“The Effectiveness of ANTI: An Ant Killer with a
Chemical Reaction between Baking Soda and
Dishwashing Liquid”
In Partial fulfillment of the research paper
Prepared By:
Asis Ferdinand
Cabang Victor
Castañeros John Mike
Fernandez Max
Gill Aman
Gonzales Zoren
Naui Christian
Group #5
Grade 11 STEM
February 24, 2019
Background of the Study
Ant infestations are a nuisance in our everyday lives due to their capability of adapting in
harsh environments and their ability to quickly reproduce Rentokil Pest Control Ireland (2017) in
order for the residents to cope with these infestations they require quick solutions such as
extermination or to move out, the researchers seek to make an alternative ant-killer to avoid
conclusions like this. Ants are known to track food using their odor receptors Terminix (2017)
their odor receptors adds to their resilience, making it look like that they are uncontrollable since
every households contain a trash can which always tend to have leftovers that ants can forage.
The long-term effects of ants can result to a damage household controlling an ant infestation
would be expensive and time consuming which is why the researchers would seek into a possible
alternative that is convenient and conventional to the generic household, with no harmful
chemicals, no difficulty in usage and no further damage to the your property.
According to a research done by Lard (2006) entitled “An Economic Impact of Imported
Fire Ants in the United States of America” showed that the estimated economic impact of fire
ants by state cost around $5 billion in total, sectors such as residential households, electric &
communications, and agriculture received high amounts of economic impact. Furthermore, it is
stated by the Labor Code of the Philippines (2010) that the aim of this standard is to prevent the
loss or damage to lives and property in order to conserve valuable workforce resources.
Connecting this to the researchers’ product due to the nature of it being cost-efficient, it can help
lessen the impacts to people who are severely affected by ants. Moreover, the alternative product
that the researchers will make will contribute to the society due to its cost-efficiency and
accessibility; it paves a way to lesser transactions in terms of economics as ants are susceptible to
agricultural damage and household infestation.
Conceptual Framework
The researchers expect that the solution formed between the combination of baking soda
and dishwashing liquid would be lethal to ant colonies as baking soda is known for its chemical
reaction to acids wherein it is combined with acid fizzing into a form of bubble as it is being
broken down to carbon dioxide. Although for this to happen the ant needs to consume the baking
soda. The importance of the dishwashing liquid enters while the researchers combines both
baking soda and dishwashing liquid in order for the baking soda to go through a liquid state and
then sooner or later store the solution in a spray container, the baking soda would then break
down within the dishwashing liquid reducing its size. When sprayed into ants, they would ingest
the liquid containing subtle amount of baking soda.
Conceptual Diagram
Input
The product would be placed in
a spray container which is the
mixture of baking soda, and
dishwashing liquid.
Process
The product would be sprayed
on a group of ants. In which, a
set of intervals comprises more
spraying actions.
Output
After several test the interval
which contained less spraying
action, yet yielded a high kill
count would then be
recommended to the
respondents to see if they
Figure 1
yielded the same results.
The figure 1 states how the product would work. The input would be the synthesis of
ingredients, it would be stored in a spray container so it can be directly used when ants are
spotted. The process would include the spray interval towards ants, each interval comprises more
spraying actions to determine which interval yielded less spray yet high kill count towards ants.
The output would be the evaluation of the researcher’s product to determine whether it is
effective enough as an ant-repellent based on the amount of sprays it need and if it yielded the
same results from the respondents.
Statement of the problem
The researchers would like their product to aid those people who are affected by ant
infestation who in their daily lives are affected by these pests. Everybody encounters the problem
of the common house ant, this is where the product would be focused on, how to exterminate
such ant in a matter of minutes. This will greatly impact the common Filipino household as this
product would reduce the damage caused by ants. The reduction of damages would reduce cost
of repair and maintenance, not to mention the convenience of not having ants in the household to
constantly bug and annoy those people affected by ants.
Research Questions
1. What is the effectiveness of the chemical reaction between baking soda and dishwashing
liquid as an ant-killer?
2. What would be the impact of the product to the households of Filipinos?
3. What are the characteristics or elements of ANTI making it effective and cost-efficient
ant killer?
Significance of the Study
The society would benefit from this study due to the alternative use of an ant-killer
instead of using traditional ant-killer such as spraying chemicals in the air, dismantling of walls,
insecticides, etc. methods in which greatly impacts the surrounding and nature. Additionally, for
people who are affected by allergies through ant bites they are able to ant-proof their house
without relying too much on destructive methods that exterminators.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
The area would only be restricted to a common household in Metro manila, Philippines
that experiences ant infestation. The study is conducted in the common household’s kitchen
where most ants thrive. The study will only cover the effectiveness of the product as an ant killer
the researchers will not touch the chemical reaction of baking soda in the digestive tracts of ants.
