Lemon as Antitoxin

   The Centers of poison control usually suggest lemon essence as a antitoxin for several kinds of poison. You can prove it by the following experiment. You need litmus paper which you can make by yourself.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?
1. Lemon Fruit

2. Litmus paper of red cabbage

3. Ammonia

4. A dropping pipette

5. A filtering

6. A glass

7. A knife

 

WHAT MUST YOU DO?

1. Split the lemon into two parts, then squeeze it to obtain lemon essence.

2. Put several drops of lemon essence on one sheet of litmus paper.

3. On another litmus paper, put also several drops of ammonia, then add several drops of lemon essence on the spots of ammonia.

WHAT HAPPENING?

   The litmus paper on which lemon essence has been dropped will change into pink (acid), while the litmus paper on which ammonia has been dropped will change into green (base). If you drop lemon essence on the green spot made by the ammonia, then the colour will return to the original, that is purple red.

WHY CAN THIS HAPPEN?

   Litmus paper will regain its original colour if the ammonia is neutralized by lemon, a chemical element of its opposite.

  What is the relationship of this experiment with poison?

   Ammonia is toxic when drunk. Lemon was formerly suggested as the first aid before consulting a docter because lemon can neutralize poison. But now, the emergency treatment if someone accidentally drinks poison such as ammonia is to dilute it by drinking water or milk as much as possible.

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