Red Cabbage Indicator - American Chemical Society (2024)

Question to investigate

How can you use a red cabbage to test and classify substances?

Chemistry concepts

  • Acids and bases are classes of materials that have different properties.
  • Acid-base indicators change color depending on whether they are in acids or bases.
  • Red cabbage leaves contain a substance called anthocyanin that changes color depending on whether mixed with an acid or a base.

Activity logistics

  • Ages: As written, this activity is suited for ages 8–12.
  • Time: 45 minutes–1 hour

Be safe

  • Do not eat or drink any of the materials used in this activity.
  • Work with an adult.
  • Read and follow all directions for the activity.
  • Read all warning labels.
  • Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as goggles, safety glasses, or gloves.
  • Tie back long hair, roll up sleeves, and secure loose clothing.
  • Be sure to clean up and dispose of materials properly when you are finished with an activity.
  • Wash your hands well before and after the activity.

Disposal: Dispose of all solid waste in the trash. The liquids can be safely disposed of down the drain with plenty of water.

Red Cabbage Indicator - American Chemical Society (1)

What you’ll need

  • Red cabbage
  • Household items to test, like:
    • Fruit juice, for example: lemon, lime, orange, apple
    • Soda pop (light-colored sodas work best)
    • Vinegar
    • Milk
    • Yogurt
    • Liquid cleaning products (don’t use bleach)
    • Solutions made by dissolving a solid such as baking soda, detergent, or baking powder in water
    • Bowl
  • Water
  • Zip-closing plastic bag
  • Dropper or straw
  • Several small cups (one for each test)
  • Small bowl or cup
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons

* You can use a straw as a dropper. First, dip the straw into the liquid. Place a finger over the top of the straw to make a seal. When you remove the straw from the liquid, the liquid will remain inside the straw. When you are ready to release the liquid, remove your finger from the top of the straw.

What did you observe?

Download this worksheet to record your observations.

How does it work?

Chemists classify substances as acids or bases. Lemon juice and vinegar are both examples of acids. On the other end of the spectrum are bases. An example of a base is baking soda, which you might have used in the kitchen to make cookies and cakes. Many soaps are bases. Some substances are neutral, meaning they are neither an acid nor a base, like water.

How can you tell if something is an acid or a base? Acids and bases can change the color of substances called acid-base indicators.

Red cabbage contains a chemical called anthocyanin. This pigment is a natural acid-base indicator. It is blue in neutral substances, like plain water. When an acid like lemon juice gets in the water, a reaction makes the indicator molecule change shape and it looks pink. When instead a base gets in the water, a different reaction happens that changes the indicator molecule and it looks green.

This activity is adapted from an activity that originally appeared in the Celebrating Chemistry issue for Chemists Celebrate Earth Day 2010.

Red Cabbage Indicator - American Chemical Society (2024)

FAQs

What is the red cabbage indicator in ACS? ›

Red cabbage contains a chemical called anthocyanin. This pigment is a natural acid-base indicator. It is blue in neutral substances, like plain water. When an acid like lemon juice gets in the water, a reaction makes the indicator molecule change shape and it looks pink.

What is the chemical reaction of red cabbage indicator? ›

Red cabbage contains a water-soluble pigment called anthocyanin that changes color when it is mixed with an acid or a base. The pigment turns red in acidic environments with a pH less than 7 and the pigment turns bluish-green in alkaline (basic), environments with a pH greater than 7.

What color does dishwasher soap turn red cabbage juice to? ›

On the other hand, when red cabbage juice is mixed with dishwasher soap, it usually turns blue or a shade of bluish-green. Dishwasher soap is alkaline or basic in nature, so it raises the pH of the cabbage juice, resulting in a blue color.

How to do the red cabbage experiment? ›

Break off the red cabbage leaves and add them to the boiling water. Keep adding leaves until the water is a deep purple, then strain the leaves out and place the cabbage indicator juice in a pitcher. Red cabbage juice changes color to indicate the pH of various everyday items.

