Intensive Laboratory in Chemistry

Name:
Course:

Corina P. Lansang
MAE-Chemistry

Date: April 25, 2015

Reaction of Acids and Bases in Natural Indicators

Acidbase reaction, a type of chemical process typified by the exchange of one or more
hydrogen ions, H+, between species that may be neutral or electrically charged. It also includes
analogous behavior of molecules and ions that are acidic but do not donate hydrogen ions.
Acids are chemical compounds that show, in water solution, a sharp taste, a corrosive
action on metals, and the ability to turn certain blue vegetable dyes red. Bases are chemical
compounds that, in solution, are soapy to the touch and turn red vegetable dyes blue. When
mixed, acids and bases neutralize one another and produce salts, substances with a salty taste and
none of the characteristic properties of either acids or bases. (Britannica)
Indicators are dyes or pigments that are isolated from a variety of sources, including
plants, fungi, and algae. For example, almost any flower that is red, blue, or purple in color
contains a class of organic pigments called anthocyanins that change color with pH. The use of
natural dyes as acidbase indicators was first reported in 1664 by Sir Robert Boyle in his
collection of essays Experimental History of Colours. Indeed, Boyle made an important
contribution to the early theory of acids and bases by using indicators for the classification of
these substances.

I.

Objective
To determine and observe the effect of acids and bases in the given natural
indicators

II.

Materials
Spot plate
Dropping Pipette
NaOH
HC2H3O2
NH4OH
HCl
Phenolphthalein

Methyl red
Bromothymol blue
Red cabbage concentrate
Turmeric (Luyang dilaw) concentrate
Camote tops concentrate
Eggplant peelings concentrate
Apple peelings concentrate

III.

Procedure
Preparation of the natural indicators
Turmeric was boiled in ample amount of water until color is extracted and
concentrated. Same procedure was done for red cabbage, camote tops, eggplant, and
apple peelings. Small amount of alum can be added for stability of the natural indicators.
Preparation for the color reaction
Spot plates were prepared and 2 gtts of NaOH were placed on eight different
spots. 2 gtts of phenolphthalein, methyl red, bromothymol blue, red cabbage concentrate,
turmeric (Luyang dilaw) concentrate, camote tops concentrate, eggplant peelings
concentrate, and apple peelings concentrate were then added on each spot respectively.
Color changes have been observed and recorded.
Same procedure was done for HC2H3O2, NH4OH, and HCl.

IV.

Results
Table 1 Color Reaction of Indicators to Acids and Bases

Indicator
Phenolphthalein
(colorless)
Methyl red
(red)
Bromothymol blue
(orange)
Red cabbage
(violet)
Turmeric
(yellow)
Camote tops
(green)
Egg plant peelings
(blue)
Apple peelings
(maroon)

NaOH
(colorless)

HC2H3O2
(colorless)

NH4OH
(colorless)

HCl
(colorless)

Pink

No change

Pink

No change

Yellow

No change

Yellow

No change

Blue

Yellow

Blue

No change

Green
(not stable)

Pink

Green

Pink

No change

No change

No change

No change

Yellow

Light brown

No change

Light brown

Yellow

Violet

Yellow

Violet

Green

Red

Green

Red

Phenolpthalein is primarily colorless and with the addition of an acid there is no

change in color but upon the addition of a base it turned to pink. (See Table 1)
Methyl red is primarily red in color and with the addition of an acid there is no
change in color but upon the addition of a base it turns to yellow. (See Table 1)

Bromothymol blue is primarily orange in color and with the addition of an acid
there is no change in color but upon the addition of a base it turns to blue. (See Table 1)
Red cabbage is primarily violet in color. The addition of a base changes its color
to green. The addition of an acid turns its color to pink. (See Table 1)
Turmeric is primarily yellow in color. There are no distinct color changes upon
the addition of acids and bases. (See Table 1)
Camote tops is primarily green in color. The addition of NaOH turned the solution
to yellow. The addition of bases turned it to light brown. (See Table 1)
Egg plant peelings is primarily blue in color. The addition of an acid changes its
color to yellow. The addition of bases turned its color to violet. (See Table 1)
Apple peelings is primarily maroon in color. The addition of bases changes its
color to green. The addition of acid turned the color to red. (See Table 1)
V.

