Making Indicators

Aim: To make acid-base indicators using everyday substances. Method for Beetroot 1. Chop The beetroot into small pieces until you have enough to fill 2 cubs 2. Place beetroot in a large beaker and add water to cover it 3. Boil over a Bunsen burner for at least ten min for colour out of the cabbage 4. Filter out the plant material to obtain a red-purple-bluish coloured liquid. This liquid is at about pH 7 5. Place in a small beaker and leave to one side Equipment: Beetroot, a beaker, water, tripod, Bunsen burner, Gansen mat, Results Acid Base Beetroot Yellow Yellow Cabbage Red, pink Green Tea Yellow Yellow Tumeric Yellow Red Cranberry Yellow Green Discussion: We went through the process of adding different chemicals to our everyday substance indicators and each chemical changed to show us if it was a strong base, weak base or strong acid and weak acid by colour changing. Conclusion: We made our indicators to show what chemicals are acids and bases. I think that beetroot worked better.