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Cabbage Chemistry

This document provides instructions for an activity using red cabbage to test the acidity and alkalinity of common household substances. It involves slicing red cabbage leaves and soaking them in hot water to produce a purple solution. This solution is then added to cups containing different substances ranging from strongly acidic to strongly basic. The colors produced in each cup when stirred with the cabbage solution range from red to yellow, indicating where they fall on the pH scale from acidic to basic. The document also provides background information on acids, bases, and how indicators like red cabbage pigments detect the presence of acids and bases.

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RenSaac
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121 views

Cabbage Chemistry

This document provides instructions for an activity using red cabbage to test the acidity and alkalinity of common household substances. It involves slicing red cabbage leaves and soaking them in hot water to produce a purple solution. This solution is then added to cups containing different substances ranging from strongly acidic to strongly basic. The colors produced in each cup when stirred with the cabbage solution range from red to yellow, indicating where they fall on the pH scale from acidic to basic. The document also provides background information on acids, bases, and how indicators like red cabbage pigments detect the presence of acids and bases.

Uploaded by

RenSaac
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cabbage chemistry

Caution: This activity requires the use of a knife, poisonous


chemicals and hot water. Ask an adult to assist you. Always follow the
safety advice on the products you are using.

What you need


To do this activity you will need:
fresh red cabbage

a sharp knife
a cutting board
hot tap water
seven clear plastic disposable cups
seven plastic spoons
a large plastic bottle
a range of the household substances which may include:
strongly acidic. For example, powdered toilet cleaner.
acidic. For example, vinegar, lemon juice, white wine,
lemonade or citric acid.
weakly acidic. For example, cream of tartar.
neutral. For example, pure water, shampoo or baby shampoo.
slightly basic. For example, bicarbonate of soda.
basic. For example, milk of magnesia, washing soda or floor
cleaner.
strongly basic. For example, dishwasher liquid or powder.

What to do
1. Using a sharp knife and cutting board, finely slice three or four red
cabbage leaves.

2. Place the cabbage leaves in the plastic bottle, half fill the bottle
with hot water and screw the lid on tightly.
3. Shake the bottle for a few minutes until the water becomes a deep
purple colour. Leave the solution to cool.
4. Strain the solution and add sufficient water to the solution to make
about one litre.
5. In each of the cups, place a small amount of one of the above
household substances in the following order: strongly acidic;
acidic; slightly acidic; neutral; slightly basic; basic and strongly
basic.
6. Now half fill each cup with the red cabbage water and stir the
solution. If arranged in order, the jars should display a spectrum of
colours from cherry red (strongly acidic), pink-red (acidic), lilac
(slightly acidic), purple (neutral), blue (slightly basic), green
(basic) and yellow (strongly basic).
Whats happening
The things we eat and drink are all acidic, and the things we use for
cleaning are basic. This is because basic substances taste unpleasant, but
a cleaning agent usually needs to be basic to remove dirt and grease.
Substances that are acidic or basic make the eyes sting, so baby shampoo
is made neutral.
Acids
Acids are a very common group of chemical compounds, many of which
occur naturally. Acids can be strong or weak.
Citric acid, which occurs naturally in lemons, is a weak acid.
Hydrochloric acid (used for soldering) and sulfuric acid (battery acid)
are very strong acids.
Bases
Bases (often called alkalis) are another group of chemical compounds that
have different chemical properties from acids. When bases and acids are
added together, they will neutralise each others properties.
We describe whether things are acidic, basic or neutral by using a scale
called the pH scale. The pH scale ranges from zero to 14. A substance
with a pH of:

0 is a very strong acid

3 5 is a weak acid
7 is neutral
8 9 is a weak base
13 14 is a very strong base.

Pure water has a pH of seven and is regarded as neutral.


Acids and bases can be detected by a group of chemical compounds
called acid-base indicators. One of the first known naturally occurring
indicators was a type of lichen called litmus. (Lichens are plant-like
growths that are often found on rocks and tree bark.) Litmus turns red in
the presence of an acid or blue with a base.
Most indicators used today to detect acids and bases are man-made.
However, many plant pigments, such as the red cabbage you
used, contain chemicals that act as acid-base indicators.

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