ST.

PAUL UNIVERSITY – SURIGAO

St. Paul University System
Corner San Nicolas & Rizal Streets
8400 Surigao City, Philippines

PATENTE, Selwyn V.
Name: ______________________________________________ Rating: ______________________
BS Nursing I - 101
Year and Section: _____________________________________ Mr. Arjune A. Lumayno
Instructor: ____________________

GUMAMELA FABRIC CONDITIONER

Midterm Project

I. INTRODUCTION

A fabric softener is a liquid composition added to washing machines during the rinse cycle to
make clothes feel better to the touch. These products work by depositing lubricating chemicals on
the fabric that make it feel softer, reduce static cling, and impart a fresh fragrance.

Fabric softener formulas were relatively simple dispersions of fatty materials that would
deposit on the fabric fibers after washing. One of the most common ingredients used was
dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride (DHTDMAC), which belongs to a class of
materials known as quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats.

This kind of ingredient is useful because part of the molecule has a positive charge that attracts
and binds it to negatively charged fabric fibers. This charge interaction also helps disperse the
electrical forces that are responsible for static cling. The other part of the molecule is fatty in nature
and it provides the slip and lubricity that makes the fabric feel soft.

In connection to this, a proposal has been raised to produce fabric conditioner made from the
extract of Gumamela flower. Gumamela flower with a scientific name Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn
is a shrub that grows from one meter up to four meters high. It is also known as: Hibiscus, China
Rose and Shoeflower. In the Philippines, gumamela is cultivated as an ornamental plant. The
gumamela flower comes in many colors: red, yellow, orange, white, purple, pink, and other color
combinations.

Way back childhood, gumamela was considered as playtime buddies and commonly used by
children to form and play bubbles out from it making it more suitable to act as a fabric softener,
softening the fabrics after being washed. It will just then be mixed with several ingredients to
enable it to become an ideal fabric conditioner like white vinegar, baking soda, and essential oil to
name a few.

Acid – Base Reaction or Neutralization Reaction is one of the types of chemical reactions
that occur on the making of this Gumamela Extract Fabric Conditioner. It could be clearly seen
the moment when the baking soda will be mixed with the white vinegar.

Baking soda and vinegar react with each other because of an acid-base reaction. Baking soda
is a bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and vinegar is an acetic acid (HCH3COO). One of the products this
reaction creates is carbon dioxide. Baking soda is a base, and vinegar is an acid. An acid is a
chemical that wants to get rid of a proton, or a positively charged hydrogen atom. A base is a
chemical that wants a proton. When you mix an acid with a base exciting things can happen
because the acid is ready to give away its proton and the base is right there to receive it!

The said product proposal subjects to oral demonstration prior to its approval.
 II. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES

At the end of this product demonstration, we will:

1. Determine how gumamela flower contributes to the physical aspect of the final product.
2. Identify and describe the chemical reactions and processes happened during the procedures.
3. Explain the phenomena happened when the white vinegar was mixed into the baking soda-
gumamela extract mixture.
4. Enumerate the chemical compounds that are present on the ingredients.
5. Do testing of the final product to know if it really softens fabrics/clothes.

III. MATERIALS

 Gumamela flower
 250-mL (1 cup) Baking soda
 250-mL (1 cup) White vinegar
 500-mL (2 cups) Water
 Scented oil
 Mortar and pestle
 Bunsen burner
 Wire gauze
 Tripod
 600-mL Beaker
 Stirring rod
 Medicine dropper
 Funnel
 Strainer
 Potholder
 Bottle/Container (for packaging) – optional
 Basin
IV. PROCEDURE

1. Put a generous amount of gumamela flower into the mortar. Pound the flower well with
the pestle until some fluids will be extracted from it. Add some drops essential oil as needed
to quickly get its extract.
2. Light the bunsen burner. Boil the pounded gumamela flower together with its extract in a
500-mL water in a beaker. Wait until fizzy bubbles will form at the top of the mixture.
3. Put a 250-mL (1 cup) baking soda into the mixture and white vinegar. Mix it using a stirring
rod.
4. Using a medicine dropper, drop generous amount of scented oil into the mixture.
5. Turn off the Bunsen burner. Set aside the mixture and let it cool.
6. Fill in the packaging bottle/container with the mixture using a strainer and a funnel.
7. Ready to use.
 ST. PAUL UNIVERSITY SURIGAO
Cor. San Nicolas & Rizal Streets
8400 Surigao City, Philippines

MIDTERM PROPOSAL

IN

BIOCHEMISTRY

PREPARED BY:
SELWYN V. PATENTE

SUBMITTED TO:
MR. ARJUNE A. LUMAYNO