WARNING

Be careful when using the sharp utensils or electric equipments !

Ask adults to assist and supervise you when doing this project.
Name: Sebastian Preston Zhang
Class: 7B Milky Way

PLAY
All Tools & Materials for this
project: •100 g of turmeric
•1 knife •Water
•1 blender •5 transparent cups
•1 strainer •8 spoons
•Hanger •White vinegar
•Gloves (if needed) •Soil
•Paper
•1 tray
•1 scissors
•1 drying rack or hanger
•1 pencil
• 1 ruler
•Labeling paper
•Baking soda
•Toothpaste
•Indigestion medicine
•Coffee
Slide 2
 Turmeric Plants

•The plants that I use to make the natural indicator is

turmeric.
•Part of the turmeric plant that I use is the rhizomes.
•Curcuminoids, such as curcumin , demethoxycurcumin and
bisdemethoxy curcumin, are yellowish turmeric pigments.
•We can use turmeric to make natural indicators because it is
a naturally contain yellow color compound and it can give
the different color in an acid and base.
•In acid the color of turmeric
become bright yellow color,
while in base the color of
turmeric become reddish-
brown color, and in neutral
solution the color of turmeric
will stay the same.
 PROCEDURE A
MAKING THE PLANT EXTRACT
Tools: Materials:
● 1 knife ● 100 g of turmeric
● 1 blender ● 500 ml of water
● 1 strainer
 PROCEDURE A

1. Chop the plant into small pieces 2. Blend the plant with water by
by using a knife. using a blender.
 PROCEDURE A

4. Take a picture of the extract

3. Strain the mixture to separate
the liquid extract from the solid
residue.
 PROCEDURE B
Test the color changes of the extract in
the acidic, alkaline, and neutral
solutions
 PROCEDURE B
▣ Materials 
● 6 tablespoons of the plant extract 
● 50 ml of white vinegar 
● 1 tablespoon of baking soda 
● 300 ml of water 

▣ Tools 
● 3 transparent cups 
● 3 spoons 
● Labeling paper 
 
PROCEDURE B
V in e g
ar/Aci
d S o lu
tion +
T urmer
ic

Acid
PROCEDURE B
Baking Soda/Alkaline Solution +
Turmeric

Base/
Alkaline
PROCEDURE B
Water/
N eutral
+ Turme
ric

Neutral
 PROCEDURE B
Observe the color changes of the solutions and record it in the following table:

Color of The Solution

No Type Of Solution after Being Mixed with
the Turmeric Extract
1 Acid (Vinegar Solution) Bright yellow

2 Base/Alkaline (Baking Soda Solution) Reddish-brown

3 Neutral (Plain Water) Yellow (It stays the same)

 PROCEDURE B
The result of the color changes test of the extract
in the acidic, alkaline, and neutral solutions

Baking
Vinegar/Acid + Water/Neutral +
Soda/Alkaline +
Turmeric Turmeric
Turmeric
PROCEDURE C
Making the indicator strips
 PROCEDURE C
❏Tools
● 1 tray
● 1 scissors
● 1 drying rack or hanger
● 1 pencil
● 1 ruler

❏Materials
● 1 piece of plain white paper
● The turmeric extract
 PROCEDURE C

2. Dip the paper all the way through the

1. Place the extract into a tray.  extract. Make sure all part of the paper is
dipped in the extract. If your paper is too
large, you may cut it into smaller pieces first. 
3. Let the paper sit in the extract for about 1-2
minutes. Do not move or turn the paper to
prevent the paper tearing apart. 
 PROCEDURE C

6. After the paper dries out, cut it into

rectangular strips. The ideal measurement of
the strips should be about 6 cm × 1 cm. You
may use a pencil and ruler to trace the shape
before cutting it. You should make at least 10
strips. The more, the better.

4. When the paper absorbs the extract stain, take it

out of the extract. 
5. Place the stained paper on a drying rack or a
hanger. Make sure the paper is not crumpled. Put it Turmeric
in the warm and dry area. Let it dry completely. Do Indicator Strips
not put it under the direct sunlight because it might
damage the color pigment.
 PROCEDURE D
Testing everyday chemicals by using
turmeric-based indicator
 PROCEDURE D
 Tools
● 5 transparent cups
● 5 spoon
● Labeling paper

 Materials
● 5 pieces of plant-based indicator strips ● 1 tablespoon of soil
● 1 tablespoon of toothpaste ● 1 tablespoon of another
● 1 tablespoon of coffee ground chemical substance of your
● 1 tablespoon of liquid indigestion medicine choice (shampoo).
● 500 ml of water
 PROCEDURE D
1. Make the solution of the chemicals: 
a. Label the cups with the names of the chemicals that are going to be
tested. One chemical for each cup. 
b. Place each of the toothpaste, coffee ground, indigestion medicine, soil,
and another chemical into the cup with the right label. 
c. Add 100 ml of water into each cup. 
d. Stir all the mixture well. 

Coffee Soil Shampoo Indigestion Toothpaste

Medicine
 PROCEDURE D
2. Dip half of an turmeric indicator strip to the each solution for
3 seconds. Take out the strip and put it beside the cup. 
*Note: Do not reuse the used indicator strip to other solutions

Coffee Soil Shampoo Indigestion Toothpaste

Medicine
 PROCEDURE D
3. Record the result in the following table. 

Color Change Category

No Solution of (turmeric) (Acidic/Alkaline
Indicator Strips /Neutral)

1 Toothpaste Reddish-brown Alkaline

2 Coffee Bright yellow Acidic

3 Indigestion medicine Reddish-brown Alkaline

4 Soil Reddish-brown Alkaline

5 Shampoo Reddish-brown Alkaline

 PROCEDURE D
Pictures of the solutions and the color changes of the indicator strips:

Coffee Soil Shampoo

Indigestion Toothpaste
Medicine