Chemistry Project on Presence of Insecticides & Pesticides in Fruits & Vegetables

Presence of Insecticides & Pesticides in Fruits & Vegetables

Toc H (RESIDENTIAL) PUBLIC

SCHOOL

PUNALUR

CHEMISTRY PROJECT REPORT

2009-2010

STUDY THE PRESENCE OF INSECTICIDES

AND PESTICIDES IB FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Name       :

Class        :

Reg. No    :

Examiner                                                               Teacher-in charge.

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project was done by

…………………………… Reg. No ………………..

Is in partial fulfillment of Chemistry Practical Examinations

AISSCE 2008. I certify that this project is done by him/ her with his/her

own effort with guidance of the teacher.

Teacher in charge                                           Head of the institute

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I place my sincere thanks to my chemistry teacher SUSAN JACOB for her guidance and advices to complete my work successfully. I also thank our principal Mr. GEORGE. P .GEORGE for providing me all the facilities to finish the project on time.

I also take this opportunity to place on record my deep gratitude to LORD ALMIGHTY for the countless blessings showered on me while doing the work and to complete it.

Last but not least I thank my parents for their encouragement and support in my humble venture.

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION …………………………………

2. AIM ………………………………………….

3. MATERIALS REQUIRED………………….

4. PRECEDURE………………………………..

5. OBSERVATIONS……………………………

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………

INTRODUCTION

In the past decade there has been a tremendous increase in the yields of

various crops to meet the demand of overgrowing population, achieved by

using pesticides and insecticides. These are chemicals that are sprayed over

crop to protect it from pests. For example, DDT, BHC, zinc phosphide,

Mercuric chloride, dinitrophenol, etc. All pesticides are poisonous chemicals

and are used in small quantities with care. Pesticides are proven to be

effective against variety of insects, weeds and fungi and are respectively

called insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Most of the pesticides are

non-biodegradable and remain penetrated as such into plants, fruits and

vegetables . From plants they transfer to animals , birds and human beings

who eat these polluted fruits and vegetables. Inside the body they get

accumulated and cause serious health problems. These days preference is

given to biodegradable insecticides like malathion. The presence of

Insecticides residues in even raw samples of wheat, fish, meat , butter etc.

have aroused the concern of agricultural administrators, scientists and

health officials all over the world to put a check over the use of insecticides

and to search for non insecticidal means of pest control.

AIM

To study the presence of insecticides or pesticides (nitrogen containing) in various fruits and vegetables.

MATERIALS REQUIRED

Mortar and pestle , beakers, funnel , glass rod , filter paper china dish , water bath, tripod stand, fusion tube, knife, test tube.

Samples of various fruits and vegetables, alcohol, sodium metal, ferric chloride, ferrous sulphate crystals, distilled water and dil. Sulphuric acid.

PROCEDURE

Take different types of fruits and vegetables and cut them into small pieces

separately. Transfer the cut pieces of various fruits and vegetables into it

separately and crush them . Take different kinds for each kind of fruits and

vegetables and place the crushed fruits and vegetables in these beakers and

add 100 ml of alcohol to each of these . Stir well and filter. Collect the

filtrate in separate china dishes, Evaporate the alcohol by heating the china

dishes one by one over a water bath and let the residue dry in the oven . Heat

a small piece of sodium in a fusion tube , till it melts. Then add one of the

above residues from the china dish to this fusion tube and heat it till red hot.

Drop the hot fusion tube in a china dish containing about 10 ml of distilled

water. Break the tube and boil the contents of the china dish for about 5

minutes . Cool and filter the solution. Collect the filtrate . To the filtrate add

1 ml of freshly prepared ferrous sulphate solution and warm the contents.

Then add 2-3 drops of ferric chloride solution and acidify with dilute HCl.

If a blue or green ppt. or colouration is obtained it indicates the presence of

nitrogen containing insecticides. Repeat the test of nitrogen for residues

obtained from other fruits and vegetables and record the observation.

OBSERVATIONS

S.no	Name of the fruit or vegetable	Test for the presence Of nitrogen (positive or negative)	Presence of insecticide Or pesticide residues
1.	Apple	positive	yes
2.	Grapes	positive	yes
3.	Brinjal	positive	yes
4.	tomato	positive	yes

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Modern’s abc of practical chemistry-XII

1. Comprehensive practical chemistry - XII

1. NCERT chemistry                           -XII