How to Make an Indicator for Acids and Bases Using Hibiscus Petals

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If you’re looking for a fun science experiment to do at home, making an indicator solution might be the perfect project. By mixing dried hibiscus leaves and water, you can make a cheap and sensitive chemical indicator for bases and acids in just a few minutes. After that, you can go wild with testing household items to see where they fall on the pH scale.

1

Combine your dried hibiscus petals with water.

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    Place your petals in a 150 mL beaker along with 50 to 60 mL of water to start. The water won’t change colors just yet, so hang tight! [1]
    • If you gathered your own hibiscus flowers, gently pluck off the petals and spread them out on a paper towel. Leave the petals in the sun for 2 to 3 days until the leaves look crispy and slightly brown.
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2

Boil the mixture for 3 to 5 minutes.

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    Place your beaker onto the burner, then turn it up high. Get the water boiling for about 5 minutes until it starts to turn dark red. [2]
    • No need to stir your mixture—just sit back and relax.
3

Cool the mixture for 5 to 10 minutes.

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    This will allow all the sediment to settle at the bottom of the pot. You can use this time to ready the rest of your equipment, like a clean beaker and a few test tubes. [3]
    • If you pour the liquid too early, you might end up with a chunky, lumpy indicator.
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4

Pour the liquid into a clean beaker.

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    Gently pour the liquid into a clean 100 mL beaker, separating it from the petals. If you’re having trouble, set a strainer on top of your beaker and strain the liquid instead. [4]
    • The liquid will be a deep red color, but you should still be able to see light shining through it.
5

Mix your chemical with water in a test tube.

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    Add around 1 tsp (5.6 g) of it to the bottom of a test tube, then add 4 to 5 mL of water to the tube with a dropper. Cap the test tube with your finger and shake it up to dissolve the substrate in the water. [5]
    • The substance you choose is up to you, but people often use salt, window cleaner, orange juice, apple juice, or toilet bowl cleaner.
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6

Add 4 to 5 drops of hibiscus indicator to the tube.

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    Use a dropper to add 4 or 5 drops of hibiscus water to the test tube. You’ll notice a color change right away as the hibiscus petals interact with the chemical. [6]
    • Hibiscus flowers contain the colour pigment anthocyanin, which is a natural chemical indicator.
7

Check the color change of the water.

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    The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of less than 7 indicates acidity, while a pH of more than 7 indicates a base. Anywhere from dark pink to pale pink usually indicates an acid, while dark gray to green colors usually indicate a base. The rest of the colors indicate: [7]
    • Dark pink: pH 2
    • Pink: pH 3 to pH 4
    • Pale pink: pH 5
    • Lavender: pH 6
    • Gray: pH 7 or pH 8
    • Dark gray: pH 9
    • Brown: pH 10 or pH 11
    • Green: pH 12
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What is the difference between acids and bases?
    Chris Hasegawa, PhD
    Retired Science Professor & Dean
    Dr. Chris Hasegawa was a Science Professor and the Dean at California State University Monterey Bay. Dr. Hasegawa specializes in teaching complex scientific concepts to students. He holds a BS in Biochemistry, a Master’s in Education, and his teaching credential from The University of California, Davis. He earned his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Oregon. Before becoming a professor, Dr. Hasegawa conducted biochemical research in Neuropharmacology at the National Institute of Health. He also taught physical and life sciences and served as a teacher and administrator at public schools in California, Oregon, and Arizona.
    Chris Hasegawa, PhD
    Retired Science Professor & Dean
    Expert Answer
    The basic difference between acids and bases is the difference in the amount of ions in those solutions and how those are put out.
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  • Question
    How do I make an indicator using a local flower?
    Community Answer
    The same basic way. Any brightly colored part of a plant can be used as an indicator.
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  • Question
    What type of natural base can I use to test for alkalinity?
    Community Answer
    Ammonia water, sold in 1/2-gallon jugs in the grocery store, is basic and will correctly test the indicator.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • 2 to 3 grams of dried hibiscus petals
      • 150 mL beaker
      • Bunsen burner or a hot plate
      • 100 mL beaker
      • 1 tsp (5.6 g) of a chemical of your choice
      • Test tube
      • Dropper

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/75bfca43b9da4346a173bf3ac21fd68a
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V5LJ9O9LBU&t=49s
      3. ↑ https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/75bfca43b9da4346a173bf3ac21fd68a
      4. ↑ https://www.scholarsresearchlibrary.com/articles/extraction-of-the-cyanidin3sophoroside-from-hibiscus-rosasinensis-an-efficient-natural-indicator-over-a-wide-range-of-acidbase-tit-12313.html
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=95&v=-V5LJ9O9LBU&feature=youtu.be
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KMP2Foj93U&t=144s
      7. ↑ https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/75bfca43b9da4346a173bf3ac21fd68a

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a fun pH indicator at home with hibiscus petals, place the petals in a heat-proof beaker or pan with water. Heat the water over a Bunsen burner or hot plate and let it boil for about 5 minutes, or until the water turns dark red. Let the mixture cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then gently pour it through a strainer to remove the petals. Pour the chemicals you’d like to test into individual test tubes, then add a few drops of the hibiscus dye into each tube. Watch the liquid change color depending on how acidic or basic it is. Read on to learn how to interpret the results of your pH indicator test!

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