NOBLE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,
Bhilwara
Investigatory Project
2024 - 2025
Topic:-
Studying the presence of insecticide and pesticides
in various fruits and vegetables
Submitted to Submitted by
Dr.Menka Surana Ajay Raj Singh
Ma'am Rathore
Certificate
This is to certify that Ajay Raj Singh Rathore
of class XII has successfully completed
the reasearch of mentioned topic under
the guidance of our chemistry teacher
Dr. Menka Surana Ma'am during the
academic year 2024 - 2025 in partial
Fulfillment of practical examination
conducted by our school
Noble International School , Bhilwara
Sign. of Sign. of
Examiner Chemistry Teacher
Sign. of
Principal
I place my sincere thanks to my chemistry
teacher Dr. Menka Surana for their guidance
and advices to complete my work
successfully. I also thanks our principal
Mr. Sanjeev Parashar who gave golden
opportunity to do this project.
I also take this opportunity to thank my
Parents for the countless blessings
showered on me while doing the work and
for encouragement and support in my
humble venture.
Contents
S.No. TOPICS Page No.
1. Introduction 1-2
2. Aim 3.
3. Apparatus Required 4-5
4. Chemicals Required 6-7
5. Theory 8
6. Procedure 9-10
7. Observations 11
8. Conclusion 12
9. Bibliography 13
In the past decade, there has been a tremendous
increase in the yields of various crops to meet
the demand of an ever-growing population,
achieved by using pesticides and insecticides.
These are chemicals that are sprayed over crops
to protect them 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 a variety of insects, weeds, and fungi.
1
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.
2
AIM
Investigating the presence
of insecticides and
pesticides in different fruits
and vegetables.
3
Apparatus
Materials required:
Mortal and pestle Beaker
Funnel Glass Rod
China Dish
Filter Paper
4
Materials required:
Water Bath Knife
Tripod Stand Test Tube
Fusion Tube
5
Chemicals Required
Sample of fruits
and Vegetables Ferric Chloride
Sodium Metal
Alchol
6
Diluted H2SO4 Distilled H2O
FeSO4 Crystals
7
THEORY
Nitrogen present in organic compounds is
detected by “Lassaigne’s Test”. The elements
present in the compound are converted from
covalent form into the ionic form by fusing the
compound with sodium metal. Following
reaction take place:
Na + C + N NaCN
(Sodium cyanide)
Cyanide of sodium so formed on sodium fusion
is extracted from the fused mass by boiling it
with distilled water. This extract is known as
sodium fusion extract.
8
PROCEDURE
1) Take different types of fruits and vegetables and
cut them into small pieces separately.
2) Transfer the cut pieces of various fruits and
vegetables into it separately and crush them.
3) 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.
4) Stir well and filter.
5) 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.
6) Heat a small piece of sodium in a fusion tube, till it
melts.
9
7) Then add one of the above residues from the china
dish to this fusion tube and heat it till red hot.
8) Drop the hot fusion tube in a china dish containing
about 10 ml of distilled water.
9) Break the tube and boil the contents of the china
dish for about 5 minutes.
10) Cool and filter the solution.
11) Collect the filtrate.
12) To the filtrate add 1 ml of freshly prepared
ferrous sulphate solution and warm the contents.
13) Then add 2-3 drops of ferric chloride solution and
acidify with dilute HCl.
14) If a blue or green ppt. or coloration is obtained it
indicates the presence of nitrogen containing
insecticides.
15) Repeat the test of nitrogen for residues obtained
from other fruits and vegetables and record the
observation.
10
OBSERVATIONS
Name of the Test for the Presence of
S.NO.
fruit or presence of Insecticide or
vegetable Nirtogen Pesticide Residues
1) Apple positive Yes
2) Banana positive Yes
3) Potato positive Yes
4) Cucumber positive Yes
11
Conclusion
Based on the
observations, it's clear
that all fruits and
vegetables contain
traces of nitrogen-
based insecticides or
pesticides.
12
BIBLIOGRAHY
NCERT Chemistry- XII
Comprehensive Practical Chemistry- XII
www.icbse.com
www.scribd.com
…………
13
