ALL INDIA SENIOR SECONDARY

CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION 2022-23

DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, UNIT-VIII,
BHUBANESWAR

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT OF CHEMISTRY ON:

“TO FIND OUT IF TEA BAGS CAN BE USED TO

CREATE INK”

SUBMITTED BY:
NAME: SAMIKHYA DAS
CLASS: XII - B (SCIENCE)
BOARD ROLL NO.:

GUIDED BY:
Mrs. Subhasmita Mohanty
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that SAMIKHYA DAS of Class–XII-B (SCIENCE), of
DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, UNIT-VIII, BHUBANESWAR bearing

Board Roll No-

has successfully completed her project on “TO FIND OUT IF TEA

BAGS CAN BE USED TO CREATE INK” under the guidance of MRS.
SUBHASMITA MOHANTY in the session 2022-2023.

Date Teacher’s Signature

Student’s Signature
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am heartily thankful to my school authorities for permitting
me to undertake this very useful and interesting project. It was
due to my own discretion that I did this project. I am greatly
indebted to Mrs. Subhasmita Mohanty who has been a beacon of
light and a continuous source of inspiration for me to bring out
this project. I also thank our lab assistant Mr. Pratap Barik for
carrying out this experiment.

I also express my sincere to my ever-loving parents for their

indefatigable interest and encouragement that they have given
me in bringing out this project in record time.

Signature:
Name: SAMIKHYA DAS
Class: XII-B
Board roll no.:

Date:
 CONTENT
TOPIC PAGE NO.
Aim of the project 1

Introduction 2

Theory 3

Materials required 4

Procedure 5

Observation 6

Conclusion 7

Benefits 8

Precaution 9

Bibliography 10
 AIM OF THE PROJECT
To find out if tea bags can be used to create ink, and to produce
an ink as cheaper alternative to the commercial ones.

Specifically, it aims to find out the answer to the following

questions:

1. Are tea bags extract use as an ink effective?

2. Can vinegar strengthen the color of the ink?
3. What are the components of the tea bags that can show that it
can be an effective alternative ink?
4. Can cornstarch contribute to achieving the right consistency
of the Ink?
5. What additives should be used to strengthen the colour of the
ink?
6. Are the processes boiling and straining efficient in taking the
extract out of the tea bags?
 INTRODUCTION
Tea was created by using the leaves of a plant known as
“CAMELLIS SINENSIS”. This plant is a native to China, South
Asia and Southeast Asia but is now found all over the world.
Tea-drinking can be traced back to the 10th century BC in China
before it was spread to Korea and Japan.

But in 1903, the creation of the first tea bags were recorded. It
was then in 1904 that these were shipped around the world and
they are in fact still used until now. They are not only cheaper,
but also, they easier to find and to use in making tea.

The reason for their more affordable price compared to lose tea
leaves is because most companies use fannings or left-overs of
larger tea leaves after they are gathered to be sold.

Basically, this drink is made by brewing tea leaves to create an

extract. Due to the chlorophylls and other pigments in the
leaves, the extract commonly appears with a brown color. It was
mentioned that the aflavin is the reddish-brown pigment found
in tea. It is an example of a flavonoid which acts to create color.
 THEORY
This research is being done to find out the potency of the extract
of the leaves from the plant CAMELLIS SINENSIS as an ink.
Nowadays, ink is a pigment in a liquid or paste form used as
colorants and dyes. Also, they are becoming more and more
expensive because of their increasing purposes. Our research
aims to produce this ink as a cheaper alternative to those
commercial ones. Compared to the ink we are aiming to create,
commercially produced inks are toxic and can be hazardous to a
person’s health once there is inappropriate contact with it.
 MATERIALS REQUIRED
➢ 1/2 CUP OF BOILING WATER

➢ 4 TO 7 TEA BAGS

➢ 1 TSP OF VINEGAR

➢ STRAINER

➢ FORK AND SPOON

➢ 1 TSP OF CORNSTARCH

➢ VIAL
 PROCEDURE
1. Place 7 teabags in 1 cup of boiling water.

2. Create the tea for 6-7 minutes.

3. Remove the tea bags from the boiling water. Use a strainer
and a fork to remove all the extracts.

4. Stir the tea well, and add a spoon of vinegar.

5. Continue to stir it. Add as much cornstarch as you need to

have your desired consistency.

6. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool for sometime.
When done, store it in a bottle.
 OBSERVATIONS
During the procedure itself, it was observed that the boiling is
an effective process of extraction. Right after the tea bags were
placed in the boiling water, the change of colour is very
noticeable. During this step the mixture had a very strong smell
from the tea. While following the procedure for the set up which
included the placing of vinegar, there was no immediate change
in colour as we expected. Instead, the vinegar’s effect was seen
when the ink was applied on paper. While applying the ink on
paper, It was easier to use the ink because of it’s consistency.
Thus it almost became permanent and not runny and scattered.
After letting them dry, it was seen that the ink had darker colour
and doesn’t fade.
 CONCLUSION
1. Tea bags can be used to create an ink.
2. Teabags contain brewed tea leaves to create an extract.
3. Any type of tea, even expired tea can be used in order to create
ink. However the colour of the ink may vary depending upon
the type of tea used.
4. Vinegar can strengthen the colour of the ink.
5. Cornstarch effectively contributes to achieving the right
consistency of the ink.
6. The process of boiling and straining are efficient in taking the
extract out of the process.
 BENEFITS
✓This investigatory project will benefit us by producing an
alternative for other inks.
✓These other manufactured inks now-a-days come at quite
expensive prices, but since the materials to be used in our
project are common and easy to find, you will be spending less
money.
✓Also, no harmful chemicals will be used in making our ink.
✓Therefore, it is non-toxic compared to commercially sold inks
which have the tendencies of causing harm to one’s health and
to the environment.
 PRECAUTIONS
1. Handle the glassware carefully.

2. Be careful with the fork.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY
• http://www.studymode.com/essays/Permanent-Ink-
From-Tea-Bags-Extracts-1920104.html
• http://www.studymode.com/essays/Ink-Out-Of-
Teabags-46026204.html
• http://www,slideshare.net/Geberlyn/ink-made-from-
teabags