ACID-BASE INDICATOR from

PAPAYA (Carica papaya linn.)

LEAF EXTRACT
KISSZA MARI Vega CAMPANO
 
NADINE JOSELLE Dablio CHU
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
 A. Background of the Study
 These days, because of the economic crisis the world is
experiencing today, prices of necessities and needs of
people are rising and becoming more expensive. Laboratory
equipment and apparatuses are also becoming more
expensive that some science schools cannot afford. These
equipment and apparatuses are very important to the
students because during these laboratory experiments they
will experience and see the realities on what happens to
things discussed by the teachers. An example of these
experiments is the classification of substances whether
acidic, basic or neutral where acid-base indicator plays a
significant role.

 Acid-base indicators are substances that undergo color change
that is specific to different ranges on pH scale (Grolier,
2006). A great example of this is litmus papers. They are
usual indicators used in laboratories and school laboratories.
These are absorbent papers treated with litmus, a dye
obtained from various lichens that will turn red by acid and
blue by base (Friedman, 2004). There are also acid-base
indicators that are natural. Examples of these are red
cabbage, grape juice, strawberries, blueberries and many
more. They are cheaper, easier to find and also easy to use.
The researcher would like to find out whether papaya
(Carica papaya Linn.) leaves extract can also be a good
indicator and a good substitute to the expensive acid-base
indicators.

 B. Statement of the Problem
 Students need laboratory equipment and apparatuses
for laboratory activities and practical experiments like an
acid-base indicator. The researcher would like to find out if
the papaya leaves extract can be used as an acid-base
indicator.
 This study must answer the following questions:
What is the resulting color of the papaya leaf extract when

used in
› Acidic substances
› Basic substances
› Neutral substances
 Is the chart of color change of the papaya leaf extract
qualitatively comparable to commercially available acid-
base indicators?

 C. Objectives of the Study
 The objectives of this study are to:
To determine the resulting color of the papaya leaf extract
when used in
 Acidic substances
 Basic substances
 Neutral substances
To find out whether the chart of color change is qualitatively

comparable to commercial acid-base indicators available

today

D. Hypotheses


 the papaya leaf extract cannot be used as an acid-base

indicator
 The papaya leaf extract can be used as an acid-base
indicator
 the color change of the extract is not qualitatively
comparable to the commercially available acid-base
indicators
 The color change of the extract is qualitatively comparable
to the commercially available acid-base indicators

 E. Significance of the Study
 We are experiencing global economic crisis these days.
There is non-stop increase of prices of goods and products
from all sorts of fields, be it be industrial, commercial,
agricultural, etc. including the laboratory equipment like
litmus paper.
 As an alternative, we can make use of plants that are
easy to find in the surroundings to be made as acid-base
indicator and papaya leaves can be utilized.
 By these natural acid-base indicators, it will be a great
contribution and help to the students, chemists and
teachers who can’t afford the expensive indicators.

 F. Scope and Limitations of the Study
 The study focuses on utilization of papaya leaves extract
as an acid-base indicator and experimental pH paper,
testing it on common known household substances, titration
using the extract and only color will be qualitatively
compared with commercial indicators. It also focuses on
collection of samples regardless of its maturity but not using
dried leaves. The papaya leaf samples are collected in
Iligan City.

 G. Definition of Terms
  

 Acid - a compound containing hydrogen which, dissolved in water, provides

hydrogen ions and a molecule or ion which can give up protons to a
base (Friedman, 2004)
  
 Base - a substance which, dissolved in water, provides hydroxyl ions from
its own molecules and a molecule or ion which can accept protons
(Friedman, 2004)
  
 Neutralization - the act or process of forming a salt from the reaction of an
acid with a base (Friedman, 2004)
  
 pH - denoting the negative logarithm of the hydrogen-ion concentration, in
grams per liter of a solution used in expressing relative acidity and
alkalinity (Marckwardt, 1995)
  
 pH scale - used to determine if the substance is acidic or basic and to
ascertain its strength (Bato Balani, 2002)
  
 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

A. Research Design


 This chapter presents the methodology of the study. It

consists of procedures in collection and preparation of the
sample and making, testing and evaluating the desired
product. The researcher used papaya leaves that were
gathered in Iligan City to produce a filter paper treated with
papaya leaf extract.
 B. Materials and Equipment


› Base burette
› Beakers
› Clean cloth
› Distilled water
› Filter paper
› Graduated cylinder
› Medicine droppers
› Mortar and pestle
› pH meter
› Spotplate
› Weighing scale

 Common Household Substances


o Alcohol
o Antacid solution
o Astringent
o Bathroom Cleaner
o Chlorox
o Cologne
La b or a t or y Ch e m ica ls
o Conditioner oM NaOH
o Lemon-lime extract oM HCl

o Muriatic Acid
o Shampoo
 C. General Procedure


 Preparation of the Papaya Leaf extract as an Indicator

 Collect 100 g of the papaya leaves, regardless of
maturity but must not be dried leaves. Soak the leaves in
20.0 mLdistilled water overnight. Pound the soaked leaves
using mortar and pestle. Place it in clean cheesecloth and
gently squeezed to a 250-mL beaker to obtain the extracts.
Pour the squeezed extract to a filter paper to separate the
leaves and obtain pure leaf extract only.

 Testing the Extract for the Acidity and Basicity of Some
Common Household Substances


 Collect common household substances that are said to

be basic and acidic to examine whether the papaya leaf
extract can be used as an acid-base indicator. Place each of
the collected household substances to a spotplateand label
each for specification. The substance must be in solution
form for simplicity. Measure the pH of each substance using
the pH meter. Add 2-3 drops of the papaya leaf extracts.
Observe color change and identify whether the substance is
acidic, basic or neutral. Take note of the original color of the
leaf extract and each common household substances used
for comparison purposes.

 Evaluation of Results
 Show in tabular form and in a color chart the results of
the acid-base test using the papaya leaf extract.


o Comparison of Results
o Observation of change in color
o Testing with Acidic, Basic, Neutral Solution