"Sacha" wrote ...

Chris Hogg said:

, Sacha wrote:

I've just read the following gardening tip. Add baking soda to a cup
of your soil and if it bubbles, the soil is acid. Add vinegar and if
it bubbles, the soil is alkaline.

Looks like it was written originally by someone with a smattering of
chemistry and no practical gardening experience. I fully agree with
what the others have said. The amount of CO2 liberated in such tests
wouldn't be nearly enough to form decent bubbles unless it's a chalky
soil with lumps of free chalk, when it's pretty obvious what sort of
soil you've got.

I'm sure you're all correct but - Has anyone tried this at home?! I'm
almost tempted! ;-)

When I kept some tropical fish I used to test everything I put in the water,
gravel and rocks, with vinegar to see if there was a reaction as the ones I
was concerned about demanded acid water. I used to use rainwater diluted
with a little tap water (hard) until it was the correct pH.

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK