Implementation
Experiment #:13
Date: October 19, 2025
Hypothesis
The mixture of alcohol and acetone will remove ink stains from cotton fabric more
effectively than alcohol or acetone alone.
Aim
To determine which solvent is most effective in removing ink stains from cotton fabric.
Apparatus
• Cotton fabric strips (5 cm × 5 cm)
• Scissors
• Ballpoint pen
• Stopwatch
• 3 labelled beakers (A, B, C)
• Measuring cylinder
• Soap solution (50 mL)
• Water for rinsing
• Alcohol (30 mL)
• Acetone (30 mL)
Method
1. Cut equal strips of cotton fabric (5 cm × 5 cm).
2. Draw a 3 cm ink line across the centre of each strip using the same pen and allow to dry
for 2 minutes.
3. Prepare 12 strips in total and divide them into three groups of four.
4. Place each group in a beaker containing 30 mL of solvent:
- Beaker A: Alcohol
- Beaker B: Acetone
- Beaker C: 15 mL Alcohol + 15 mL Acetone mixture
5. Soak the strips for 5 minutes.
6. Remove and wash each in 50 mL of soap solution for 2 minutes.
7. Rinse in clean water, air-dry for 10 minutes, and observe the degree of stain removal.
Variables
• Independent variable: Type of solvent used (alcohol, acetone, alcohol + acetone mix)
• Dependent variable: Degree of ink removal (stain fading)
• Controlled variables: Size of fabric strips, volume of solvent, soaking time, washing time,
drying time, and pen type.
Results Table
Solvent Used Observation after Washing Effectiveness
Alcohol Stain became lighter but Low
remained clearly visible
Acetone Stain faded significantly but Moderate
was still faintly visible
Alcohol + Acetone mix Stain almost completely High
removed, only a trace left
Treatment of Results: Miss I’ll attach the picture when writing up my
implementation in the lab book
Discussion
The mixture of alcohol and acetone was the most effective solvent for removing ink stains.
Ink is made up of pigments with varying polarities. Alcohol dissolves polar pigments, while
acetone dissolves non-polar ones. When combined, the mixture dissolves a wider range of
ink components, resulting in greater stain removal.
Limitation
• Ink marks may not have been identical on all strips.
• Stain fading was judged visually, which may be subjective.
• Only one brand of ink was tested, so results may not apply to all inks.
Precaution
• Equal-sized fabric strips were used.
• Equal solvent and soap volumes were measured accurately.
• Soaking and washing times were kept constant with a stopwatch.
State of Error / Assumptions
• Assumed equal ink concentration on each strip.
• Ambient temperature and drying conditions may have varied slightly.
• Possible minor evaporation of solvents during soaking.
Reflection
This investigation was practical and relevant since ink stains are a common problem in
daily life. It showed how chemistry principles—specifically solvent polarity—can be applied
to real-world cleaning situations. Conducting this lab improved understanding of how
solvent mixtures interact with dyes and the importance of accurate experimental control.
Conclusion
The mixture of alcohol and acetone was the most effective solvent in removing ink stains
from cotton fabric. The results support the hypothesis and demonstrate that combining
solvents of different polarities increases their effectiveness in dissolving a wider range of
pigments.