Definition of Terms
Baking Soda- or Sodium bicarbonate would serve as the main ingredient and the solute in the
product that would kill the ants when consumed, causes bubbles when it reacts with an acid
which can be found inside the digestive tract of ants.
Dishwashing Liquid- Serves as the solvent in the product which will break down the baking soda
into smaller parts and transform the solution into liquid state that ants would be forced to ingest
when sprayed in direct contact.
Interval – A set of interval would be performed each having increased spraying actions to
determine the amount of sprays it would require for ants to die.
Economic Impact- The severity of the damaged done by ants in the economy.
Ingest- To take into the body by swallowing or absorbing it
Chapter 2
Review of Related Literature
This chapter includes the review of related literature, studies, and synthesis which the
researchers have analyzed as a basis in formulating the product.
Review of Related Literature
In Adams (2011)’s article she mentioned that baking soda as an ant deterrent is effective
in interfering with the ant’s tracking abilities to find each other. Similarly, once baking soda is
applied in an area ants are unable to cross it.
In Aguirre (2018)'s article "Ways to Clean an Ant Scent Trail" she stated that ants rely on
pheromones, a scent left by their scout to guide the workers from their colony. She stated that the
use of a scrubbing paste made from baking soda and water can easily remove the trail of ants
once it's applied in the path.
Three Wondrous Acres Homestead article entitled “Can Baking Soda Kill Ants” (2018)
Tests and states the effects as well as the capabilities of baking soda as an ant killer. The idea
that circulated around the internet is that ants explode when they come in contact with baking
soda. The ants either explode or just die and slowly go away as they ingest the baking soda. The
baking soda style bait does indeed affect ants, as their numbers reduce yet this cannot completely
wipe them out.
Harris’ (2012) article "13 Natural Solutions for Killing and Deterring Ants" the writer
found out that baking soda can be a deterrent for ant invasion. She stated that ant's usually carry
an acidic substance to protect them so she synthesized baking soda and powdered sugar and put
it in a plastic lid and place it where ants usually dwell; once they consume the baking soda it
would cause an explosion inside their body. She stated that after one week, it made a huge
difference.
Reference’s article entitled “How Do You Use a Mixture of Baking Soda and Icing Sugar
to Get Rid of Ants?” (2014) was stated that water can be added to the composition in order to
make a paste. With coherence to the current study this can potentially remove the path of ants
back to their home.
Hutchins (2008) made a fire ant killer liquid based insecticide that is a mixture of
insecticide composition and triclosan as the main ingredient, as well as washing liquid. Triclosan
is one of the ingredients to any product that needs to reduce or to stop bacterial contamination.
F.A.K is designed to kill ants immediately and destroy their small ant hill by spraying it directly
to the spot where the mound is. In addition, it is an eco– friendly insecticide that you can use
many times as you want or in any location without harming your health. After you apply the
alternative insecticide or F.A.K it will flow and kill a few ants that are near in the entrance or
spot of the mound, until the mixture is soaked in deep into the mound that will immediately kill
the eggs queen. As a result, it is completely harmless and safe for your pets or children.
Pesticide Research’s article entitled “Indoor Ant Control” (2015) stated that the synthesis
of boric acid with sugar or syrup can result into an ant bait with low toxicity and are highly
attractive towards ants, with the addition of syrup to the product they found out that forager ants
tend to bring the composition back to the colony and kill it and its queen.
Hallet's (2017) article stated how to get rid of ants in your home without any harm to
your home, pets, and family through the use of a dishwashing liquid and water solution. He
stated that it can be highly effective in driving ants away that once the composition is sprayed
towards ants the composition would be painful and deadly to them.
Ragsdale (2008) determined how quickly ants will be controlled, they stated that products
which mostly consist of indoxacarb, hydramethylnon, and spinosad which are well known
pesticides would kill ants faster but would require to be re-applied often.
Witherspoon (1989) stated that another means and materials needed to be used to
eradicate fire ant is a water based formula to drown the pest away. The method includes a
pressurized water dispenser with an insecticide mixture that will use a vertical probe to insert it
at the opening or entrance of the mound, and start releasing the mixture to flow down to the
whole mound, and slowly pulling the probe out of the entrance until the mound gets to be
flooded with the formula that been used. The results that made methods of the experiment
accomplish includes a bottle with an insecticide mixture. The relationship of this to the current
study is that the product contains a mixture and water based formula that can easily eradicate
ants, in addition it has its own machine and mechanics that needs to be done.
Related Studies
In Baker’s (1985) study entitled "Bait-preference Tests for the Argentine Ant
(Hymenoptera:Formicidae) The researchers tested the bait preference of argentine ant's through
the use of honey, granulated sugar, and tuna meal. As a result argentine ants were much more
susceptible on sucrose water and honey water. Various stabilizers were used to suspend toxicants
although it didn't interfere with feeding eventually; argentine ants were killed by the sucrose
water bait containing Avermectin.
