AIM OF PROJECT

Finding the presence of ‘Nickel’ in various brands of

‘Chocolates’
{This work has been done in view of the toxic effects of
heavy metals (here, nickel) and their presence in
chocolates, which can be deleterious to children.}
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It gives me immense pleasure to present the ‘Finding

the presence of nickel in various brands of chocolates’.
It would not have been possible without the kind
support of my teacher in charge, Ms. Teena Pratap,
under whose guidance and constant supervision the
project was brought to the present state. I would also
like to express my gratitude towards my parents for
their kind co-operation and encouragement which
helped me in the completion of this project. I am also
thankful to the CBSE and Modern Convent School for
giving me such an opportunity for making this project,
and giving suitable instructions and guidelines for the
project. Last but not the least, I thank my friends who
shared necessary information and useful web links for
preparing my project. Thanks again to all.

Isha Chopra
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Isha Chopra, a student of class XII

has successfully completed the research on the project
‘Finding the presence of nickel in various brands of
chocolates’ under the guidance of Ms. Teena Pratap
(Subject Teacher) during the year 2019-20 in partial
fulfillment of chemistry practical examination
conducted by CBSE, New Delhi.

Name of Examiner Name of Chemistry Teacher

____________ Ms. Teena Pratap

Signature of Examiner Signature of Chemistry Teacher

______________ ____________
 History Of Project
Candies and chocolates are associated with joy and pleasure,
potentially being stimulant, relaxant, and antidepressant, but
very few would know that these sweet candies have heavy
metal content as well. A study published in Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment Journal reveals how children are
vulnerable to heavy metal contamination through
consumption of candies and chocolates.
A total of 69 candy and chocolate samples were brought from
grocery shops located near different schools of Delhi. These
were analyzed for five heavy metal contents-lead, cadmium,
nickel, zinc, and copper.
These were further divided into three categories-
1. Sugar-based samples (26)
2. Milk-based samples (21)
3. Cocoa based samples (22)
The average concentration of zinc, lead, nickel, and cadmium
in the samples was found
 2.52 ± 2.49 µg/g
 2.0 ± 1.20 µg/g
 0.84 ± 1.35 µg/g
 0.17 ± 0.22 µg/g, respectively.
Very few people are aware of the fact that nickel is present in
chocolates since it is never mentioned in the ingredients or
numerous advertisements flashed in television and radio along
with newspapers etc. Since it is added in comparatively
smaller amounts, it is considered quite insignificant from the
health’s point of view.
However, it has been reported that eating chocolates with
nickel greater than certain amount might cause significant
mental or physical symptoms like premature graying of hairs
etc. Deposition of nickel in significant amount can pose a
major health hazard in the body leading to various lung
diseases, even death!
 THEORY OF BASICS

Properties of Nickel

 Nickel is transition element with atomic number

28 and has the configuration
1s22s22p63s23p64s23d8

 As it has two unpaired electrons so it is

paramagnetic.
 Since there is partly filled orbital it exhibits
various properties like variable oxidation
status, colored ions, catalytic properties but
most important is formation of complexes.
 In its familiar compounds nickel is bivalent,
although it assumes other valences.

 Physical Properties

 Nickel is silvery-white, hard, malleable, and

ductile metal.
 It is of the iron group and it takes on a high
polish.
  It is a fairly good conductor of heat and
electricity.
 It also forms a number of complex
compounds. Most nickel compounds are blue
or green.

 Chemical Properties

 Nickel dissolves slowly in dilute acids but,

like iron, becomes passive when treated with
HNO3

 Role Of Nickel

 In Chocolates

Nickel is added to chocolates for increasing their

melting point and for preventing it from melting at
normal temperature. Carrying out systematic
qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis, one
can identify presence of nickel by precipitating
Nickel di-methyl glyoxime.

