How Do You Make A Red Cabbage Acid-Base Indicator?
A great way to learn about acids and bases is to play around with the stuff you already have in your kitchen. You can make an effective acid-base indicator out of boiled red cabbage juice. By adding different substances you know are acidic (like lemon juice and vinegar) or basic (like bleach or ammonia) you can tell how acidic or basic it is based on the cabbage juice’s color. This makes a great homeschooling activity for kids to learn about chemical reactions. If you’re interested in making this into a lab activity, check out the link at the bottom of this article for a lab template. Chop the red cabbage in half and then shred the leafy parts with your hands. Make a pile of red cabbage shreds before dumping them into the pot. Boil the cabbage in water for fifteen to twenty minutes. Strain out the cabbage and pour the deep purple juice into each of the small cups. Now you are ready to test various substances to see if they are acidic or basic. Add just a drop or two of the substances.
