16

CHAPTER IV
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The purple variety of Ipomoea batatas (Sweet Potato) as an acid-base

indicator was cultivated on the rural area of Ipil, ZamboangaSibugay with land
area of 65 square meters. The cultivation was done in the late December of the
year 2015.

Figure 4.1 Sweet Potato Culitvars at First Month (Januray)

Good weather condition was observed on its first month after

cultivation. The plant material in figure 4.1 is fast growing with fine texture
leaves. A sudden change in weather was observed in mid April.

17

The photo in figure 4.2 was taken during the fourth month of growing
sweet potato. The observed yellow leaves are the affected area of the plant that
was exposed at high temperature.

Figure 4.2 Sweet Potato Culitvars at Fourth Month (April)

The plant growth was monitored daily by watering and removing the
weeds around the plant.

Figure 4.3 Sweet Potato Culitvars at Fifth Month (May)

18

At the fifth month, a good maturity of the tuber described in figure 4.3
was readily observed, where at this stage the root crop were effectively fast
growing. This was guided by proper method of cultivation as well as the
ridging and orientation of the plant material. This was to certain the growth of
the plant to yield a better root crop.

Figure 4.4 Sweet Potato Cultivars at Post Harvest Eight Months (August)

The root crop was post harvested in the 26th of August. The purple
variety of sweet potato shown in figure 4.4 was then prepared for further
study.

4.1 Preparation and Extraction of Ipomoea batatas Flesh Crude Extract

Prior to extraction, the plant sample was essentially washed with tap
water followed by distilled water to remove traces of land material from its
origin. It was allowed to be air dried and was manually peeled off. All the
peelings were collected in a separate container.

19

Figure 4.5 Purple Sweet Potato Peelings

Air drying the sample removes the water on the peels without
damaging the essential constituents. The dried peels were kept in a clean
container to avoid unwanted contaminations.
An in tensed red color of the extract was obtained. Keeping the amber
bottle unexposed from direct sunlight is to avoid disposal of excess energy
from molecules whereas some of the sample's component are very efficient.
The crude sample may possibly contain compounds that are photosynthetic
pigments. Instead of absorbing the excess energy when sunlight is absent and
safely uses that energy as a form of heat, the excess energy can do significant
change to the extraction process.

[17]

This may lead to excitation from the

ground state level of some components present in the crude extract and use
amber bottle instead.

20

Likewise, temperature and the length of time may cause degradation to

the pigments that are expectedly present in the crude extract. High temperature
can degrade anthocyanin like compounds. If prolonged extraction process,
over time degradation may possibly occur and destroys other compounds.

4.2 Qualitative Test Color Response to Acid-Base Solutions and pH

Levels
Determination of what color response is the crude to expect in
solutions of strong acids, strong base, weak acid, and weak base.

Figure 4.2.1 Crude Sample Color Response to Qualitative Test

For highly acidic condition, crude sample remains red and faint red for
weak acid solution. For strongly basic solution, yellow was observed and
green for weak base condition.

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4.3 Preliminary Transition Ranges at Different Buffer System

Distinct colors of the sample were obtained to determine its transition
ranges at different buffer solutions.

Figure 4.3.1 Color of Ipomoea batatas at different Buffer System

Varying color responses were shown on figure 4.3.1 from the extract at
different buffer solution. The initial color of red of the crude extract changes at
certain pH range. For buffers at pH 1-6, the color remains red while at pH 7
and 8 shades of faint green can be observed showing that the crude extract can
probably be an acid-base indicator for titration. At the pH range of 9-12
completely color change to green and turned to yellow at pH 13.
Since purple-flesh sweet potato is red in anthocyanin, the color
transitions observed at varying pH solutions suggest its acid-base indicator
property.
The 95% ethanol solvent also suggests effective extraction of
anthocyanin from the sample.

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4.4 Potentiometric Determination of Transition Ranges

The crude sample was tested in three different titration conditions to
evaluate properties of Ipomoea batatas as an alternative acid-base indicator.

4.4.1 Case I Strong Acid against Strong Base

Filtered extract from the peelings of Ipomoea batatas was tested for its
use as an acid-base indicator. At volume titrant added is zero, initial color was
red. A faint green was observed at equivalence point at pH 7.43 and color
completely changed to yellow at pH 12.57. Using the standard indicator
phenolphthalein, the transition was from colorless to a faint pink at
equivalence point at pH 7.74 and the color completely changed to dark pink at
pH 8.74.

