Philippine Normal University

Scientific Paper

I. Introduction:

The basis of this scientific paper was to determine the acid, base and neutral
substances found in the list of compounds below in a conducted experiment using
the alugbati as an indicator. Thus, it will also help increase our understanding
about the three substances (pertaining to acid, base and salt) and their differences.

II. Materials used for the experiment:

Utensils: Compounds: Indicator:

Dropper Apog (lime water) Alugbati
Coco bowl Vinegar Bond paper
Mortar and pestle Salt Solution
Knife Shampoo (liquid based)
Chopping board Toothpaste (liquid based)
Saucer Egg yolk
Flat plate Tap water
Wide-mouth bottles Calamansi
Spoon Baking soda (liquid
based)
Diaper cloth Milk (liquid based)

III. Procedures:

I. Preparing the juice

Wash the alugbati leaves
and chop it finely.
Grind it using a
mortar and pestle to
express the juice and
put some alcohol.
Placed the grind leaves in
a diaper filter cloth to
serve as a filter to release
the extract. Use a bowl to
serve the extract.

II. Preparing the indicator

After drying, cut the Place the dipped bond When enough juice was
bond paper into strips paper in a flat plate and collected, prepare the
measuring half inch let it dry. bond paper and dip it
wide and three inch into the juice.
long.
III. Testing the Compounds:

Prepare the list of
compounds in different
sets of bottles. Avoid
mixtures and label each
compounds.
Get the paper strips and
use the dropper to test
from each compound.
Let it dry and observe
the changes in color.
Be able to collect all
record and gather all
the data based from
your observations

IV. Data: Results and Discussions:

Throughout the experiment, I’ve made used of the alugbati paper as an indicator
to test the acid, base and neutral substances found in the list of the following
compounds:

After the experiment, I’ve noticed some changes in the color. Some are not clear
and some are considered to be faded yet I can still notice the changes. I’ve made a
table showing the changes in color of the alugbati paper.

Compounds Changes
Apog (lime water) Blue violet (faded)
Vinegar Red (tip)
Salt Solution No change
Shampoo (liquid based) Blue (spots)
Toothpaste (liquid based) Light blue (faded)
Egg yolk Blue
Tap water No change
Calamansi Red
Baking soda (liquid based) Blue (faded)
Milk (liquid based) Red

According to some of my references, a litmus paper is a common indicator used

in laboratory experiments. It has two colors, red and blue. When a red litmus turns blue it
is in base form and when the blue litmus turns red it is of acid form. When there’s no
changes in color the compound was said to be neutral.
 Going back to the table, after the alugbati paper was dipped into the
compounds some changes occurred. When I dipped the strips in the bottles of apog, egg
yolk, shampoo, and toothpaste, it all turned out to be bluish in color indicating that those
compounds are of acid substance. After the acid, the occurrence of base appeared in the
form of vinegar, calamansi and milk which all turned out to a reddish color. Salt solution
and tap water did not show any changes so it’s in the neutral substance.

V. Generalization:

I therefore conclude that any compound that is of acid form and tastes sour and is
capable of changing the blue litmus to red is an acid. We know for a fact that acetic
acid is present in vinegar, citric acid in calamansi and lactic acid in milk and all
turned out to reddish color. While any compound that tastes bitter and slippery to
touch and is capable of changing the red litmus to blue is a base. All compounds used
that I’ve determined in the form of base contains all the characteristics of a base
substance. In neutralization reaction one of the products is usually water and the other
is an ionic compound called salt. Acids and bases have characteristic properties that
cancel each other when they react in a neutralization reaction.

VI. References:

Introduction to General, Organic and Biological Chemistry by Robert J. Oullette.

pp.132

Chemistry by Addison and Wesley (third edition)

Chemical Principles by Masterson and Hurley (fifth edition)

Chemistry for third year High School (Government property) pp.51-52

Chemistry (Diwa Publishing)

Lee, Gena Mae E.

I-27

Prof. Teddy Manansala