In this article, we will let you know how to test pH of water without a kit. pH levels mean the Potential of hydrogen in the water. pH levels are the measure of acidity in the water. The edge in the water measured by the pH scale ranges from 0 – to 14. Measuring the pH levels of water is vital because if the water is too acidic, it could be dangerous to health.
The pH levels are calculated using a special kit with a pH meter, but if you don’t have it, there are other ways of checking the pH level in the water.
As previously stated, the pH has a scale that ranges between 0-14. A pH level below seven is considered acidic, and above 7 is Alkaline.
However, low or high pH levels are unhealthy, so water with a pH level of 7 is suitable for drinking water. PH level 7 ensures the water is not contaminated, has the essential minerals, and is optimal for drinking.
Why Should You Check The pH Level In The Water?
Liquids and water with low pH levels can be harmful to the body. Water with low pH levels is polluted and contaminated.
Measuring the pH levels is essential for your health as the pH level impacts your metabolism too. A meal with high acid will lead to gaining weight and a slower response in your immunity, making your body prone to diseases.
Alkaline doesn’t have a harmful effect compared to acidity, but it will develop the inability to metabolize what you consume.
Our body needs a balanced pH level, as everything food, liquid, and emotions we release impacts the pH levels.
How To Test pH of Water Without A Kit?
Though you might not have a pH kit with pH test strips, a pH test meter, and indicator drops, there are modern ways to find the pH level of your water without a pH kit.
You can run a pH test and check the pH level of water at home using a rad cabbage and a bottle of distilled water. The red cabbage has a water-soluble pigment flavin that will give a red color to make a pH indicator at home.
- First, you must prepare the pH indicator solution. To prepare it, cut your red cabbage into moderate pieces. Take two separate bowls to boil the distilled water.
- Transfer the chopped cabbages to a glass bowl and pour the hot distilled water until the cabbage is covered.
- Stir the cabbage in the distilled water and leave it closed for 30 minutes
- Once water is pigmented to a purplish color, drain the pieces of cabbage and use the cabbage solution in distilled water as a pH indicator at home.
Fill water in a few amounts to test the pH level, add a few drops of the pH indicator at home in the water and wait for the color of the water to change.
Apart from the pH juice indicator, you can also make pH strips using the cabbage pH indicator using cabbage juice.
Follow the following steps to make the pH strip using purple cabbage, and you will need a filter paper or any acid-free art paper,
- Soak the filter paper completely using the pH indicator solution of cabbage juice.
- Once wholly wet, remove the paper from the solution and let it dry in a neutral environment.
- Make sure the environment exposed to dry should not be acidic or alkaline.
- Once the paper is completely dry, cut it into strips
- To check the pH level using the strip, take a swab of cotton, soak it in water, and dab it lightly on the strip
- See for the color changing and use a pH color chart to find what it says.
Usually, when the purple cabbage juice is used to check the PH levels if the water is acidic, it turns red or pink, but it turns greenish-yellow if the water is alkaline.
The neutral remains the same as purple.
How To Remove Copper From Drinking Water? Read HERE.
Acidity And Alkaline In Water
The water with a neutral level and a pH level of 7 has a good taste, but the water level below 7 with an average below 6.5 levels, does not taste pleasant. The water below the neutral level is acidic and contains metals such as magnesium, iron, etc. Low pH levels are caused due to the rusty and leach metal pipelines.
A pH level above 7 is alkaline, and a pH level above nine will have a vast difference in water and tastes sour. It corrodes iron, zinc, copper, and brass, and this is why you might find deposits in your dishes.
As seen above, the water above or below pH level contains harmful ingredients not suitable for your health; hence it is vital to check the pH levels of the water to keep your body free from diseases and hygienic.
How To Neutralize The pH Levels In Water?
The acidic water is neutralized by Alkaline-based liquid, and alkaline water is neutralized using acid-based liquid.
Use a filter in the usage system where your water enters a home to utilize; calcium carbonate is used to neutralize alkaline water while acidic water is neutralized using Magnesium oxide.
Other substances such as,
- Soda Ash is used for neutralizing acidic water
- The acetic acid in vinegar citric acid can be used for neutralizing water with high pH levels.
How To Test pH Of Water Without Kit – Conclusion
It is vital to test the pH levels in drinking water, as they can significantly impact your body and affect your body’s health diversely.
The harmful minerals in acidic and alkaline water make your body prone to diseases and affect your metabolism rate, metal poisoning, respiratory-related diseases, etc.
You can measure the pH levels using a pH kit; if not, red cabbage and distilled water can be made into a pH indicator solution.
PH levels can be measured using other ingredients at home, such as red onions, blueberries, apple or grape skin, turmeric, etc. With that, we end our guide on How To Test pH Of Water Without Kit.