In De Lame’s (2007) study entitled “Non-hazardous Foaming Ant Spray Based on
Natural Oils, Carboxylate Salts and Optional Synergists" the researchers made a composition
containing carboxylate salt and water, which are lethal to ants. They stated that the composition
would be sprayed directly into the ant and the ants would be entangled within the foam, and
increase their interaction with the compositions and this would kill them.
In Klotz’s (1998) study entitled "Liquid Boric Acid Bait for Control of the Argentine
Ant", it stated that boric acid bait showed greater reduction of ants with the mixture and
application of it on the fields.
In Silverman (2001)'s study entitled "Acceptance and intake of Gel and Liquid Sucrose
Compositions by the Argentine Ant (Hymenoptera Formicidae)" they stated that more liquid
sucrose was consumed since more ant workers were able to stand on gel. They can
simultaneously feed on it although extraction of sucrose were much more inefficient in this form.
As a result when the researchers added toxicant fipronil to the composition a greater portion of
the colony died.
In Thomas (1995)'s study "Composition for Exterminating Fire Ants" he used baking
soda, and corn starch as an attractant, and red chili powder as a repellent for other Animals
except ants. In his study, the baking soda kills the ants; while the corn starch attracts them and
red chili powder repels other animals into ingesting the product.
Synthesis
The reviewed studies have two main areas of interest, first is the lethality of the
composition in its powdered form, with baking soda as the main ingredient; second a
compositions lethality regardless of any form.
The studies of Klotz (1998) and Thomas (1995), mainly used baking soda as the main
ingredient and the mortality rate of the ant colonies increased considerably. Whereas the works
of Silverman (2001), De Lame (2007), and Baker (1985), had different compositions and forms
that displayed lethality towards ants.
The present study is much more unique than the previous studies because it will use a
synthesis of baking soda and water as a killing agent for ants. It is also related to the study of
Baker (1985) in terms of bait preference for the study will use honey as an attractant. The present
study’s purpose is also related to De Lame’s (2007) background of the invention, as ants pose
harm to wooden structures, rooftops, and electrical gear, due to this containment is necessary.
All the reviewed studies however, focused on different compositions whereas the present
study will only focus on the synthesis of baking soda, honey, and dishwashing liquid as a
household ant repellent.
Chapter 3
Research Methodology
Research Design
The researchers will adapt the positivist approach to action research as the current study
deals with the evaluation whether ANTI is an effective ant killer.
According to Research-methodology.net (2014) action research has collaboration
between the researcher and client in order to provide solution to a problem. Moreover, “Action
study assumes social world to be changing, both, researcher and research being one part of that
change”. Similarly, positivist approach or classical action research is a method to test a
hypothesis in a real world environment to generate a change. The most important trait of the
positivist approach is how it goes through a process of planning, acting, observing and reflecting
in order to give a solution to a problem, and is fitting for the current study that deals with the
evaluation regarding the efficacy of a certain product through collaboration of the respondents
and the researchers.
Research Instrument
The research instrument that the researcher used is a survey-questionnaire, to determine
the efficacy of the researcher's product. The respondents underwent pretest to evaluate if they
have an ant infestation and post-test to evaluate if the efficacy of the product met the
correspondents standards.
Research Respondents
The researchers chose Barangay 551 “Honradez Ext.” zone 54, district IV since they are
in close proximity of train tracks which are mostly composed of gravel that has an ant mound. It
consists of 3 to 5 members per household because if there are more members in a household
there would be greater food consumption which leads to more food waste making ants attracted
to these households. It limits only with 4 houses as the product needs the best answer only.
Data Gathering Procedure
The survey will be conducted onto the researcher’s respondents, they would be required
to take a pre-test as a way to gauge the status of the ant infestation and further elaborate the
details of their situation. The questionnaire would undergo an evaluation from an expert. Once
approved, with the information gathered from the pre-test it will then be examined by the
researcher to be able to provide appropriate post-test questions. Soon after the researchers would
provide them with the necessary products and explanation on how it is used. After the
application and use of the product on the correspondent’s households, the researchers would
conduct a post-test to further evaluate the effectiveness of the product.
Research questions
Pre Test
1. Is your house affected by ant infestation?
2. Did your family have records regarding ant related injuries?
3. Have you ever used an ant-killer product or hired an exterminator to control its
population?
4. Was the ant-killer or service provided successful in controlling ant population?
5. If given an opportunity of a non-toxic ant repellent would you swap it for your standard
method of controlling ant population?
6. Have you ever considered a product similar to ours?
Post Test
1. Whilst using this product did you experience any harm or any significant side effects?
2. Was it successful in mitigating ant infestation to a controllable degree?
3. Was this product better than other methods in exterminating ant infestations?
4. From a scale of 1-10 how happy were you with the product?
5. Was the interval told to you by the researcher, the minimum amount of spray it needed to
kill the ant?
