1The Secret Pigments Inside Plants
Did you know that many of the vibrant colours you see in nature are actually hard at work? Deep inside vegetables like red cabbage, fruits like blueberries, and even certain flowers, there are special molecules called anthocyanins. These are pigments that do more than just look pretty; they actually protect the plant from being damaged by too much sunlight! But for us, they have an even cooler job. They act as nature’s very own "secret agents" that reveal the invisible chemical properties of the liquids we use every day.
2Acids, Bases, and Magical Reactions
The reason these plant juices change colour is all because of chemistry! When you mix red cabbage juice with different liquids, it reacts to how "sour" or "soapy" they are. Scientists call sour things like lemon juice or vinegar "acids," and they turn the juice a bright, poppy pink or red. On the other side, things that feel slippery or soapy, like baking soda or laundry detergent, are called "bases." These make the juice turn a deep blue, a brilliant green, or sometimes even a mustard yellow! It is a visual way to see the pH scale, which measures how acidic or basic a liquid is from 1 to 14.
3Become a Kitchen Scientist
You don't need a fancy laboratory to see this chemistry magic in action. By simply boiling red cabbage in water, you can create a dark purple liquid that is ready for testing. Try adding a drop of orange juice to see if it’s acidic, or a little bit of antacid medicine to see if it’s a base. You might even find other indicators in your spice cabinet, like turmeric, which turns from bright yellow to deep red when it touches a base. Chemistry is everywhere around us, hidden in the plants we eat and the snacks we enjoy!
