Acids and bases are all around in our everyday lives, mostly in positive contexts, but sometimes causing problems. The ideas below suggest possible contexts in which you may wish to introduce, reinforce or revise some of the concepts discussed in the classroom.

Acid rain

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Many world-famous statues and monuments provide examples of how pollutants like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide contribute to producing acid rain and its damaging effects. The once brilliant-white Taj Mahal of India is faded and yellowing despite attempts to minimise the effects of tourist traffic near to the historic site. The Acropolis of Athens, Greece, is another example where even low levels of acid rain damage the surface of the ancient marble.

News articles and features about the effects of acid rain are plentiful and easily sourced online, including Dinosaur mass extinction may have been triggered by acid rain.

The problem is not confined to dry land – the oceans are also becoming acidified, as discussed in The other carbon dioxide problem. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is in equilibrium with carbon dioxide levels in the Earth's oceans. As carbon dioxide levels in the Earth's atmosphere rise, those in the oceans also increase, causing some serious effects.

Base for a boy

This light-hearted story of litmus-inspired, colour-changing baby clothes made by using acid and base chemistry reflects the origins of this chemistry in dying silk fabric and the discovery of litmus from lichens as an indicator, as the author attempts to dye white baby clothes blue or pink using acids and bases chemistry.

Soap from bacon – the dangers of alkaline solutions

In this demonstration, raw bacon is used to show the effects of acid and alkali on living tissue, and also the formation of soap from hydrolysed fat.

Concept map of acids and alkalis revision activity

Engaging students in concept mapping about acids and alkalis allows students to reinforce the words and linking phrases that they've learned in this topic.