CHEMISTRY

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

Preparing Natural
Indicator

Name - Shreya Varma

Class - XII Science
Year - 2023-24
Roll Number - __________

pg. 1 of 16
 CERTIFICATE

This is to clarify that Shreya Varma of

class 12th Science, has successfully
submitted her project work on
“PREPARING NATURAL INDICATOR”
as a part of chemistry project for the year
2023-24.

Internal Examiner External Examiner

------------------------ ------------------------

Principle Signature School Stamp

------------------------ ------------------------

pg. 2 of 16
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express my deep gratitude and sincere thanks

to our worthy principal Mrs. Bindu Bhatt and Director Mr.
Niraj Punjani for their encouragement for this project
work.
I extend my heartly thanks to my Chemistry teacher Mr.
Aman Parakh and my lab teacher, Mr. Dharmesh Sharma
who guided me to the successful completion of this
project.
I take this opportunity to express my deep sense of
gratitude for their immerse motivation, which has
sustained my efforts at all stages of this project. I cannot
forget to offer my sincere thanks to my parents and
classmates who helped me, for their advice and support
that I received from time to time.

Shreya Varma
XII- Science

pg. 3 of 16
 INDEX

1.AIM / OBJECTIVE
2.INTRODUCTION
3.MATERIALS REQUIRED
4.PROCEDURE
5.OBSERVATION
6.CONCLUSION

pg. 4 of 16
 AIM

To Prepare a Natural Indicator from Hibiscus (China

Rose) and Turmeric. And test whether the given solution
is acidic, basic or neutral.

pg. 5 of 16
 INTRODUCTION

1. Hibiscus subdariffa (Malvaceae) is a perennial herb

growing up to 2 to 2.5m tall. The plant flower contains
anthocyanine [1,2] i.e. a pigment usually responsible
for pink, red, purple, violet and blue colours in
flowering plants. The dye extracted from the flower of
the plant changes its colour according to the
hydrogen ion concentration of the solution. 7 As such,
may be utilized as an acid – base indicator in
neutralization titrations. The chief characteristic of
pH indicators is that their colour change from a
predominantly alkaline colour is not sudden but takes
place within intervals of pH.

2. Turmeric is a natural pH indicator. Turmeric displays

two colours depending on whether it is exposed to an
acidic or basic solution. The molecule responsible for
the colourful properties of turmeric is curcumin: The
subtle change in the structure of the molecule gives
rise to the colour change from yellow to red when in
acidic and basic solutions. Therefore, turmeric lends
itself as a really useful, natural indicator

pg. 6 of 16
 APPARATUS

1. Turmeric (for exp 1)

2. 2 to 3 grams of dried hibiscus petals (for exp 2)
3. Porcelain dish
4. Bunsen burner or hot plate
5. Test tubes
6. Dropper
7. Substance to be used:

• Milk
• Lemon
• Baking Soda
• Detergent

pg. 7 of 16
 PROCEDURE

EXPERIMENT 1:

1. Mix ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder with ¼ of water in a jar or

cup.
2. This is your indicator for acids and bases.
3. Prepare small cups with 2 tablespoons of household solutions
(Detergent, baking soda, lemon juice, milk)
4. Add ¼ teaspoon of the turmeric indicator into each household
solution and mix.
5. Note the final colour of each solution

EXPERIMENT 2:

1. Dry some hibiscus petals and crush them to make powder

2. Combine your dried hibiscus petals with water
3. Boil the mixture for 3 to 5 minutes
4. Cool the mixture for 5 to 10 minutes
5. Strain and pour the mixture into clean beaker
6. Your indicator is ready!!
7. Now take the substances to be tested in different test tubes
8. Add a few drops of your indicator to the text tubes with help of
a dropper
9. Note the colour change

pg. 8 of 16
 OBSERVATIONS:

Experiment 1 (TERMERIC AS INDICATOR):

a} Baking Soda
❖ Solution turns to Red

b} Lemon
❖ Solution remains Yellow

pg. 9 of 16
c} Milk

❖ Solution remains Yellow

d} Detergent
❖ Solution turns to Red

pg. 10 of 16
 Experiment 2 (CHINA ROSE AS INDICATOR):

a} Baking Soda

❖ Solution turns to Green

b} Lemon

❖ Solution turns to Pink.

pg. 11 of 16
c} Milk

❖ Solution turns to Pink

d} Detergent

❖ Solution turns to Green.

pg. 12 of 16
 CONCLUSIONS

▪ Turmeric remains yellow in an acidic or neutral solution, but turns

red in a base.

▪ China rose solution gives dark pink (magenta) colour with acid
and green colour with base.

pg. 13 of 16
THANK
YOU
pg. 14 of 16