Why Does Red Cabbage Juice Change Color with Lemon or Baking Soda?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does red cabbage juice change color with lemon or baking soda?

The Big Idea

Red cabbage juice changes color because it contains pigments that react to acids and bases! It turns pink with acids like lemon juice, and blue-green with bases like baking soda. It is a color-changing acid test from your kitchen.

A Color Pigment

Step one: a color pigment. Red cabbage contains a pigment called anthocyanin. It is the same kind of color found in blueberries and purple grapes.

Acids Turn It Pink

Step two: acids turn it pink. Lemon juice and vinegar are acids, and they push the pigment toward pink and red. Acids often taste sour.

Bases Turn It Green

Step three: bases turn it blue-green. Baking soda is a base, the opposite of an acid. It changes the pigment's shape, so the juice turns blue or green.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at the color code! Add lemon juice, an acid, and it turns pink. Plain cabbage juice is purple. Add baking soda, a base, and it turns blue-green. A liquid that changes color like this is called an indicator.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Cabbage juice is a color-changing acid test. Scientists use indicators to test liquids. Never taste the juice mixtures. Do this with a grown-up, and never mix cleaning products.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, steep chopped red cabbage in warm water, then strain it. Add a drop of lemon juice to one cup and a pinch of baking soda to another. Watch the colors change, and do not drink the mixtures. Do not drink any of the mixtures.

Outro

Red cabbage pigments change color with acids and bases. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!