Can cabbage be used as litmus paper? Find out in this exciting experiment and make a paper indicator that can be used to test for an acid or a base.
Things Required:
Coffee filters
Cabbage indicator juice (Prepared in experiment Cabbage Indicator)
Cookie sheet
Quart bowl
Scissors
Zip-lock plastic bag
Directions:
Pour 1 cup of cabbage juice into the bowl. Dip one piece of filter paper into the cabbage juice. Place the wet paper on the cookie sheet. Continue welting the filter paper until the cookie sheet is covered with the papers. Allow the papers to dry. Cut half of the dry papers into strips about one-half inch by three inches. Store the dry strips and the large papers in a zip-lock plastic bag. The papers will be used to test for an acid or a base. See experiment Acid-Base Testing for instructions on using the testing papers.
This Is What Happens:
A pale blue testing paper is produced.
Science Behind It:
Juice extracted from a purple cabbage has a bluish colour. Allowing the water to evaporate from the juice leaves a pale blue chemical on the paper that changes colours when touched to an acid or a base.
