong". If that's what you meant, then you can do it with the home-made litmus paper or soda.

Strictly speaking in chemistry terminology the strength of an acid has to do with its dissociation. For a mono valent acid:
HA<=> H+ + A-
When dissociation is complete then the acid is strong; when not it is weak. Determing the equilibrium constant will tell you how strong the acid really is.
In order to do that, you need to do a titration with a strong base like NaOH and follow the change in pH of the solution with the addition of base. The shape of the curve will let you know if the acid is strong, weak, mono or poly valent and determine the equilibrium constant(s). Unfortunately you can't do the curve properly with household materials and equipment.

Answer 2

how much baking soda it'll neutralize. it won't be exact without some sort of a titration, but since that requires equipment that isn't found at home, it's not going to do you very much good.

Answer 3

By tiration of acid with an alkali(base)-

Answer 4

just tear off a corner first - I did that once and figured out if I had eaten the whole thing it would have been major

Answer 5

You guzzle as much as you can find , and wrap a heating pad around your face.

Answer 6

trying dissolving a piece of chalk and observe the time taken to dissolve it...the faster it is the stronger it is

Answer 7

homemade litmus paper of course

http://www.familytlc.net/print.php?cat=science&id=5546&res_id=

Answer 8

use a home made litmus paper