STSE Assignment
By Facundo Tello
Class: SNC2P
INQUIRY BASED LEARNING
COLOURFUL CHEMISTRY REPORT
Expectation C1.1: analyse, on the basis of research, the function of chemical reactions in the
production of selected products and/or in processes commonly encountered at home or in the
workplace and communicate their findings.
Students will work in pairs. The task is to find a colour that they like and to research the
chemical compound used to produce that colour’s dye. Teachers should book a library period or
reserve to use a class set of Chromebooks to facilitate research. Once students find the
compound that produces the dye, students are to research two of the following three topics
about the dye: (1) where is this compound produced in nature, (2) how has this dye been
produced in large masses by scientists, (3) what procedures can people follow to make
homemade dyes of this colour, and (4) what reaction mechanism produces the dye compound.
Students will finally draw a colour coded skeletal diagram of the molecule. Students should use
the provided handout to help them organize their findings. Students are to present their
research topic findings in a 250–350-word scientific report that includes.
Be sure to include:
(1) Where this compound can be found; if the compound is produced by an organism;
name the organism and if there are any purposes for the compound being produced in
nature.
(2) A description of the processes that allow for the extraction or production of the dye.
(3) Outline a detailed procedure that people can use to make a homemade dye at home.
(4) Steps of reaction with required conditions for reaction to proceed.
Teacher materials: library sessions/Chromebooks, Handouts.
Scientific Dye Report Rubric
Knowledge
Concepts
/8
Diagram
/2
Communicati
on
Scientific
Writing
/8
Grammatical
/2
Thinking
/4
Application
/10
Level 1
Report shows
limited
understanding of
concepts
obtained through
research.
Molecular
diagram is
incorrect.
Report displays
limited evidence
of scientific
writing and
makes more than
7
grammatical/spel
ling errors.
Report presents
concepts with
limited
elaboration.
Report presents
topics learned
through research
with limited
conciseness and
clarity.
TOTAL: ___/34
FEEDBACK/COMMENTS:
Level 2
Report shows
some
understanding of
concepts
obtained through
research.
Molecular
diagram is
somewhat right.
Report displays
some evidence of
scientific writing
and makes 5-7
grammatical/spel
ling errors.
Report presents
concepts with
some
elaboration.
Report presents
topics learned
through research
some
conciseness and
clarity.
Level 3
Report shows
considerable
understanding of
concepts
obtained through
research.
Molecular
diagram has
minor errors.
Report displays
considerable
evidence of
scientific writing
and makes 3-5
grammatical/spel
ling errors.
Level 4
Report shows a
great deal of
understanding of
concepts
obtained through
research.
Molecular
diagram has no
errors.
Report displays a
great deal of
evidence of
scientific writing
and makes less
than 3
grammatical/spel
ling errors.
Report presents
Report presents
concepts with a
concepts with a
considerable deal great deal of
of elaboration.
elaboration.
Report presents
Report presents
topics learned
topics learned
through research through research
with considerable with a great deal
conciseness and
of conciseness
clarity.
and clarity.
SNC 2P
Name:____________________
Name:____________________
Dye Report Information Organizer
1. Our colour of choice is ________.
2. The compound of this colour dye is called ______________________________.
3. Our chosen topics of research are _____ and _____.
(a) Information gathered for topic ____:
Source(s) where we gathered this information from:
(b) Information gathered for topic ____:
Source(s) where we gathered this information from:
This is the skeletal diagram of ___________________________:
SNC 2P
Name: Facundo Tello
Name:
Dye Report Information Organizer
4. Our colour of choice is Blue.
5. The compound of this colour dye is called BRILLIANT BLUE FCF/INDIGO
CARMINE.
6. Our chosen topics of research are 2 and 3.
(c) Information gathered for topic 2:
- Brilliant blue FCF is made from coal tar.
- Coals are heated up in the absence of air to produce coke. This process
called destructive distillation produces a gas.
- Coal tar is the result of this gas being cooled down. Coal tar is a black
viscous substance that turns blue once diluted. This version of blue dye
remains blue in different pH levels.
