To determine the amount of caffeine in samples of tea Investigatory Project PDF (XII)
INTRODUCTION
Tea is the most commonly and widely used soft beverage in the household. It acts as a stimulant for central nervous system and skeletal muscles. That is why tea removes fatigue, tiredness and headache. It also increases the capacity of thinking. It is also used for lowering body temperature. The principal constituent of tea, which is responsible for all these properties, is the alkaloid-caffeine. The amount of caffeine in tea leaves varies from sample to sample. Originally it was thought that caffeine is responsible for the taste and flavour of tea. But pure caffeine has been found to be a tasteless while substance. Therefore, the taste and flavour of tea is due to some other substance present in it. There is a little doubt that the popularity of the xanthenes beverages depends on their stimulant action, although most people are unaware of any stimulation. The degree to which an individual is stimulated by given amount of caffeine varies from individual to individual.
The xanthene beverages also creates a medical problem. They are dietary of a stimulant of the CNS. Often the physicians face the question whether to deny caffeine containing beverages to patients or not. In fact, children are more susceptible than adults to excitation by xanthenes. For this reason, tea and coffee should be excluded from their diet. Even cocoa is of doubtful value. It has a high tannin content may be as high as 50 mg per cup. After all our main stress is on the presence of caffeine in xanthene beverages and so in this project we will study and observe the quantity of caffeine varying in different samples of tea leaves.
Theory
The most important methylated alkaloid that occurs naturally is caffeine. Its IUPAC name is
1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthene and common name is
1-methylated theobromine.
Purely it is white, crystalline solid in the form of needles. Its melting point is 123°C. It is the main active principle component of tea leaves.
It is present in tea leaves up to 3% and can be extracted by first boiling the tea leaves with water which dissolves many glycoside compounds in addition to caffeine. The clear solution is then treated with lead acetate to precipitate the glycoside compounds in the form of lead complex. The clear filtrate is then extracted with extracts caffeine because it is more soluble in it then water.
Uses of caffeine
- In medicine, it is used to stimulate, central nervous system and to increase flow of urine.
- Because of its stimulating effects, caffeine has been used to relieve fatigue. But it is dangerous and one may collapse if not consumes it under certain limit.
- Caffeine is also used in analgesic tablets, as it is believed to be a pain reliever. It is also beneficial in migraines.
- It enhances alertness, improve athletic performance, elevated mood, and increase metabolism
Effect of caffeine
- It is psycho-stimulant.
- It improves physical and mental ability.
- Its effect in learning is doubtful but intellectual performance may improve where it has been used to reduce fatigue or boredom.
- When administered internally, it stimulates heart and nervous system and also acts as diuretic. On the contrary their excessive use is harmful to digestion and their long use leads to mental retardation.
PROCEDURE
- First of all, 50 grams of tea leaves were taken as sample and 150 ml of water was added to it in a beaker.
- Then the beaker was heated up to extreme boiling.
- The solution was filtered and lead acetate was added to the filtrater, leading to the formation of a curdy brown coloured precipitate.
- We kept on adding lead acetate till no more precipitate has been formed.
- Again, solution was filtered.
- Now the filtrate so obtained was
- Then the solution left was allowed to cool.
- After that, 20 ml, of chloroform was added to it. Soon after, two layers appeared in the separating funnel.
- We separated the lower layer.
- The solution then exposed to atmosphere in order to allow chloroform to get evaporated.
- The residue left behind was caffeine.
- Then we weighed it and recorded the observations.
Similar procedure was performed with different samples of tealeaves and quantity of caffeine was observed in them.
Observation
- Red Label Tea (Brooke Bond)
Weight of china dish= 46.60 gm. Weight of china dish with precipitate = 47.20gm.
Amount of caffeine= 0.60 gm.
- Yellow Label Tea (Lipton)
Weight of china dish= 46.60 gm. Weight of china dish with precipitate = 47.15 gm. Amount of caffeine= 0.55 gm.
- Green Label Tea (Lipton)
Weight of china dish =46.60 gm.
Weight of china dish with precipitate =47.05gm.
Amount of caffeine= 0.45 gm.
Result
- Quantity of caffeine in Red label tea is
/sample of 50 gm.
- Quantity of caffeine in yellow label tea is 55mg./sample of 50 gm.
- Quantity of caffeine in green label tea is 45mg./sample of 50 gm.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- wikipedia.com
- Google search engine
- youtube.com
- https://www.webmd.com/
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