Colorimetry Experiment on Ribena Juices

Aim:

* The aim behind this science is to measure colours and to predominantly quantify the colour of light sources or objects from visual colour matches. (This means that the eye(s) are used as a tool to identify if the colour is identical or not.

Scenario: I am a scientist, my first task is to go into a laboratory and test the concentrations of different Ribena juices, then I am going to find out the unknown dilutions for both Tesco and Asda Ribenas.

Hypothesis:

The more expensive the higher quality it will be therefore the stronger the concentration of the drink. The cheaper the Ribena juice the lower quality it will be therefore a weaker concentration of the drink.

Scientific Background:

A specific solution will be used to measure and determine the absorbance of particular wavelengths of light by a specific solution.

This is the procedure is used to measure the amount of light something absorbs, this is then measured in units of absorbance, this is also directly proportional to its concentration, this method is used to determine concentration. Colorimetry is also the technology and science used to quantify and describe the human colour perception.

What is colorimetry used for?

Colorimetry is used in most industries such as:

* Food

* Paint manufacturing

* Colour printing

* Textile manufacturing

* Chemistry

ASDA

Equipment:

* Ribena

* Distilled water

* Curette

* Graduated flask

* Graph paper

* Pipette

* Colorimetric

* Glass Beakers

* Pipette filler

Method:

1. Set up all the Colorimetry equipment

2. Get a Pipette filler and a Pipette and measure 20ml of the Ribena

3. Put 20ml in to a graduated flask

4. Put water in until it reaches the mark

5. Measure the Ribena juice and the distilled water

6. Put a sample of pure distilled water in to the curette and set to zero

7. Pour the Ribena juice and distilled water in to the Graduated flask

8. Close the top of the volumetric flask and shake them together so that the Ribena juice and distilled water mix

9. Put a small amount of the solution gathered in to a curette

10. Record the absorbance, this is done by a number which shows up on the curette

11. Repeat these steps depending on the amount of Ribena

12. At the end plot a calibration graph with all the concentrations and percentages

Results:

Dilutions from ASDA Ribena

Percentage dilution

Volume of Ribena cm3 in 100ml

Absorbance reading

Absorbance reading 2

Average

20

20

0.92

0.94

0.93

18

18

0.82

0.83

0.83

15

15

0.81

0.80

0.81

12

12

0.51

0.52

0.52

10

10

0.41

0.40

0.41

8

8

0.33

0.31

0.32

5

5

0.22

0.23

0.23

3

3

0.18

0.19

0.19

Tesco

Equipment:

* Ribena

* Distilled water

* Curette

* Graduated flask

* Graph paper

* Pipette

* Colorimetric

* Glass Beakers

* Pipette filler

Method:

1. Set up all the Colorimetry equipment

2. Get a Pipette filler and a Pipette and measure 20ml of the Ribena

3. Put 20ml in to a graduated flask

4. Put water in until it reaches the mark

5. Measure the Ribena juice and the distilled water

6. Put a sample of pure distilled water in to the curette and set to zero

7. Pour the Ribena juice and distilled water in to the Graduated flask

8. Close the top of the volumetric flask and shake them together so that the Ribena juice and distilled water mix

9. Put a small amount of the solution gathered in to a curette

10. Record the absorbance, this is done by a number which shows up on the curette

11. Repeat these steps depending on the amount of Ribena

12. At the end plot a calibration graph with all the concentrations and percentages

Results:

Dilutions from Tesco Ribena

Percentage dilution

Volume of Ribena cm3 in 100ml

Absorbance reading

Absorbance reading 2

Average

20

20

1.06

1.06

1.06

18

18

0.97

0.96

0.97

15

15

0.74

0.73

0.74

12

12

0.63

0.65

0.64

10

10

0.49

0.48

0.49

8

8

0.33

0.31

0.32

5

5

0.17

0.18

0.18

3

3

0.11

0.09

0.10

Risk Assessment:

Equipment/ Chemicals

Hazard

What Will I Do?

Prevention

Risk Level

Trips/slips

If there is any spillage of a liquid or any objects on the floor or where they cannot be seen this can cause people to fall or hurt them self’s as they will not know, this can cause major injuries such as the people around me or myself can fall and therefore break a bone.

I will also make sure that if there is any spillage that it is cleaned up or if there is any breakage it is picked up.

I will make sure that my equipment is placed sensibly in a visible area on my desk, I will also make sure that my chair is under the table therefore my class members, staff and myself can walk around more efficiently preventing any bumps.

High

Ribena

If the Ribena comes in contact with the eyes irritate the eyes.

If the solvent was to come in contact with my eyes I will rinse under cold water, inform a member of staff and then I will seek first aid if any further irritation was to happen.

When using the Ribena I will wear safety goggles to prevent the Ribena from going in to my eyes.

Low

Distilled Water

If water was to slip this can cause myself or the people around me to fall, this can be very dangerous as it can bones to break or any other severe harm.

If water was spilled I will make sure that it is cleaned as soon as possible to prevent anyone else from falling. If I was to fall I will seek first aid to make sure no damage has occurred.