- Other versions of blue dye only stay blue in basic conditions.
- Another compound for blue dye is INDIGO CARMINE. Indigo carmine is
synthesized by a process called sulfonation of natural indigo.
- Natural indigo is extracted from a variety of plants primarily the indigo
plant (Indigofera tinctoria). This version of blue dye only stays blue in basic
conditions.
Source(s) where we gathered this information from:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-does-blue-food-dye/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/coal-tar-food-coloring-perkin
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/indigocarmine#:~:text=Although%20Indigo%20Carmine%20can%20be,as%20a%20synthetic%20f
ood%20colour.
(d) Information gathered for topic 3:
To make blue dye at home:
1. Cut up a red cabbage and boil the leaves for 10-15 minutes on the stove in
a pot of water.
2. Next, take the cabbage out of the boiled water and be sure to save the
water as this will create the coloured dye.
3. Simmer the cabbage water until it is thick and syrup like. Add a very small
amount of baking soda to the water to change the colour.
4. Ensure you incorporate the baking soda slowly until the mixture turns blue,
adding too much baking soda will turn the mixture green.
This dye is edible and can be used for icings, cakes, and batters. However, be
sure to only use this dye with non-acidic foods as anything acidic will turn the
mixture back to purple. The baking soda acts as a basic solution and brings out
the blue colour from the cabbage.
Source(s) where we gathered this information from:
https://www.instructables.com/Blue-Foods-Colorful-cooking-without-artificialdy/#:~:text=Red%20cabbage%20is%20the%20most,boil%20for%2010%2D15%20minutes
This is the skeletal diagram of Brilliant Blue FCF:
Colourful Chemistry Report
By Facundo Tello
Blue dye can be synthesized in a variety of different ways. Although some methods
produce more reliable results, it is important to consider the application of the dye when
synthesizing the compound. Brilliant blue FCF is one of the more versatile blue dyes that
scientists have synthesized. Brilliant blue FCF is made from coal tar. Coals are first heated up in
the absence of air to produce coke. Coke is a rock that is produced from heating up coals. The
heating up of coal in absence of air is called destructive distillation. When destructive distillation
is performed on coal, a gas is produced. Coal tar is the result of this gas being cooled down. Coal
tar is a black viscous substance that turns blue once diluted. This version of blue dye remains
blue in different pH levels. Other versions of blue dye only stay blue in basic conditions. Another
compound for blue dye is indigo carmine. Indigo carmine is synthesized by a process called
sulfonation. The sulfonation of natural indigo yields indigo carmine. Natural indigo is obtained
in nature from a variety of different blue plants, but the plant that is used most often is the indigo
plant (Indigofera tinctoria). This version of blue dye only stays blue in basic conditions.
Making blue dye at home is simple. First cut up a red cabbage and boil the leaves for 1015 minutes on the stove in a pot of water. Next, take the cabbage out of the boiled water and be
sure to save the water as this will create the coloured dye. Simmer the cabbage water until it is
thick and syrup like. Add a very small amount of baking soda to the water to change the colour.
Ensure you incorporate the baking soda slowly until the mixture turns blue, adding too much
baking soda will turn the mixture green. This dye is edible and can be used for icings, cakes, and
batters. However, be sure to only use this dye with non-acidic foods as anything acidic will turn
the mixture back to purple. The baking soda acts as a basic solution and brings out the blue
colour from the cabbage.
References
Borrell, Brendan. “Where Does Blue Food Dye Come from?” Scientific American, Scientific
American, 30 Jan. 2009, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-does-bluefood-dye/.
Ewbank, Anne. “When Food Dye Was Made from Coal Tar.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 25
Jan. 2018, https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/coal-tar-food-coloring-perkin. “Indigo
Carmine.” Indigo Carmine - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/indigo-carmine.
Kitchen tables craps, and Instructables. “Blue Foods! Colorful Cooking Without Artificial
Dyes.” Instructables, Instructables, 3 Feb. 2022, https://www.instructables.com/BlueFoods-Colorful-cooking-without-artificial-dy/