Consent Form
“The Effectiveness of ANTI: An Ant Killer with a Chemical Reaction between Baking Soda
and Dishwashing Liquid”
Dear Participant,
We invite you to partake in our research regarding the effectiveness of our product as an ant
repellent. We are students of Holy Trinity Academy and are in the process of writing an
evaluating our research paper. The motive of our research is to determine the effectiveness of our
product as an ant killer, in order to provide a solution to sudden ant infestation.
Your participation in the research is optional; you may decline completely, or leave a question
unanswered. There are no risk, you may choose to specify yourself or remain confidential. Data
from this research will also be kept private, no one other than the researchers will see your
evaluation.
If you agree to partake in our research, please answer the questionnaires evenhanded. The pre-
test should take approximately 5 minutes to complete and would be taken by the researchers
personally once done. The post-test would take place 3 days after the pre-test, feel free to take
your time in the post-test, in order to finalize your evaluation. As soon as you’re done evaluating
the researchers would take the questionnaire personally.
Our leader, Max Fernandez would be much obliged to answer your inquiry regarding the
research. Kindly send him a private message in his Facebook account and he would reply soon
after.
Reference List
Adams K. (2011) Baking Soda Kill Carpenter Ants.
<https://www.ehow.com/info_12123796_baking-soda-kill-carpenter-ants.html>
Aguirre S. (2018).Ways to Clean an Ant Scent Trail. Retreieved from
<https://www.thespruce.com/ways-to-clean-ant-scent-trail-1900614>
Ant Control: How to Get Rid of Ants: Retrieved on (2015) <https://www.terminix.com/pest-
control/ants//>
Baker T.C et. al., (2007): Bait-preference tests for the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera
Formicidae), Journal of Economic Entomology 78(5), 1083-1088, 1985
Wondrous Acres Homestead entitled “Can Baking Soda Kill Ants” (2018). Retrieved from
<http://wondrousacreshomestead.website/index.php/2018/04/15/can-baking-soda-kill-ants/>
De Lame F. et. al. (2010). Non-hazardous foaming ant spray based on natural oils,
carboxylate salts and optional synergists. Retrieved from
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20100140368A1/en
Frederique M. et. al., (1985): “Non-Hazardous Foaming Ant Spray Based on Natural oils,
Carboxylate Salts and optional synergists”, US Patent app. 12599901, 2010
Harris, K. (2012). 13 Natural Solutions for Killing and Deterring Ants. Retrieved
from<https://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/13-natural-remedies-for-the-ant-
invasion>
House Pets: Retrieved on (2019) https://www.localpestcontrol.com.au/5-most-common-
household-pests/
Hutchins, H.V (2008). Fire ant killer (“F.A.K”)/ Insecticide. Retrieved from
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“How Do You Use a Mixture of Baking Soda and Icing Sugar to Get Rid of Ants?” (2014).
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sugar-rid-ants-d98312d729b4b446>
Hallet A. (2017). How to get rid of ants naturally. Retrieved from
https://www.ecr.co.za/lifestyle/house-home/how-get-rid-ants-naturally/
“Indoor Ant Control” (2015). Retrieved from
<https://www.pesticideresearch.com/site/pri-resource-centers/pest-mgmt/pest-mgmt-
bulletins/ant-control/>
Klotz J. et. al. (1998). Liquid Boric Acid Bait for Control of the Argentine Ant. Retrieved
from < https://academic.oup.com/jee/article-abstract/91/4/910/2216859>
Lard C.F et. al., (2006): “An Economic Impact of Imported Fire Ants in the United States of
America”, Department of Agricultural Economics Texas A&M University Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station College Station, Texas 2006
Ragsdale D. et. al.(2008). Control Methods. Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Project.
Retrieved from < https://fireant.tamu.edu/controlmethods/>
Research methodology.net entitled “Action Research” (2014). Retrieved from
<https://research-methodology.net/research-methods/action-research/ >
Silverman J., Roulstan T.H (2001):“Acceptance and Intake of Gel and Liquid Sucrose
Compositions by the Argentine Ant (Hymenoptera Formicidae)”, Journal of Economic
Entomology, Vol. 94, Issue 2, Pages 511-515, 2001
Tomas M.H (1999): “Composition For Exterminating Fire Ants”, Google Patents,
US20100140368A1.
The Impacts of Ants on Business: Retrieved on (2017) https://www.rentokil.ie/blog/the-
impacts-of-ants-on-your-business/
Thomas H. (1995). Study Composition for Exterminating Fire Ants. Retrieved from <
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5618565A/en>
Witherspoon, P.R (1989). Fire ant eradication apparatus and method. Retreived from <
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5054231A/en>