Discussion
A pH indicator is a halo chromic chemical compound that is added in small
amounts to a solution so that the pH of the solution can be determined visually. It is a
chemical detector for hydronium ions or hydrogen ions. It can also change color
depending on whether they donate or accept proton. The indicator causes the color of the
solution to change depending on the pH.
Phenolphthalein is an organic compound of the phthalein family that is widely
employed as an acid-base indicator. As an indicator of the pH of a solution,
phenolphthalein is colorless below pH 8.0 and attains a deep red hue above pH 10.0.
Phenolphthalein is a weak acid and is commonly used indicator for titrations.
Phenolphthalein, a weak acid, is colorless and its ion is bright pink. Adding extra
hydrogen ions shifts the position of equilibrium to the left, and turns the indicator
colorless. Adding hydroxide ions removes the hydrogen ions from the equilibrium which
tips to the right to replace them - turning the indicator pink. (See Figure 1)

Figure Phenolphthalein

Bromothymol blue is a chemical indicator for weak acids and bases. It is mostly
used in applications that require measuring substances that would have a relatively
neutral pH (near 7).

Plant pigments can act as acidbase indicators. Many flowers, fruits and
vegetables contain chemical substances that change color in solutions of different pH.
The behavior of natural indicators illustrates the definition of Brnsted acids
(proton donors). Most natural indicators are further classified as weak acids (dissociate
only partially in water and their reactions with water are reversible). The different colors
observed for natural indicators thus reflect the position of equilibrium under different
conditions.
Natural indicator solutions are obtained by treating flowers and fruits with a
solvent to dissolve the soluble components. The solid is crushed or ground and extracted
with an appropriate solvent, such as boiling water, ethyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol.
Anthocyanins are flavonoid pigments found in red/purplish fruits and vegetables,
including purple cabbage, beets, blueberries, cherries, raspberries and purple grapes.
Within the plant they serve as key antioxidants and pigments contributing to the
coloration of flowers.
Anthocyanins are pH dependent, when the acidity changes, the color changes.
For example the color of red cabbage is enhanced with the addition of vinegar or other
acid. When cooked in aluminum pans, which cause a more alkaline environment, the
color changes to purple and blue. The extracts when treated with alkali turn green.
Turmeric provided a false negative result which may be due to lack of
concentration. The solution is too diluted with water to produce any reaction and color
changes.
Acidbase indicators are large organic molecules that behave as weak acids, they
can donate hydrogen ions to water molecules to form their conjugate bases. The
distinguishing characteristic of indicators is that the acid (HIn) and conjugate base (In)
are different colors.

HIn(aq)
+ H2O(l)
(Color A)

In(aq)

H3O+(aq)
(Color B)

Figure Acid-base Indicators

HIn represents an uncharged indicator molecule, and In an indicator ion after it

has lost a hydrogen ion. The color changes of acidbase indicators illustrate an
application of reversible reactions and equilibrium. Reversible reactions are easily forced
to go in either direction, depending on reaction conditions. The actual color of an
indicator solution thus reflects the position of equilibrium and depends on the
concentration of H3O+ ions (and hence the pH) of the solution. (See Figure 2)

VI.

Conclusion
Natural indicators are good alternative for synthetic acid/base indicators. They are
easily found and bought. Color changes are highly observable upon chemical reaction
given that they are well prepared with proper color concentration.

VII.

References
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/455539/phenolphthalein
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/acidbaseeqia/indicators.html
http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/rws00006208/bromothymol-blue
https://www.flinnsci.com/media/621314/91564.pdf