Abstract (Chemistry)

ABSTRACT

Acacia tree (Samanea saman) is one of the most common and well known trees in the Philippines. Acacias have large umbraculiform tree growing over 20 meters high. Its bark is rough and furrowed. Branches are widespread and its leaves are hairy underneath. Acacia contains a number of organic compounds that defend them from pests and other animals. Compounds like saponin, tannin, alkaloid, reducing agents such as glycosides, carbohydrates and pithecolobin. Pithecolobin can be isolated from the bark and it has the capacity to kill termites.
The materials used were beakers, mortar and pestle, tripod, Bunsen burner, stirring rod, knife, acacia barks and termites. First, the acacia barks were torn into pieces and grinded on the mortar and pestle. The pounded barks were then placed on the beakers and placed water on it. The beakers with the barks were heated and the product was then made. The termites were placed in a container, then, the product was sprayed to the termites to test it. There were 3 trials made in this project.
The results were finalized. In the first trial, the concentration of the acacia barks was low so 4 out of 10 termites died. At the second trial, the concentration was added and so, 5 out of 10 termites were killed. And at the last trial, 50 grams of concentration was added and the result was 7 out of 10 termites were killed. Based from the experiment, as the concentration of the acacia bark increase, the termites killed also increase and therefore, the concentration of the acacia bark affects the amount of termites killed by the extracted liquid. Solignum was used as the constant variable and from that constant, all termites