Indicators
Types of indicators are:
1. Litmus
2. Red Rose
3. Turmeric
4. Olfactory
5. Natural Indicators
1. Litmus as an Indicator
What is Litmus?
Litmus is a natural material obtained from lichens, which are
organisms formed by a fungus and an alga living together, often
found on rocks and trees in rainy, clean areas.
Forms of Litmus: It is available as blue and red litmus paper
strips, used to test substances
It is called as an acid-base indicator.
How Litmus Works:
If a substance turns blue litmus paper red, it is acidic.
If a substance turns red litmus paper blue, it is basic.
If there’s no colour change in either litmus paper, the substance is
neutral.
. Red Rose as an Indicator
Preparation of Red Rose Extract
Red rose extract is prepared by collecting fresh rose petals and
washing them properly.
The petals are then crushed and soaked in hot water.
After some time, the mixture is filtered to get a red-coloured
liquid known as red rose extract.
How it Works:
In acidic substances, the extract changes to a shade of red.
In basic substances, it changes to a shade of green.
The changes in colour of the red rose extract on adding lemon
juice (A) and soap solution (B)
In neutral substances, the extract’s colour remains unchanged.
Red rose extract is an acid-base indicator because it shows
different colours for acidic and basic substances, similar to litmus.
Some examples:
Chemicals Industry
Lemon juice (acidic) turns the extract red.
Soap solution (basic) turns it green.
Neutral substances like sugar solution don’t affect the
colour.
3. Turmeric as an Indicator
Preparation:
Turmeric powder is mixed with water to make a paste, spread on
filter paper, and dried to create yellow turmeric paper strips.
How it Works:
Basic substances turn turmeric paper red.
Acidic and neutral substances do not change the yellow colour of
turmeric paper.
A turmeric stain on a shirt changes colour when soap (basic) is
applied, showing its indicator property.
Turmeric paper can only identify basic substances, not
distinguish between acidic and neutral ones.
Why is Turmeric Called the ‘Golden’ Spice?
Turmeric, also known as Haldi, is a bright yellow spice that
belongs to the ginger family. Grown widely in India and other
countries, it’s a common ingredient in everyday cooking. But
turmeric is much more than just a flavouring agent!
In the Ayurvedic system of medicine, turmeric is believed to
offer several health benefits. That’s why it plays a key role in
many traditional home remedies. Its rich golden colour and
healing properties have earned it the name ‘Golden Spice’.
4. Olfactory Indicators
Olfactory indicators are special substances whose smell
changes when they come in contact with acidic or basic
substances.
For example, a cloth soaked in onion juice loses its smell
when mixed with tamarind water (which is acidic) or baking
soda solution (which is basic).
These indicators are useful because they help us identify
whether a substance is acidic or basic just by observing
changes in smell.
. Other Natural Indicators
Substances like beetroot, purple cabbage, red hibiscus
(gudhal), and Indian blackberry (jamun) can also act as acid-
base indicators, changing colours in acidic or basic solutions.
Chemicals Industry
Did You Know?
Hydrangea plants in the Himalayas or North-eastern states
produce blue flowers in acidic soil and pink or red flowers in
basic soil, showing how soil nature affects plants.
Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray
Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray is known as the Father of Modern
Indian Chemistry. He earned his chemistry doctorate in the UK
and later returned to India. In 1901, he started India’s first
pharmaceutical company.
He wrote about the history of Indian science to show the world
the achievements of ancient Indian scientists. A true reformer, he
also supported teaching in the mother tongue to make education
easier and more meaningful.
Mixing of Acidic substances and Basic substances
1. Neutralization Process
When an acid (e.g., lemon juice) is mixed with a base (e.g., lime
water) in the right amount, they react to form a solution that is
neither acidic nor basic. This reaction is called neutralization.
Neutralization shows how acids and bases balance each other,
creating a neutral substance that doesn’t affect indicators.
This process is key to understanding how substances interact
chemically.
Activity:
Let’s see how acids and bases react using litmus solution:
Science
First, add lemon juice (which is acidic) to a blue litmus solution. It
turns red, showing the presence of an acid.
Now, slowly add lime water (a base) to the same solution. As
more base is added, the red colour starts changing back to blue,
showing the solution is becoming neutral or basic.
