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.