CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

INK FROM TEA BAG

B. SUCHITRA
CLASS XII

TVS ACADEMY

Affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education

Affiliation No. 1930234
Bethalapalli, HOSUR 635 109.

CHEMISTRY PROJECT

Certified that bonafide record for project work done in TVS Academy,
during the year 2015 16 by
Reg. No. .. Class XII for the year practical
fulfillments of AISSCE Examination.

Place: Hosur

Internal Examiner

Date:

External Examiner

INDEX

TOPIC

PAGE

Acknowledgement

Aim of the project

Introduction

Theory

Materials required

Procedure

Observation

Conclusion

Precaution

Bibliography

INK FROM TEA

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many people

have best owed on me their heart pledged support. I am utilizing
this opportunity to thank all the people concerned with this project.
Primarily I would like to thank my principal Mrs. Srividya Mouli and
my chemistry teacher Mr. Peter Paul, whose valuable guidance
has been the ones that helped me patch this project and make it
full proof success. His suggestions and instructions have served
as the major contribution towards the completion of this project. I
would also like to thank my classmates for their support. This
project will not be complete without acknowledging the help of
these people.

1
Tea

AIM OF THE PROJECT:

To find out if tea bags can be used to create ink,

and to produce an ink as cheaper alternative to the
commercial ones.

INTRODUCTION:
Tea was created by using the leaves of a plant
known as CAMELLIS SINENSIS. This plant is a
native to China, South Asia and Southeast Asia but
is now found all over the world. Tea-drinking can
be traced back to the 10th century BC in China
before it was spread to Korea and Japan.
But in 1903, the creation of the first tea bags were
recorded. It was then in 1904 that these were
shipped around the world and they are in fact still
used until now. They are not only cheaper, but also
they easier to find and to use in making tea.
The reason for their more affordable price
compared to loose tea leaves is because most
companies use fannings or left-overs of larger tea
leaves after they are gathered to be sold.
Basically, this drink is made by brewing tea leaves
to create an extract. Due to the chlorophylls and
other pigments in the leaves, the extract
commonly appears with a brown color. It was
mentioned that the aflavin is the reddish-brown
pigment found in tea. It is an example of a
flavonoid which acts to create color.
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THEORY:
This research is being done to find out the potency
of the extract of the leaves from the plant
CAMELLIS SINENSIS as an ink. Nowadays, ink is a
pigment in a liquid or paste form used as colorants
and dyes. Also, they are becoming more and more
expensive because of their increasing purposes.
Our research aims to produce this ink as a cheaper
alternative to those commercial ones. Compared to
the ink we are aiming to create, commercially
produced inks are toxic and can be hazardous to a
persons health once there is inappropriate contact
with it.

Generally, this investigatory project aims to find

out if tea bags can be used to create an ink.
Specifically, it aims to find out the answer to the
following questions:
1. Can vinegar strengthen the color of the ink?
2. Can cornstarch contribute to achieving the right
consistency of the
Ink?
3. Are the processes boiling and straining efficient
in taking the
extract out of the tea bags?

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MATERIALS REQUIRED:
1 cup of water
7 tea bags
vinegar

1 tsp of

Strainer and fork

Cornstarch

Bottle

PROCEDURE

1. place 7 teabags in 1 cup of boiling

water.
2. create the tea for 6-7 minutes.
3. remove the tea bags from the boiling
water. Use a strainer and a fork to
remove all
the extracts.
4. stir the tea well, and add a spoon of
vinegar.
5. continue to stir it. Add as much
cornstarch as you need to have your
desired
consistency.
6. remove the mixture from the heat and
let it cool for sometime. When done
Store it in a bottle.

photos

OBSERVATIONS :
During the procedure itself, it was
observed that the boiling is an effective
process of extraction. Right after the tea
bags were placed in the boiling water,
the change of colour is very noticeable.
During this step the mixture had a very
strong smell from the tea. While
following the procedure for the set up
which included the placing of vinegar,
there was no immediate change in colour
as we expected. Instead, the vinegars
effect was seen when the ink was
applied on paper. While applying the ink
on paper, It was easier to use the ink
because of its consistency. Thus it
almost became permanent and not runny
and scattered. After letting them dry, it
was seen that the ink had darker colour
and doesnt fade.

CONCLUSION:
1. Tea bags can be used to create an ink.
2. Vinegar can strengthen the colour of
the ink.
3. Cornstarch effectively contributes to
achieving the right consistency of the
ink.
4. The process of boiling and straining
are efficient in taking the extract out of
the process.
PRECAUTION:
1. Handle the glassware carefully.

2. Be careful with the fork.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Help from web

Information from
the libary

Help from teachers