How long does a red cabbage indicator last? ›

Unused red cabbage indicator solution may be stored in a stoppered flask and refrigerated for up to one week.

What happens when you mix cabbage juice and vinegar? ›

The cabbage juice is called an indicator because it can tell you the pH of a solution based on the color that it changes. The vinegar will turn the cabbage juice red because it is an acid (acetic acid). The baking soda will turn the cabbage juice greenish-yellow because it is a base (sodium bicarbonate).

Can you drink red cabbage water? ›

Cabbage water has excellent detoxifying properties due to its high content of antioxidants, and phytochemicals. These compounds help eliminate harmful toxins from the body, reducing the burden on your liver, and promoting a healthy complexion.

Why is it called red cabbage? ›

Red cabbage is a nutrient-rich, cruciferous or Brassica vegetable that's related to broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. It's sometimes called purple cabbage because its leaves are a dark purple-reddish color. Red cabbage is usually a little smaller and denser than green cabbage, and it has a more peppery taste.

Is red cabbage good for you? ›

Fiber content: Red cabbage is a good source of dietary fiber, which aids digestion and promotes bowel regularity. Fiber also helps regulate blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, and maintain a healthy weight. Vitamin K: Red cabbage is high in vitamin K, which plays a crucial role in blood clotting and bone health.

What color does baking soda turn red cabbage? ›

By itself, the cabbage liquid is a pretty purple color. Acidic vinegar turns the dye pink, while adding alkaline baking soda turns the dye a blue color. If enough baking soda is added, the blue dye will dry a greenish color.

What color does milk turn red cabbage? ›

When we mixed half and half cabbage juice with milk it turned a beautiful creamy violet color.

What color does lemon juice change red cabbage juice to? ›

You can conduct a neutralization experiment using a cabbage juice indicator. First, add an acidic solution such as vinegar or lemon, then juice until a reddish color is obtained. Add baking soda or antacids to make the mixture more neutral.

What is the science behind red cabbage juice? ›

Red cabbage juice is considered to be an indicator because it shows us something about the chemical composition of other substances. What is it about cabbage that causes this to happen? Red cabbage contains a water-soluble pigment called anthocyanin that changes color when it is mixed with an acid or a base.

How to make your own acid base cabbage juice indicator at home? ›

Method
  1. Cut the cabbage into small parts.
  2. Place the chopped cabbage into the pot and cover with water.
  3. Boil until the water is a deep purple.
  4. Strain the leaves out, and the remaining liquid is your cabbage pH indicator. ...
  5. Pour between 50-100mL of the cabbage solution into the five glasses.
Oct 3, 2020

What is the ingredient in red cabbage indicator? ›

How to build a red cabbage pH indicator
  • 3-4 red cabbage leaves.
  • Blender (optional)
  • Warm tap water (400ml approx)
  • Sieve.
  • Jug.
  • Drinking glasses.
  • Substances to test, such as: lemon juice, vinegar, washing-up liquid, baking soda, milk, shampoo,
Feb 17, 2020

What is the conclusion of the red cabbage experiment? ›

CONCLUSION. Red cabbage juice will change its colour when an acidic or alkali solution added into it. For example, when hydrochloric acid is added, the purple coloured red cabbage juice change to red colour and green colour when added ammonia. This shows that red cabbage can act as a natural indicator.

What color do the red cabbage pigments turn at a pH of 8? ›

Red Cabbage pH Indicator Colors
pH28
ColorRedBlue
Jan 24, 2020

Is red cabbage an olfactory indicator? ›

The colour in red cabbage is a pigment called an anthocyanin. Red cabbage is an olfactory indicator of acid.

What color does ammonia turn red cabbage? ›

Substances such as lemon juice and vinegar turn the cabbage juice red because they are acidic. Ammonia turns the cabbage juice into a blue/green color because it is a base, a material that tastes bitter and makes an acid neutral.

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