Section 2.2 - pH and colour change

 Meassuring pH using red cabbage as indicator


In this little eksperiment we show how to use red cabbage as an indicator for change sin pH

Materials:

Red cabbage

water

a strong acid

a strong alcaline

heat proof glass

some test tubes

a heat source

safety glasses, lab coat and gloves


Method.

Cut the red cabbage in slices and boil it in about 250 ml of water for 5 minutes

let it cool and then gently pour about 50 ml into a new beaker or a test tube

add some cold water

Observe the colour


Use safety glasses, gloves and lab coat when using corosive agents.

Add about 1 ml of an acid. 

Note the colour change

Add  about 2 ml of an alkaline

Note colour change


You can also add more acid to change the colour back again



What happens?


Red cabbage juice changes color when you add acid or alkaline because it contains a pigment called anthocyanin. Anthocyanins are pH-sensitive and can act as natural indicators. 

When pH is low, the colour is red

When pH is high, the colour will change to green and later to yellow if pH is really high


How to expand the experiment:

Try testing with other indicators (pH paper, universal indicator or other indicators)

Can we use a more accurate way of adding small amounts of acid or alkaline?

What will be a good indicator for sea water and why?


Find all the material here

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