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Beets as a Natural Indicator
Jeremy Sernick Ethan Fivel Henry Laurich Jake Solovy Ryan F.
Introduction
The purpose of our experiment was to test the fruit, beets, as a natural indicator. An indicator's job is to show the level of something, and in this case it was showing the pH level by changing colors; a change in color indicated a change in pH. If it turned red, orange, or yellow, then it was an acid. An acid has a pH of 1-6 and it dissociates to produce H+ and an anion. If it turned blue, green, or purple, then it was a base. A base has a pH of 8-14 and it dissociates to produce OH- and a cation. The household items we tested were soap, vinegar, bleach, and isopropyl alcohol. We predict vinegar and isoproyl alcohol to be acids, and bleach and soap to be bases.
Data
pH (known): 1/color: dark red
pH (known): 3/color: lighter dark red
pH (known): 5/color: red
pH (known): 7/color: light red
pH (known): 9/color: yellowish red
pH (known): 11/color: reddish yellow
pH (known): 13/color: yellow
Substance: Isopropyl alcohol/color: scarlet/final pH: 10
Substance: Bleach/color: yellowish clear/final pH: 14
Substance: Vinegar/color: clear/final pH: 14
Substance: Soap/color: Mango/final pH: 8
Procedure
We diced up the beats and boiled them. We ended up with this substance
This is the Isopropyl alcohol we tested for its acidity.
This is the bleach we tested for its acidity.
We determined the color range using the pH because all indicators chemically react with hydrogen or hydroxide ions to give it a unique color. Each indicator, and our was beets, has its own color and its own individual range over which it changes color.
Isopropyl Alcohol
This is the alcohol we tested out of the bottle.
Bleach
This is the bleach out of the bottle.
Beets
This was the Beets mixed with a pH of 1.
Beets
This was the Beets mixed with a pH of 9.
Beets
This was the Beets mixed with a pH of 7.
Beets
This was the Beets mixed with a pH of 5.
Beets
This was the Beet mixed with a pH of 3.
Beets
This was the Beet mixed with a pH of 1.
Isopropyl Alcohol
This is the isopropyl alcohol.
pH
This is the whole spectrum of the pH values.
Bleach
This is the bleach mixed with the Beets indicator.
Isopropyl Alcohol
This is the Isopropyl Alcohol with the beet.
pH
These were the known pH's. We used the known pH's to find the pH's of the unknown substances.
pH
Known pH's.
Vinegar
That is the Vinegar and its container.
Vinegar
Different angle of the vinegar
Vinegar
This is the Vinegar mixed with the pH indicator.
Soap
This is the soap mixed with the beet indicator.