An Alternative to Synthetic Acid Base Indicator-Tagetes erecta Linn

The present work highlights the use of the methanolic extract of the flowers of Tagetes erecta as an acid-base indicator in acid-base titrations. This natural indicator is easy to extract as well as easily available. Indicators used in titration show well marked changes of colour in certain intervals of pH. Most of these indicators are organic dyes and are of synthetic origin. Today synthetic indicators are the choice of acid-base titrations. But due to environmental pollution, availability and cost, the search for natural compounds as an acid-base indicator was started. Herbal indicators are evaluated by using strong acid-strong base, strong acidweak base, weak acid-strong base and weak acid weak base. In all these titrations the methanolic extract of the flowers of Tagetes erecta was found to be very useful, economical, simple and accurate for acid base titration.