This is to certify that Ms Tanaya Biswas,

Roll no: 29, studying in Class: XII A, Session:

2019-20, has completed her Chemistry project
based on CBSE syllabus.

__________ __________ __________

INTERNAL EXTERNAL PRINCIPAL
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my
teacher Mrs. Keya, as well as our principal Mr. N K Mohanti,
who gave me the golden opportunity to do this informative
project which helped me in doing a lot of research and I also
came to know about many new things. I am thankful to
them.
SL.NO. CONTENTS PAGE REMARKS
NO.
1. Topic

2. Introduction

3. Experiment
i) Aim

ii) Requirements

iii) Theory

iv) Procedure

v) Observation

vi) Result

vii) Precautions

4. Bibliography
Since before 20BC, humans have utilized pesticides to
protect their crops. The first known pesticide was elemental
sulphur dusting used about 4500 years ago in ancient
Mesopotamia. By the 15th century, toxic chemicals such as
arsenic, mercury and lead were being used as insecticides.
The 19th century saw the introduction of two more natural
pesticides, pyrethrum, which is derived from
chrysanthemums, rotenone which is derived from the roots
of tropical vegetables.
In 1940s manufacturers began to produce large amounts of
synthetic pesticides. The 1940s and 1950s is said to be the
start of the “Pesticide era”.
A pesticide may be a chemical substance, biological agent,
disinfectant or device used against any pest. Pests include
insects, plant pathogens, insects, molluscs, birds, mammals,
fish, nematodes and microbes that destroy property or
spread disease. Some pests are shown below:
Some examples of
pesticides are: DDT,
BHC, zinc phosphide,
mercuric chloride,
dinitrophenol, etc. All pesticides are
poisonous chemicals and are used in small
quantities with care. Pesticides are proven to
be effective against variety of insects, weeds
and fungi and are respectively called
insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.

Most of the pesticides are non-biodegradable, which also

makes pesticides pollutants. In 1960s it was discovered that
DDT was preventing many fish eating birds from
reproducing, which was a serious threat to biodiversity. The
agricultural use of DDT is now leaned under the stock holm
convention.
Restrictions on use of pesticides and controlling use of
pesticides are imposed. The US department of agriculture
has campaigned for the safe use of pesticides. Traditional
insecticides such as pyrithrium or non-persistent chemicals
such as carbaryl sevin are now very widely used. Large-scale
rearing, radiation sterilizing and release programme are now
major effects of the US Department of agriculture and are
highly effective in restricted situations. Control of insects by
synthetic growth hormones is also effective in limited
situations.
AIM:
To detect the presence of pesticides/insecticides (nitrogen
containing) in various fruits and vegetables.

REQUIREMENTS:
Mortar and pestle, Beakers, Funnel, Glass rod, Filter paper,
China dish, Water bath, Tripod stand, Fusion tube, Knife, Test
tube, Samples of various fruits and vegetables, Alcohol,
Sodium Metal, Ferric Chloride, Ferrous Sulphate Crystals,
Distilled Water, Dil. HCl.

THEORY:
Pesticides are chemicals which prevent pests.
Nitrogen present in organic compounds is detected by
“Lassaigne’s Test”. The elements present in the compound
are converted from covalent form into the ionic form by
fusing the compound with sodium metal. Following reaction
take place:
Na + C + N  NaCN (sodium cyanide)
Cyanide of sodium so formed on sodium fusion is extracted
from the fused mass by boiling it with distilled water. This
extract is known as sodium fusion extract.
Pesticides are classified according to the pests they control.
The four main types of pesticides are:
(i) Herbicides
(ii) Fungicides
(iii) Rodenticides
(iv) Insecticides
PROCEDURE:
1) Different types of fruits and vegetables were taken and
cut into small pieces separately and crushed a bit.
2) Different beakers were selected for each kind of fruits and
vegetables. The crushed fruits and vegetables were placed in
these beakers and 100 ml of alcohol was added to each of
these.
3) The mixture was stirred well and filtered.
4) The filtrate was collected in separate china dishes, the
alcohol was evaporated by heating the china dishes one by
one over a water bath and the residue was dried in oven.
5) A small piece of sodium was then heated in a fusion tube,
till it melted.
6) One of the above residues from the china dish was added
to this fusion tube and heated till it was red hot.
7) The hot fusion tube was dropped in a china dish
containing about 10 ml of distilled water.
8) The tube was then broken and the contents of the china
dish was boiled for about 5 minutes.
9) The solution was cooled and filtered.
10) The filtrate was then collected.
11) To the filtrate 1 ml of freshly prepared ferrous sulphate
solution was added and heated.
12) Then 2-3 drops of ferric chloride solution were added and
acidified with dilute HCl.
13) A blue or green ppt. or coloration if obtained indicated
the presence of nitrogen containing insecticides.
The above steps are repeated for residues obtained from
other fruits and vegetables and observations are recorded.
OBSERVATIONS:

SL. NO. NAME OF FRUIT OR TEST FOR PRESENCE OF

VEGETABLE PRESENCE OF INSECTICIDES
NITROGEN OR
PESTICIDES
1. Apple Positive Positive
2. Cucumber Positive Positive
3. Banana Positive Positive
4. Potato Positive Positive
5. Carrot Positive Positive
6. Tomato Positive Positive
7. Grapes Positive Positive

RESULT:
All the fruits and vegetables which were tested contain
nitrogen containing pesticides/insecticides.

PRECAUTIONS:
1. Splashing must be avoided.
2. Eyes and nose must not be touched after touching
chemicals which are used.
3. For effective results the fruit and vegetable samples
should be sliced into small pieces and then crushed properly.
1. www.encyclopedia.com
2. www.wikipedia.com
3. Britannica encyclopaedia
4. Practical manual in chemistry for class xii
5. Microsoft Encarta
6. NCERT Chemistry- XII
7. Comprehensive Practical Chemistry- XII
8. www.scribd.com