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ERIC Number: EJ1444267
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Mar
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: EISSN-1938-1328
A Simple and Inexpensive Invisible Ink System Based on Red Cabbage Extracts
Lauren A. Keiller; Iain L. J. Patterson; Dominic M. Stewart; Iain A. Smellie
Journal of Chemical Education, v100 n3 p1398-1403 2023
The use of red cabbage ("Brassica oleracea var. capitata F. rubra") extract as a pH indicator is a versatile and popular demonstration that is employed by educators in many schools and universities. Previous variations of this demonstration have used red cabbage extracts to prepare paper that changes color when solutions of acid or base are applied as "inks". In this report, we highlight the ability of red cabbage extracts to function as invisible inks. Colorless solutions are prepared by bleaching anthocyanin extracts with aqueous sodium metabisulfite, and the resulting mixture can then be used to write hidden messages on paper. The invisible messages can be revealed by the addition of citric acid solution, or by using potassium aluminum sulfate (alum) as developers. The demonstration does not require specialist equipment or chemicals, and options to use additional plant sources to prepare the ink are described.
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A