How to add Carbon Dioxide to Sea Water

This is a straightforward demonstration of how carbon dioxide and water react. It can also serve to show how carbon dioxide is dominantly produced in the respiratory process. You will produce a weak acid in this experiment.

Things You'll Need

  • Eye goggles
  • 2 dropping pipettes
  • Conical flask - 250 cm
  • Small bottle of phenol red indicator solution (very flammable)
  • Small bottle of sodium hydroxide solution (irritant)
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Instructions

  1. Adding Carbon Dioxide to Water

    • 1

      Place about 125 cm of water in the 250 cm conical flask. Add about one or two drops of the phenol red indicator solution into the water.

    • 2

      Add two drops of the sodium hydroxide solution to the conical flask. This will cause the solution to become red.

    • 3

      Add carbon dioxide into the flask. You can do this by saying the 'H' sound with your mouth or blowing gently. Continue this until a color change is observed.

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