Bicarbonate Indicator Solution
In order to create a filtering system specifically for automotive fumes, it is important to know the concentration of fumes coming out of a car.
A Bicarbonate Indicator Solution is a type of pH indicator that is sedative enough to show a color difference depending on the concentration of carbon dioxide. This test uses respiration and photosynthesis experiments to determine if carbon dioxide is present. Typically the initial color of the sollation is red but if the solution has more than 0.03% of carbon dioxide present it will go from red to yellow and if it is less than 0.03% the strip will go from red to purple. This experiment will be used to further prove the presence of carbon dioxide in vehicle fumes.
Procedure:
Procedure:
The Bicarbonate Indicator Solution experiment was conducted Friday April 25. The materials needed for the expreriment were provided by the generous Chemistry Department and also provided us with the instructions on how to successfully complete this experiment.
The experiment called for:
- 0.02 g of thymol blue
- 0.01 g of cresol red
- 2 mL of ethanol
- 0.8 g of sodium bicarbonate
- 7.48 g of potassium chloride
- 90 mL of water
After gathering the materials, two separate were solutions were made, solution A & solution B. In solution A we mixed the thymol blue, cresol red, and ethanol. In solution B the sodium bicarbonate, potassium chloride and water were mixed. After they were made into two separate solution, solution A & B were mixed together. After solution was mixed 9mL of the mixed solutions were taken out and diluted with 1000 mL of distilled water.
Results:
After the solution was made the Bicarbonate Indicator Solution was put to the test. Taking into account the gasses emitted from the exhaust pipe we decided to wear mask and the solution was placed directly behind the exhaust pipe to see if it would turn color when it was in contact with the gasses that the exhaust pipe was prodding. After first it did, but then a flight color change began to appear until about 5 minutes after being placed behind the exhaust. The solution turned yellow thus confirming what we already knew, the car produced carbon dioxide with a higher concentration of 0.03%.
The experiment called for:
- 0.02 g of thymol blue
- 0.01 g of cresol red
- 2 mL of ethanol
- 0.8 g of sodium bicarbonate
- 7.48 g of potassium chloride
- 90 mL of water
After gathering the materials, two separate were solutions were made, solution A & solution B. In solution A we mixed the thymol blue, cresol red, and ethanol. In solution B the sodium bicarbonate, potassium chloride and water were mixed. After they were made into two separate solution, solution A & B were mixed together. After solution was mixed 9mL of the mixed solutions were taken out and diluted with 1000 mL of distilled water.
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| Figure 1: (above) Mixture of Solution A & B |
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Figure 2: 9 mL of mixed solution being diluted with 1000mL of distilled water.
Figure 3: Final Solution , color red
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After the solution was made the Bicarbonate Indicator Solution was put to the test. Taking into account the gasses emitted from the exhaust pipe we decided to wear mask and the solution was placed directly behind the exhaust pipe to see if it would turn color when it was in contact with the gasses that the exhaust pipe was prodding. After first it did, but then a flight color change began to appear until about 5 minutes after being placed behind the exhaust. The solution turned yellow thus confirming what we already knew, the car produced carbon dioxide with a higher concentration of 0.03%.
Figure 4: The color of the solution was red before placed being the exhaust pipe
Figure 5: The color after the solution is placed behind the exhaust pipe for approximately 5 minutes.