Ipomoea batatas

Phenolphthalein

pH

10

15

20

25

Volume Titrant

Figure 4.4.1 Strong Acid against Strong Base

30

35

23

Pre-equivalence point region is before equivalence point where the

amount of hydronium ions is greater than the hydroxyl ions. The region
highlighted in figure 4.4.1 shows the moles of acid and base that are in
equilibrium when the titrant volume added is approximately 9.8ml and 10.1ml
for the Ipomoea batatas and phenolphthalein indicators respectively. After
equivalence point is the post equivalence where the concentration of hydroxyl
ion is greater than concentration of hydronium ion.
The results suggests that the crude extract lies under the range of the
transition color of standard phenolphthalein a rising to an alternative acid-base
indicator for an strong acid against strong base type of titration.

4.4.2 Case II Weak Acid against Strong Base

Titration of weak acid (CH3COOH) with standard NaOH using crude
sample as indicator yielded faint red solution. This turned to faint green that
indicates the equivalence point at pH of 7.19. Complete color change of dark
green was observed at pH 9.41.
For the standard indicator phenolphthalein, changes from colorless to
faint pink at equivalence point at pH 8.81. Complete color change was dark
pink and observed at pH 9.82. Titration curve for weak acid against strong
base is shown on Figure 4.4.2.

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Ipomoea batatas

Phenolphthalein
14
12
10
8

pH

6
4
2
0

10

15

20

25

Volume Titrant

Figure 4.4.2 Titration Curve of Weak Acid against Strong Base

Standard indicator phenolphthalein for case II has pH that is greater

than 7, while crude sample is less than 7. This shows that for this case,
hydroxyl ions are dominant in the analyte solution which is basic suggesting
that crude extract is not suitable as probable indicator.

4.4.3 Case III Weak Base against Strong Acid

Analyte solution for this titration involved NH4OH and titrated with
standard HCl. The titration curve for this system is shown in Figure 4.4.3.

25

Phenolphthalein

Ipomoea batatas
12
10
8
6

pH

4
2
0

10

15

20

25

30

Volume Titrant

Figure 4.4.3 titration Curve for Weak Base against Strong Acid

Equivalence point is observed at pH values of 5.53 and 4.54 for

Ipomoea batatas and standard indicator methyl orange respectively.
Apparently, color changes from faint green to faint red for crude extract, while
yellow to pink for methyl orange was observed. Beyond equivalence point the
specie in excess is the titrant rendering the solution acidic. Thus, from the
standard indicator methyl orange, crude extract of Ipomoea batatas is suitable
indicator for a weak base against strong acid type of titration.

4.5 Determination of Transition Ranges and Titration Errors

First and second noticeable color change from the initial color were
observed and recorded. Using the titration curve and the percent transition
error equation, the transition range and transition error of Ipomoea batatas was
determined. Results obtained from the crude extract were compared with the

26

transition error of the standard indicators used in the three cases of analytical
titration. The comparison was supported by a two-way test of two independent
samples as the basis whether to accept or reject the crude sample as indicator
for a certain case titration.
Table 4.5 Transition Error and pH Range of Ipomoea batatas and Standard
Indicators at 95% Probability

Cas
e

II

Indicator

pH
transitio
n

%Trans Error

Ipomoea
batatas

7.4410.18

3.06121.985
5

phenolphthale
in

6.959.59

0.99010.009
8

Ipomoea
batatas

7.3811.15

4.57520.51
39

phenolphthale
in

7.809.23

0.96150.01
62

Ipomoea
batatas

6.291.66

8.77193.97
37

methyl orange

3.332.57

7.59495.03
20

III

tcalculated

tcritical

Inference

2.776
4

has no
significa
nt
differenc
e
has
significa
nt
differenc
e
has
significa
nt
differenc
e

1.798
6

11.96
1

0.322
2

Accepted values are pH ranges of the crude extract that lies in under
the range of the standard indicators with respect to their calculated percent
transition error.
It showed that for the case I titration using crude extract as indicator,
its pH range of 7.44-10.18 still lies under the pH range of the standard
indicator phenolphthalein with respect to the percent transition error for the
crude sample at 95% confidence limit, t calculated (1.7986) <tcritical (2.7764). This

27

indicates that pH transition of the crude extract is accepted as an alternative

acid-base indicator.
For case II titration, crude sample with pH range of 7.38-11.15 has
small difference which is about 0.42 with the standard phenolphthalein pH
range of 7.80-9.23. Also, tcalculated is significantly larger than the tcritical value and
this indicates rejecting the transition difference of the crude extract with the
standard indicator. This implies that crude sample may not be possibly a good
indicator for a weak acid against strong base type of titration.
Lastly, Case III has also significant difference with the standard
indicator methyl orange. This is because the transition ranges of the crude
extract lies before the transition ranges of methyl orange. This implies that the
crude extract is not a good natural indicator for case III system.