To prevent injuries from happening, I will make sure the beaker or jug containing water is in the middle of the table so it can’t fall and if it does then I will sweep up the water immediately so that nobody injures themselves.

Medium

Equipment/ Chemicals

Hazard

What Will I Do?

Prevention

Risk Level

Glass beakers

If broken can hurt another person. The glass could break therefore can cause and accident or may harm another person.

Make sure the glass is picked up so nobody gets hurt and to also make other people aware that the glass had fallen. If you cut yourself make sure to put your hand under cold water for at least ten minutes or until the bleeding stops, then inform a member of staff and seek first aid.

Make sure that the work tops are clean from any spillage. Make sure that if there is a glass beaker which has been broken on the floor that it is cleaned up immediately.

Medium

Graph paper

Can give paper cuts and people could slip if it is on the floor.

If a paper cut was to occur I will make sure that I wash the part I have cut under cold water to stop the bleeding. If I was to fall or anyone else was to I will call for help from a teacher, if I feel too much pain I will then go seek first aid to make sure everything is ok.

I will make sure that the graph paper is used and placed appropriately to avoid any harm from occurring. If any graph paper is to be seen on the floor I will pick it up and put it on the table.

Low

Graduated flask

The Graduated flask could break and smash on to the floor or work tops which could therefore bring harm to myself or anyone around me.

If I or anyone was to get hurt from the volumetric flask I will rinse the cut part under cold water and then inform a teacher. I will then seek first aid medical attention to make sure everything is ok as it can get infected due to the chemicals which are being used in the science laboratory.

If the volumetric flask was to break and smash I will make sure that the pieces re picked up carefully using a brush and shovel and placed in the glass bucket.

Medium

Equipment/ Chemicals

Hazard

What Will I Do?

Prevention

Risk Level

Pipette

If the pipette is misused by people who are not taking their work seriously it could mean some of the liquid with in the pipette could go in to any one’s eyes.

If anyone was to get injured because of this I will report the incident to a member of staff, if I was the one to get injured I will call for help and then go to first aid and wash my face with cold water.

If I was to see anyone being childish and squirting the liquid using the pipette I will inform a member of staff immediately as this could be very dangerous and immature.

Low

Pipette Filler

The pump is heavy so if chucked it could break some of the glass equipment therefore must be used and given carefully, if the equipment was to break this could most likely cut someone.

If myself or anyone was to get hurt due to the broken glass I will call for help and then rinse under cold water, if the pain is to go on then I will seek first aid medical attention as it could become an infection due to the other chemicals being used.

If I see any broken glass I will clean up using a brush and shovel, if not picked up it could be very dangerous, I will also make my class aware that broken glass was there so they are extra careful.

Medium

Colorimetric

It is an electrical equipment so if water is spilt it may send out shocks. May also be used and placed right as if it is places on the edge it could fall and hurt someone.

If myself or anyone else was to get hurt due to any shock then I will call for help immediately and rush to first aid as this could be very dangerous. If the colorimetric was to fall and hurt me in anyway and I felt severe pain I will inform a teacher of what happened and then seek first aid.

If the any spillage was to fall on to the colorimetric I will inform a teacher and then do as they advise.

Medium

Equipment/ Chemicals

Hazard

What Will I Do?

Prevention

Risk Level

Curette

Can be poked in to some ones eye if misused.

If anyone or myself was to get hurt due to the curette I will inform a member of staff and then seek first aid as it could turn in to an infection if not checked promptly.

I will make sure that I use the curette in a sensible and mature manner to prevent any harm towards myself or anyone else.

Low

Tesco

Unknown

Absorbance

Dilution

Actual

1

0.55

11

15

2

0.85

17

20

ASDA

Unknown

Absorbance

Dilution

Actual

1

0.98

20.5

25

2

0.26

5.8

10

Conclusion:

Tesco

My dilution percentage compared to the actual was not far off that means that my test went well as I have got a similar result.

Asda:

For my Asda test I had also got similar results this means that my test went well and is correct.

Evaluation:

In my test I had followed the risk assessment and method precisely to avoid any errors. I had made sure that I had goggles on to avoid any damage happening to my eyes, I had also made sure that the methods were completely followed as if I did not follow my method completely this could affect my final results. I had also repeated both experiments twice to make sure that everything is correct and to make my results more reliable. Over all my test went well and all the results which I received were correct. I did well as I made sure that I had followed the method precisely avoiding any errors. At the end of my test I had then compared my results with my class mates and all the results were more all less the same, therefore I feel that the test which I have done is accurate and the results are precise. If I was to do my experiment again I would make sure that I prepare my self in a more efficient way as I would organise my equipment in a much better way.

Limitation:

The limitation on my colorimetry test can be that if the precise level of the amount of Ribena juice was not used as I had listed this may make my results go wrong, another limitation is if the curette was not set to zero this could be a huge impact as it could affect the results and therefore give incorrect results. Due to both Ribenas having a very similar colour if I was not organised the Ribenas could of got mixed up which would of gave me totally different results.