This happens because the base cancels the effect of the acid,
resulting in a neutral solution.
Products of Neutralization
The reaction produces salt, water, and releases heat.
Acid + Base → Salt + Water + Heat.
Neutralization in Daily Life
Situation 1: Ant Bite
When a red ant bites, it injects formic acid into the skin, causing
redness and stinging pain.
Applying moist baking soda, which is a base, neutralizes the
formic acid, relieving the pain and reducing swelling.
Different regions may use other basic remedies, like lime water,
for ant bites.
Situation 2: Soil Treatment
Education
Farmers may notice poor plant growth if the soil becomes too
acidic due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers.
Adding lime (a base, like calcium oxide) neutralizes the acidic soil,
making it suitable for plant growth.
If the soil is too basic, organic matter like manure or composted
leaves is added, which releases acids to neutralize the basic soil.
Neutral soil may still need nutrients if plants are unhealthy,
showing that soil health involves more than just acidity or
basicity.
Situation 3: Factory Waste
Acidic waste from factories can pollute lakes, harming fish and
other aquatic life.
Before releasing waste into lakes, basic substances are added to
neutralize the acidity, making the water safe for fish.
Important Facts about Neutralization
Relieve ant bites by applying baking-soda paste to neutralize
formic acid.
Treat acidic soil with lime or basic soil with organic matter to help
plants grow.
Neutralize acidic factory waste to protect aquatic life in lakes.
Hydrangea flowers change colour based on soil pH: blue in acidic
soil, pink/red in basic soil—nature’s own acid–base indicator.
Creative uses, like writing messages with basic solutions on
turmeric paper, show how indicators can be applied in art
or communication.
mportant Terms
Acidic: A substance that tastes sour, turns blue litmus paper red,
and red rose extract red, like lemon juice or vinegar.
Basic: A substance that feels slippery turns red litmus paper blue,
red rose extract green, and turmeric paper red, like soap or
baking soda.
Neutral: A substance that doesn’t affect indicators’ colour or
smell and is neither acidic nor basic, like sugar solution or tap
water.
Indicator: A tool that changes colour or smell to show if a
substance is acidic, basic, or neutral, such as litmus, red rose
extract, or turmeric.
Litmus: A natural substance from lichens, used as blue or red
paper strips to test if a substance is acidic (turns blue litmus red)
or basic (turns red litmus blue).
Lichens: Organisms made of a fungus and an alga living
together, found on rocks and trees, used to make litmus.
Neutralization: A chemical reaction where an acid and base mix
to form salt, water, and heat, creating a neutral solution.
Olfactory: Related to the sense of smell, used for indicators like
onion that change odor in acidic or basic substances.
Extract: A liquid obtained by crushing and soaking a substance
(like red rose petals) in water and filtering it, used as an indicator.
Formic Acid: An acidic substance injected by ants during a bite,
causing pain and redness, which can be neutralized by a base like
baking soda.
Substance Classification: Substances are grouped into acidic,
basic, or neutral based on how they interact with indicators.
Litmus: From lichens, comes as blue and red paper: acids turn
blue litmus red, and bases turn red litmus blue, while neutral
substances cause no change.
Red-Rose Extract: Made from crushed petals, it turns red in
acidic solutions and green in basic solutions, acting as an acid–
base indicator.
Turmeric Paper: Prepared from turmeric paste, it turns red in
basic solutions but remains yellow in acidic or neutral solutions,
making it useful only for detecting bases.
Olfactory Indicators: Like onion-soaked cloth, they change
smell when mixed with acidic or basic substances, helping identify
their nature.
Other Natural Indicators: Beetroot, purple cabbage, red
hibiscus, and Indian blackberry also show colour changes in acidic
or basic solutions.
Acid Properties: Acids taste sour (e.g., lemon juice contains
citric acid; vinegar contains acetic acid) and turn blue litmus red.
Base Properties: Bases feel slippery, often taste bitter, and turn
red litmus blue, red-rose extract green, and turmeric paper red.
Neutral Substances: Like tap water or sugar solution, they
don’t change the colour or smell of indicators.
Neutralization: The reaction between an acid and a base forms
salt, water, and releases heat, resulting in a neutral solution.