3 leaves from a red leafed cabbage are crushed in a motor, on addition of small quantities of ethanol. The resultant extract is then decanted-this will be the local indicator solution.

A strip of filter paper is then inserted into the resultant solution. This strip will serve as the universal indicator paper.

When the strip is put into various solutions, distinct colours are observed, depending on the extent of acidity or basicity of the test solutions.

With the colourations obtained, a pH chart can be designed to be used with our PH paper.

It can serve as an alternative to the simple acid base indicator in the laboratory and apply in case the laboratory has run out of commercial laboratory universal indicator.

Introduction

Background information

We are interested in this project to come up with a cheaper indicator paper instead of using the normal indicator paper used in the laboratories which are at times difficult to get. An indicator is a substance which gives a definite colour in an acidic or basic solution.

Juice extract from Red leafed cabbage contains a red pigment and can be used as a pH indicator. This realisation pushed us to make a PH paper out of red cabbage juice.

The pH scale is a measure of acidity. You can buy a pH indicator paper from any biological or lab supply company, which can be used to give you an accurate measurement of the acidic or basic quality of substances you want to test. However, you can also make your own pH indicator using red leafed cabbage juice.

Statement of the problem

Can red leafed cabbage leaves be an efficient raw material for a universal indicator paper?

Objectives

To develop a cheaper universal indicator paper

To construct a pH chart for the universal indicator paper.

Hypothesis

If a strip of filter paper is dipped into a solution extract of red leafed cabbage, it can serve as a consistent universal indicator paper.

Merits

Consumes less time

Easily made from locally available resources

Cheap

Gives consistent results.

Limitations

It requires basic skills for operation

The solvent used might not dissolve all the pigments in red cabbage

Variables

Dependent variables

pH of the solutions used depends on the weakness or strength of the acidity or basicity  in them.

The amount of pH indicator solution obtained depends on the quantity of leaves used and the amount of ethanol added.

The intensity of the colour of the solution depends on the amount of ethanol added and the quantity leaves used.

Independent variables

The colours obtained in various solutions

Relevance

This project can satisfactorily help schools to arrange for their Universal indicators without actually relying on a supplier. All they’ll need is the red leafed cabbage since all other requirements are readily available in schools.

In the kitchen, the indicator paper will greatly help households to know the extent of acidity or basicity of what they consume before they consume them.

Assumptions and precautions

 Assumptions

Hot water dissolves all pigments in the red leafed cabbage.

The local indicator paper will remain consistent.

Precaution

Label all the solutions to avoid confusion and contamination.

Literature Review

Acids are substances which react with metals, yielding hydrogen gas. With respect to protons, they are donors of protons. Their taste is sour.

Bases on the other hand have a bitter taste. Indicators are substances that show different colours in acidic or basic solutions. Universal indicators can be used to show the strength or weakness of acids and bases.

Indicators can be made locally from flower extracts, though results they give are inconsistent as the colours change overtime.

Scientific advancements have been tried to test if certain plants can give extracts that can serve as indicators.

Methodology

Requirements

Red leafed cabbage, Filter paper, Ammonia solution, Knife, Vinegar, Heat, Orange juice, Test tubes, Beaker, Distilled water, Dropper

Procedure

1. Cut the red leafed cabbage into pieces
2. Using a motor and a pestle, crush the red leafed cabbage adding small amounts of ethanol as you crush.
3. Decant the liquid
4. Soak a filter paper in this liquid. Allow it to dry and cut the dry coloured paper into test Strips
5. Dip one of the strips in HCl. Repeat the same with various solutions. Repeat the same with various solution.
6. Construct a pH chart to show the acidity and basicity of the different solutions.

 Observations

Distinct colours are observed as tabulated below.

Data

Table 1. Showing colours of various solutions in local pH indicator

Discussion

Red leafed cabbage juice contains a pigment and can be used as a pH indicator. It is red, pink, in acids, (pH below 7), purple in neutral solutions (pH  7), and ranges from blue, green or yellow in basic solutions (pH above 7). This knowledge pushed us to make a pH paper out of red leafed cabbage juice.From the above data a pH chart can be obtained

From 50 cm³ of the red leafed cabbage extract, 60 strips of the indicator paper can be obtained. One cabbage can give 2000 cm³ extract. It’s therefore evident that locally made indicator papers are cheap and more convenient to use

Data analysis and interpretation

Data presentation

From our data on testing the strength and weakness of various laboratory and household solutions, a summary can be depicted on a graph.

DATA ANALYSIS

HCl acid and H2SO4 are strong acids hence low pH while sodium hydroxide is a strong base hence has a high pH. Water and sodium chloride have an optimum pH of 7, hence neutral.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Conclusion

When using a red leafed cabbage indicator, distinct colours are observed in acidic solutions, basic solutions and neutral solutions, thus the local indicator is a simple acid base indicator that can be used as an alternative to the existing commercial indicators.

Recommendation

Since this is a very safe method of detecting definite colour change in acidic or basic solutions, it is our hope that this project will be taken much seriously and expanded for local use mostly in our neighbouring schools.

