Natural Indicators

For our first science activity we are going to be using a red cabbage to test whether some of the things you can find at home are acids or alkalis.

We are using a red cabbage as a red cabbage is a natural indicator. Red cabbage juice is purple and it sometimes changes colour depending on the types of things that we add to it. If we add an acid it turns red, if we add something neutral it stays purple and if we add an alkali it turns green.

The first thing we are going to need to do is make some red cabbage juice. To do this tear up some red cabbage leaves and put them in a bowl.

You then need to pour some hot or boiling water over the leaves. The water will turn the purple colour of the red cabbage. 

You will need an adult to help you with this!

Leave this until it cools down and then you can remove the leaves and you will have your red cabbage juice. You can use your red cabbage juice to test some of the things that you find at home.

I have made a worksheet that you can download and use from home if you want to. 

To see the video tutorial for this activity visit the Surrey Libraries Facebook page or the Surrey Libraries YouTube Channel.