In today’s Elementary Science Fair Project we are going to make our own “Litmus” paper and then use it. Do you know what “Tornasol” paper is and what it is for? Yes, it is the paper that is used in chemical laboratories to test for acid or alkali, it changes color and thus it is possible to know if a substance is acid or alkaline. Litmus paper turns pinkish-red in acid and green in alkali. This is a fun and easy Elementary Science Fair Project. Because there is some boiling involved, this experiment should be done under adult supervision.

This is what you need to make your “Litmus” paper:

• Some grated fresh red cabbage
• Water, enough to fill your jug
• Paper towels, 2″ strips
• A wide-mouthed jar
• Other fruits, flowers and vegetables

How to do it:

1. Boil the cabbage in the water for about 10 minutes.
2. Let it cool down.
3. Strain it into a wide-mouthed jar.
4. Take your 2″ strips of paper towels and soak them in the juice for one minute.
5. Let the paper strips dry.
6. You now have your “Litmus” paper that you can use.
7. Now make paper in the same way with different substances such as fruits, flowers and vegetables. When we start testing you will see that the color changes are different and because of what you see with cabbage “litmus” paper you will be able to tell which color of your alternative “litmus” paper shows acid and which color shows you are alkali.

Now we are going to experiment with our different litmus papers.

What you will need for this elementary science fair project:

• Your role of “litmus”
• Some lemon juice in a small bottle.
• Some grapefruit juice in a small bottle
• Some pineapple juice in a small bottle
• Some vinegar in a small bottle
• Some dissolved bicarbonate of soda in a small bottle
• Some milk in a small bottle
• Some isopropyl alcohol in a small bottle
• A little soap in a small bottle
• Oil in a small bottle
• A small medicine dropper
• self-adhesive label
• A black felt-tip pen

This is what you have to do:

1. Start with your “cabbage litmus” paper and drop a little of each onto your paper.
2. Remember to wash your dropper after each one.
3. You will see that the ones that are acidic will turn pink.
4. Those that dye litmus paper green are called “bases” and are alkaline.
5. With your stickers, mark each one clearly as acidic or alkaline.
6. Now place a small drop of all your juices on your other “litmus” papers and record the color changes.
7. Now you know what color each of the alternative “litmus” papers turn for acid and alkaline substances.

This is a fun and very easy elementary science project to do. To find out how the results of this experiment can show you why poison control centers used to recommend vinegar or lemon juice for some types of poisons, visit Elementary Science Fair Projects