Mariano Marcos State University

College of Health Sciences

Pharmacy Department
City of Batac 2906 Ilocos Norte

Name: DELA CUADRA, ROSELYN MAE C.

Laboratory Activity No.6

Measuring pH of Household Chemicals using Natural Indicators

Introduction

Red cabbage, red roses, as well as many other flowers and fruits contain natural
indicators that are sensitive to acids and bases. The color of a natural acid-base indicator
depends on pH.
Many household chemicals have acidic or basic properties. The pH of a solution is a
measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in that solution. There are several different
ways to measure pH. A pH indicator can be used to qualitatively determine the acidity or
basicity of a solution. pH indicators are usually weak acids or bases themselves. When
introduced into a solution, they may bind to H+ (Hydrogen ion) in an acid or the OH-
(hydroxide) ions in a base.

Objective

In this activity, students must be able to:

1. Extract natural indicators
2. Analyze the pH of the different household chemicals using natural indicators.

Materials

• Natural indicator sources: (you can choose two)

a. Red gumamela flower
b. Red/pink bougainvillea flower
c. Grapes peel (red/purple)
d. Grape juice (purple; can be bought from grocery stores)
• Strainer/coriander
• Small cups (to hold prepared indicators and solutions for testing)
• Small pan
• Stove
• 70% Isopropyl alcohol
• Disposable medicine droppers
• Tap water
• Coffee
• Salt water
• Baking soda in water
 • Lemon juice/calamansi juice
• Laundry detergent
• Safeguard soap water
• Toothpaste
• Milk
• Shampoo
• Bleaching agent (Zonrox)
• Vinegar

Procedure
1. If performing the activity at home, clean the space to be used for the activity with
household surface cleaner.
2. Gather materials.
3. Prepare indicator solution. Choose any of the given natural indicator sources. Add
about ¼ cup of red gumamela flower (for example) to 2 cups of water in a small pan.
Heat the water to a boil until the water turns red/purple (for red cabbage). Cool the
mixture and strain the solution to remove any residue. The natural indicator solution
should be strongly colored but clear. Otherwise, you can also extract the flowers with
70% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol at room temperature. If you are using grape juice, be
sure to use purple grape juice, as white grape juice will not work. The juice can be used
as is from its container.
4. Place a few milliliters of each household chemical in every small cup or glass. Label
each cup/glass with the appropriate name listed in the table below.
5. Add 1 or 2 drops of one of the prepared indicators.
6. Record any color changes.
7. Repeat the process using another set of the household chemicals and add 1 to 2 drops
of the other prepared indicator. Record any color changes.
8. Use your observations to determine if the solution is an acid or base.

NOTE: Predict whether each item will be an acid or a base. YOU MUST PREDICT FOR ALL
SUBSTANCES BEFORE STARTING

Reference:
Acids = low pH (0-7)
Bases = high pH (7-14)

Cabbage Indicator

Red Cabbage Color pH

Red 2
Purple 4
Violet 6
Blue 8
Blue-green 10
Greenish-yellow 12
Gumamela Flower (Red)

Gumamela Flower Color pH

Light red 1
Soft purple 2-4
Dark purple 5-8
Light green 9-10
Dark green 11-12
Yellow green 13
yellow 14

Bougainvillea Flower (Red)

Bougainvillea Flower Color pH

Purple 0
Soft purple 1-3
Pink 4-11
Dark brown 12
Light brown 13
Yellow 14

Data

Substance Prediction: Acid, Color with Color with

Neutral, Base _____ _____
Paper (Is it a base, (Mulberry) (Gumamela)
acid or neutral?)
Tap water Neutral Purple Dark Purple
Coffee Acid Purple Dark Purple
Salt water Base Purple Dark Purple
Baking soda with water Base Dark Green Light Green
Lemon juice/calamansi juice Acid Red Orange Light Red
Laundry detergent Base Dark Green Light Green
Safeguard soap water Base Green Dark Green
Toothpaste Base Dark Green Light Green
Milk Acid Purple Dark Purple
Shampoo Base Green Dark Green
Bleaching agent (Zonrox) Base Yellow Green Yellow Green
Vinegar Acid Red orange Light Red
Questions:
1. What does an indicator do?
- The common application of indicators is the detection of end points of titrations. The
color of an indicator alters when the acidity or the oxidizing strength of the solution,
or the concentration of a certain chemical species, reaches a critical range of values.
The color change with the presence or absence of a threshold concentration of a
chemical species, such as an acid or an alkali in a solution.

2. What is the advantage of using multiple indicators, rather than a single-indicator, to

determine the pH of a substance?

- The color change of a pH indicator is caused by the dissociation of the H+ ion from
the indicator itself. The dissociation of the weak acid indicator causes the solution to
change color. Using multiple indicators, rather than a single indicator, often makes it
possible to obtain a more precise (narrow) estimate of the pH of a substance.

3. What other acids and bases do we encounter every day?

• Acids and Bases are encountered daily in chemistry and our everyday life. From food
preparation to decomposition of any substance, acids and bases play a crucial role in
our everyday life. Here are some acids and bases we encounter every day, toothpaste,
baking soda, salt, ammonia, muriatic acid, detergent, batteries, soaps, sugar, etc.

4. For what other liquids are you curious about their pH values?

- I’m interested in knowing what is the pH level of feces or stool.

Attach documentations while doing the experiment.

Submit your output via mVLE until November 29, 2020, 11:59 PM.
 PICTORIALS
This portion represents the documentation done while doing the experiment

Preparing the materials Heating the Indicators

Mulberry Extract Gumamela

Extract

Measuring different substance

to be tested
Dropping Mulberry extract to
various substances

Dropping Gumamela extract to

various substances
 Changes in the color of
different substances upon
dropping extract of MULBERRY

Changes in the color of

different substances upon
dropping extract of
GUMAMELA

Effect of Mulberry and

Gumamela extract as
indicator