 In Humans
The ever increasing presence of nickel in nature and
human food has made it the subject of growing
interest of research workers in various medical
disciplines. Its allergizing, toxic, mutagenic and
carcinogenic causes justified concern of those who
use it in orthopedics and stomatology.
The frequency of contact allergy to nickel has called
attention to its use in production of many daily
utility objects. The role of nickel in contact allergy
is well known, and a particular feature of this
allergy is the character of allergens which are
simple hap tens with respect to their antigenic. The
probability of allergy is not limited only to persons
with occupational exposure to this element but it
becomes ever more widespread in the whole
population. More detailed data on the mechanism of
contact allergy have been provided by the discovery
of Langerhans cells which have the ability of
antigen presentation.
Considering the role of nickel in pathological
conditions we must not forget its great physiological
importance as a microelement necessary for life.
About 0.02% micron molecule of nickel is present
in human serum. It is believed that it is involved in
stabilizing the RNA structure. It also plays role in
functioning of enzymes oxidoreductases
transferases (like urea).
  TOXICITY

Toxicity has occurred in workers exposed to nickel dust or

nickel carbonyl formed in refining. Increased risk of nasal and
lung cancers was linked to occupational nickel exposure
before current workplace safety standards were set.
Environmental sources of lower levels of nickel include
tobacco, dental or orthopedic implants, stainless-steel kitchen
utensils and inexpensive jewelry. Repeated exposures may
lead to asthma and contact dermatitis, symptoms of which
may worsen if the diet is high in nickel.
The oral toxic dose is about 1000 times the amount consumed
in food. Different chemical forms vary widely in toxicity.
Excessive nickel in tissues is pro-oxidant (damaging
chromosomes and other cell components) and alters hormone
and enzyme activities, movement of ions through membranes,
and immune function. These effects can change glucose
tolerance, blood pressure, response to stress, growth rate, bone
development and resistance to infection. Under some
conditions, large amounts of nickel may precipitate
magnesium deficiency or cause accumulation of iron or zinc.
Nickel can cause dermatitis (occupation), lungs and nasal
carcinomas, liver necrosis, pulmonary inflammation.
AIM OF EXPERIMENT
To determine the amount of nickel content present in various
brands of chocolate

APPARATUS REQUIRED
1. Test tube
2. Stand
3. Filter paper
4. Funnel
5. Tongs
6. Beaker
7. Burner
8. Water bath

CHEMICALS REQUIRED
1. Concentrated hydrochloric acid {HCL}
2. Ammonium hydroxide {NH4OH}
3. Ammonium chloride {NH4Cl}
4. Dimethyl glyoxime
5. Hydrogen sulphide
PROCEDURE
1. Take a few pieces of chocolate in a test tube and add dilute
HCL to dissolve it.
2. Add some water and boil till it becomes a solution.
3. Filter the solution and add sufficient amount of mixture of
NH4OH + NH4Cl till it is alkaline.
4. Through the solution, pass H2S gas till complete
precipitation of nickel sulphide takes place to form a black
ppt.
5. To the filtrate, add small amount of dimethyl glyoxime.
6. If a rose red colored precipitate is obtained in a scarlet red
solution, then presence of Nickel (Ni2+) is confirmed.

OBSERVATION TABLE
S.NO. SAMPLES OBSERVATION INFERENCE

RESULT
CONCLUSION
S.NO. SAMPLES PRESENT /
ABSENT

PRECAUTIONS
 CONCLUSION OF PROJECT

The daily dietary intake of metals for children eating candies

and chocolates was also calculated, and results indicated
highest intake of Pb and Zn followed by Ni, Cd, and Cu.
The government had set up two expert groups, one headed by
the director general of Indian Council of Medical Research
and the other by the director of National Institute of
Occupational Health, to go into the question of nickel in
chocolates. Both agreed that the nickel content of Indian
chocolates was no more than that of chocolates sold abroad,
and that there was no need to fix any limit for nickel content
in normal food articles “as there is no cause for concern for
nickel toxicity through oral ingestion.”
Comparison of the current study results with other studies
around the globe shows that the heavy metal content in
candies and chocolates is lower in India than reported
elsewhere. However, to reduce the further dietary exposure of
heavy metals through candies and chocolates, their content
should be monitored regularly as children are highly
susceptible to its toxicity.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. N.C.E.R.T chemistry book
2. en.wikipedia.org
3. www.researchgate.net
4. www.sciencedirect.com
5. www.google.com
6. www.indiatoday.in
7. www.hindustantimes.com
8. www.lifegate.com