Abstract

Indicators used in acid-base titration show well marked changes of colour in certain intervals of pH. Most of these indicators are organic dyes and are of synthetic origin. Today synthetic indicators are the choice of neutralization titrations. But due to environmental pollution, availability and cost, the search for natural compounds as an acid-base indicator was started. The present work highlights the use of the ethanolic extract of the corolla of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) as a pH indicator in strong acid-strong base, strong acid weak base, weak acid strong base and weak acid-weak base titrations. This natural indicator is easy to extract as well as easily available. The results showed that the Roselle’s corolla indicator gave red color in acidic solution, while green in basic solution. The comparison indicators used in this research were phenolphthalein, methyl red and phenol red. Hopeful results were obtained when it was compared against standard synthetic indicators. The equivalence points obtained match with the equivalence points obtained by standard indicators. Therefore this natural indicator is found to be useful, economical, simple, precise and eco-friendly for acid base titration.

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