Link to emerging issues

With the rising economic issues, some schools might seriously be in need of universal indicators to use in their schools but lack of adequate funds limit them. Being that the local universal indicator paper is made from locally available resources, it can readily serve as a substitute to the existing expensive commercial universal indicators.

Because of the rising economy, the value of money has shockingly depreciated. This was preceded by loss in value of ten cent and five cent coins. Though valueless in the market, the same coins have great value in electrochemistry.
They help in electroplating metallic equipment. If left overtime, copper in the coins react slowly with oxygen in the atmosphere, leading to the brown colour. This is due to formation of copper (II)oxide. The copper II oxide formed is obtained by putting the coins in weakly acidic solution like vinegar. Copper ions left in the solution can electroplate iron equipments.
Economically electroplating is an essential process, often used to minimise corrosion or improve the appearance of objects. During this process, a thin layer of a desired metal is deposited onto another object.
The object to be plated is attached to the negative electrode of a power source, making the object to gain a negative charge, which attracts positively charged metallic ions from the electrolyte the object is placed in.
We decided to come up with this idea so as to increase the durability of metallic household equipment through copper electroplating. Due to our curiosity, we carried out a couple of experiments in the laboratory and found out that copper ions extracted from an oxidized coin is suitable for electroplating an equipment.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.

Can copper(II)ions from old coins be extracted recycled to electroplate household equipment?

OBJECTIVES

To extract copper ions from old coins and use them to protect metallic objects from rusting.
To improve the appearance of metallic substances.
To generate income by establishing an electroplating plant.

HYPOTHESES

If copper coins are soaked in vinegar, they lose copper (II)oxide present on their surface. The copper ions in the solution formed can electroplate metallic objects.

SIGNIFICANCE

A cheaper method of preventing rusting compared to existing methods.
makes metals to appearance more attractive.
Creates self employment.

LIMITATIONS

The method cannot be relied on to electroplate metals that are very close to copper metal in the reactivity series like Zinc.

VARIABLES

Dependent variables
The quality of electroplated material depends on the following parameters:
The duration in minutes
The Concentration of the vinegar
The number of coins used.

PRECAUTIONS

The nails should not remain in the solution for too long lest they form thick layers on their surface.

LINKAGE WITH EMERGING ISSUES

The project can be used to generate income by setting up copper plating factory. This would solve the problem of unemployment in our country.

 LITERATURE REVIEW

Rusting involves formation of a brown coat on the surface of iron if exposed to moisture and oxygen. It can be prevented through alloying, coating, galvanization and oiling. Electroplating involves coating metal with another metal. Electroplating is an economically important process. For instance, it can be applied to reduce corrosion or to make objects appear attractive. When electroplating, a very slim layer of the desired metal is embedded onto another object.
The metal being used to coat should be capable of attracting electrons from the one being coated.
This project aims at applying the knowledge of electroplating to improve the quality of another metal by use of scrap copper metal.
The copper that coats the knife is obtained from old coins. However, it exists in the saline solution as cations instead of neutral copper metal.
Knives, Nails and screws are products of steel, an alloy that is mainly composed of iron. The weakly acidic solution dissolves most of the iron and oxides existing the nail, leaving a negative charge. Charges that are opposite attract one another, though the copper ions are attracted more strongly to the nail than the iron ions, making it to be coated with copper. At the same time, hydrogen ions from the vinegar solution and the metal oxides react to produce hydrogen gas, that fizzes from the surface of the nail.

METHODOLOGY

MATERIALS
5 black coins
25 cm3 vinegar
1 spoon of salt
Two 50ml plastic beakers
1 nail.

PROCEDURE

Pour 20cm3 of vinegar in a beaker.
Add one spoon of sodium chloride and stir the mixture
Dip the coins in the mixture and decant after 4 minutes
Dip the nail into the solution
Remove the nail after 4minutes.

OBSERVATION

The coins lose their dark colour
Bubbles of a colorless gas are produced when the coins are dipped in vinegar solution
The nail becomes golden brown

DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS

Iron present in the nail loses electrons and form iron (II) ions which dissolve in the solution. The nail surface remains negatively charged, thus attracting the positively charged copper (II)ions. The copper(II)ions in turn gain the electrons lost by iron to form solid copper which coats the nail.

The equations involved;
Fe(s) Fe2+(aq) + 2e-
Cu2+(aq)+2e- Cu(s)

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

DATA ANALYSIS
The 20cm3 of vinegar can electroplate 2 knives and 15 nails.
The cost of electroplating is cheaper hence a lot of profit is realized.
The quality of electroplating is high when done for about 3 minutes.

 CONCLUSION

In terms of durability, electroplated equipment last longer than non-electroplated equipment. The nails also become golden brown and shiny. This makes them have higher quality. The method is also affordable.

RECOMMENDATION

We as young scientists therefore encourage you to use the kitchen available necessities to electroplate kitchen equipment. We would also like to recommend the government to initiate an organization that deals the collection of old coins. This would ensure the successful ongoing of the project.