EXPERIMENT 1

ISOLATION OF CAFFEINE FROM A TEA BAG

INTRODUCTION

Caffeine is a common name for trimethylxanthine. Caffeine has a molecular formula of

C8H10N4O2 and its molecular weight is 194.19 g/mol. It is found in the seed, leaves and fruits
of some plant in varying quantities.

In plant, caffeine acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on
the plants. It also can enhance the reward memory of pollinators. Caffeine also limits
germination of seeds near the plant that could grow to compete for resources. In humans, it
stimulates the central nervous system, heart rate, and respiration.

OBJECTIVES

1. To extract the caffeine from a tea bag.

2. To determine the percentage of caffeine in the tea.

CHEMICALS

1. Water
2. 0.5g sodium carbonate
3. 15ml methylene chloride
4. Anhydrous sodium sulphate
5. Tea bag

APPARATUS

1. 100ml beaker
2. Conical flask
3. Separating funnel
4. Cotton wool
5. Measuring cylinder
6. Vial
PROCEDURE

1. 100ml beaker was used and 50ml of water to make the tea solution.
2. The hot tea solution was transferred into a small conical flask. Then 0.5g of sodium
carbonate were added.
3. Then, the solution was filtered into a small separating funnel. Cotton was used for
filtration.
4. 15ml of methylene chloride were added to the separatory funnel and the extraction
was started.
5. The lower methylene chloride layer was drained off and 10ml of fresh methylene
chloride were added.
6. The combined methylene chloride layer was dried using anhydrous sodium sulphate.
7. The dried methylene chloride solution was transferred into a vial and the solvent was
evaporated under fume hood.

RESULT

Mass of a tea bag, g 2.0g

Mass of empty vial, g 13.81g
Mass of vial + caffeine, g 13.88g
Mass of the caffeine, g 0.07g

CALCULATION

Percentage of caffeine in a packet of tea

Mass of caffeine, g
Mass of a packet of tea, g
= 0.07g
2.0g
= 3.5 %
Theoretically, tea is said to be 3% caffeine by weight. That tells, in this experiment, when
2.0g of tea used, the amount of caffeine should be obtained is
= (3/100) X 2.0g
= 0.06g

Percentage error
= theoretical mass of caffeine – experimental mass of caffeine
theoretical mass of caffeine
= 0.06 – 0.07
0.06
= 16.67%

DISCUSSION
The caffeine from a packet of tea was obtained by doing the extraction method. The
extraction method was done by mixing a tea with hot water to make a tea solution. In this
experiment, we used tea from a LIPTON brand. The mass of a packet of tea is 2.0 g. The
solution was then mixed with sodium carbonate that acts as a base. There was the presence of
tannins when the tea bag was boiled and dissolve in water as well as the caffeine. The base
converts the tannins into their sodium salts and these salts are not soluble in extraction
solvent so it will remain in the aqueous layer during extraction. This allows purer caffeine to
be extracted.
Then, the solution was transferred into the small separatory funnel before methylene
chloride was added into the solution. Methylene chloride is a polar extraction solvent which
is good in dissolving most organic molecules such as caffeine. When added, it will form a
separate layer at bottom of the solution because methylene chloride is denser than water. The
mixture was shaken to ensure that the caffeine will move into then extractant. The denser
layer of the methylene chloride then was drained out from the bottom of separatory funnel.
When the extract was collected in the beaker, anhydrous sodium sulphate was added. It
will remove any water molecule present in the extraction, leaving the caffeine and methylene
chloride to be evaporated. The extract was evaporated in a vial under the fume hood. During
the evaporated method, the liquid from the extract will be evaporated, leaving the caffeine on
the wall of the vail. The weight of the vail was pre-weight before the evaporation method.
 From the experiment, the amount of caffeine obtained was 0.07 g. To obtain the mass of
the caffeine obtained from the experiment, the mass of the vial containing caffeine was
subtracted with the mass of an empty vail. Theoretically, tea is said to be 3.0% caffeine by
weight so, we should obtain an amount of 0.06g of caffeine. From the experiment conducted,
we managed to get 0.07g of caffeine. The amount of the caffeine obtained is slightly high
than a theoretical amount with percentage of error is 16.67%.
We believed that there might be some errors were done while conducting the experiment.
One of the errors might arise from the method error. When weighing, the mass of the vail, it
must be place carefully. The real mass of the vail might be an error because there is
interruption during weighing process. Furthermore, error that might be the contributor of the
result error is during filtration. There might be some impurities was filtered and this has
caused the amount of the caffeine obtained to be higher that theoretical mass.
To overcome the error in next experiment, we should be carefully conducting the
experiment. It is better to used proper techniques and follow the correct procedure during
extraction process to get enough amount of extract needed. We also need to apply a proper
filtering technique so that the extract needed was completely filtered so that all the extract
was evaporated. Lastly, the working area and the apparatus must be clean before leaving the
laboratory.

CONCLUSION
The amount of caffeine in a packet of tea bag is in range of 3% - 5%. The percentage of
caffeine in a packet of tea bag is 3.5%. While, the mass of the caffeine is 0.07g.

REFERENCES
1. Helmenstine, A. M. (2017, September 05). Do You Know How Caffeine Works in Your
Body? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/chemistry-of-caffeine-608500