The Butterfly Pea as a pH Indicator

Clitoria ternatea, or butterfly pea, is an easily accessible Asian flower that can function as a pH indicator. A method of preparing the butterfly pea flower indicator is described, then a pH color scale between pH 2 and 12 is shown. The indicator is stored over 8 days and tested to determine its reliability over time. It is concluded that the indicator solution has an effective shelf life of less than 5 days. A method for creating pH paper is then described and its pH color scale is shown. The change in the pH color scale is shown while storing the pH paper at room temperature and under refrigeration over a period of 10 days. It is found that storing pH paper in a refrigerator extends its reliability.