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Teaching Acid-Base Fundamentals and Introducing pH using Butterfly Pea Flower Tea.

ABSTRACT: Stimulating interest in science at an early age is important for STEM education. This work details an educational activity utilizing the anthocyanins found in the butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea). This activity was developed for use in official classroom settings, online, and/or at-home with parental or educator guidance. Primary and high school students aged 7 to 14 performed a straightforward extraction of anthocyanin pH indicators from Clitoria ternatea with hot water. Students were able to use this indicator and its vast range of colors to compare the acidity and basicity of different household solutions. Most responses recorded show that students used reasoning from the indicator and a subsequent chemical reaction to correctly differentiate acids from bases and compare their strengths. Overall, this activity's application of non-toxic and easily accessible indicators from the butterfly pea flower assisted in introducing young students to various concepts in acid-base chemistry, including acid/base strength and pH, solute dissolution, neutralization reactions, and qualitative analysis.

SUBMITTER: Naimi W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10956649 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Teaching Acid-Base Fundamentals and Introducing pH using Butterfly Pea Flower Tea.

Naimi Wallee W Vinnacombe-Willson Gail A GA Saldana Stanley S Ronduen Lionnel L Domjan Heather H Chiang Naihao N

Journal of chemical education 20240209 3

Stimulating interest in science at an early age is important for STEM education. This work details an educational activity utilizing the anthocyanins found in the butterfly pea flower (<i>Clitoria ternatea</i>). This activity was developed for use in official classroom settings, online, and/or at-home with parental or educator guidance. Primary and high school students aged 7 to 14 performed a straightforward extraction of anthocyanin pH indicators from <i>Clitoria ternatea</i> with hot water. S ...[more]

PMID: 38516052

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Dataset Information

Teaching Acid-Base Fundamentals and Introducing pH using Butterfly Pea Flower Tea.

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Teaching Acid-Base Fundamentals and Introducing pH using Butterfly Pea Flower Tea.

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