1 February 2007
Acid Test
Posted by kathy under: Uncategorized .
This is one of Aya’s most favorite experiments, maybe because it is really fun to mix liquids and watch them turn into different colors. Nowadays, when I ask her what an “acid” is, she immediately recalls the experiment and tells me, “It’s the one that makes the red cabbage juice turn red!” 
(Break muna sa mga seryosong usapan, I’m lagging behind with the experiments! This one was done many months ago actually.)
For this experiment, you’ll need the following:
1. red cabbage
Side note: Aya argued that the “red” cabbage is actually “purple.” Are we color blind or something? Kids. Sigh.
2. 2 jugs
3. sieve
4. glasses
5. hot water
6. test substances: vinegar, lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda, etc.
Explanation: Red cabbage contains a pigment molecule called flavin (an anthocyanin) which changes colors depending on the pH of the substance added to it. This makes it a good pH indicator, turning red when acid is added (e.g., vinegar, lemon juice, etc.) or dark blue when alkalis are added (e.g., bicarbonate of soda, antacid, etc.).
Kids and parents, try this at home!
26 Comments so far...
herb Says:
1 February 2007 at 9:03 am.
uuuuyyy ang cool! mas fun kesa sa litmus strip! kaya lang sayang yung cabbage… pwede pang igisa pang ulam. hehehehe
dimaks Says:
1 February 2007 at 10:03 am.
hehe, toxic ba yung liquid? baka pwedeng gawing juice drink? 
gina Says:
1 February 2007 at 11:25 am.
Uyy, ang cute ng little scientist mo! Singer na ,scientist pa! =)
verns Says:
1 February 2007 at 10:43 pm.
awwww…aya’s so cute or did I say that already? hehe
I’m excited to have a daughter hehe
bw Says:
2 February 2007 at 4:48 am.
Like mom like daughter. I have no doubt she will become a science buff like you when she grows older
niceheart Says:
2 February 2007 at 7:47 am.
Cool! You do experiments at home? The cabbage does look purple in the picture. But you know what, my youngest son also had difficulty differentiating colours when he was younger. Now that I look back, I think it was also with the reds and purple. He’s wearing glasses now. 
kathy Says:
2 February 2007 at 4:54 pm.
yes, it’s really cool! as far as i can remember, di namin to ginawa nong elementary (bulok kasi hehe).
pero ang totoo, naubusan din kami ng suka dahil dito, di tuloy ako makapag-adobo
kathy Says:
2 February 2007 at 4:56 pm.
blue juice, anyone? lol
kathy Says:
2 February 2007 at 4:58 pm.
thanks gina! masaya na nga ako kahit don sa “cute,” dinagdagan mo pa ng singer at scientist…triple na saya ko.
kathy Says:
2 February 2007 at 5:00 pm.
Was it the part where you said, “like mommy, like baby”? 
Seriously, verns, having a daughter or son is life-changing! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it (pero maganda siguro hanap mura raw ng asawa, sabi ng asawa ko hehe).
kathy Says:
2 February 2007 at 5:04 pm.
Belle, thanks a lot! It’s just amazing when we reflect on the potentials of our children. It makes us feel so proud as parents!
kathy Says:
2 February 2007 at 5:06 pm.
Thanks bw. Sana nga, magdilang-anghel ka. I’m trying to give her a lot of exposure to science, but if in the end she turns out to be a musician, that’s also perfectly alright with me.
kathy Says:
2 February 2007 at 5:10 pm.
Yes, we do science experiments at home. We already performed quite a number of them (see Experiments category).
I noticed the glasses on your youngest son. Is he also myopic? I started wearing one when I was only 11 years old. My parents actually didn’t believe at first when I told them that I couldn’t see things clearly anymore. It took a while before they brought me to the optometrist!
rhodora Says:
2 February 2007 at 6:40 pm.
LOL! Kathy, your daughter is right - purple talaga ang red cabbage.
She’s so cute! Such a jolly child! Look at her smile on the last pic - feel na feel!
kathy Says:
2 February 2007 at 6:56 pm.
Thanks rhodora!
Feel na feel, LOL! Pero palangiti talaga yang batang yan, she’s such a joy to us.
niceheart Says:
5 February 2007 at 9:41 pm.
Hi Kathy,
Yes, he’s near-sighted. They have vision tests at school every two years and if they see something wrong with the child, they write a letter to the parents to see an optometrist. Kaya naagapan siya. My sister also started wearing glasses around 5-6 years old. Five of her seven children are also wearing glasses. So it could be hereditary din.
ruth Says:
7 February 2007 at 6:24 am.
oh my. my 4 year old just started his own experiments and i was thinking it’s time to do such fun stuff too. i’m gonna borrow some of the experiments you have here, ha?
kathy Says:
8 February 2007 at 5:50 am.
sagot ng asawa ko: well, di naman daw talaga requirement yun haha. but seriously, having a child changes everything, and i mean *everything* you thought you knew about your life and yourself. you’ll know what i mean when you get your own.
kathy Says:
8 February 2007 at 5:51 am.
puede rin. or the combination that dimaks proposed (singing astronomer daw).
kathy Says:
8 February 2007 at 5:55 am.
Yes, you’re right, it could be hereditary. My sisters are also myopic, although their visions are not as worse as mine. It’s a good thing that your kids have vision tests at school. I could only wish that my daughter would not have eye troubles of any kind!
kathy Says:
8 February 2007 at 5:59 am.
Sure, sure, go ahead! Know what, one of my friends was also encouraged by these posts to start experimenting at home with her own daughter. Nakakatuwa turuan ang mga bata ng mga concepts.
Thanks for dropping by, Ruth.
yeng Says:
30 April 2007 at 2:12 am.
anong pwedeng i-substitute sa red cabbage?
kathy Says:
1 May 2007 at 5:39 am.
Try using red onion, apple skins, blueberries, grape skins, and plums.
