“Putting lemon juice into the bowl”
Squeeze some lemon juice into the bowl.
Dab the tip of your cotton swab into the lemon juice and use it to paint your Christmas card and message.
Let your card dry.
Decorate you card some more with the pens.
Turn on the spotlight, or hairdryer, and use it to heat up the paper from a safe distance. DO NOT USE AN OPEN FLAME TO DO THIS.
“Lemon juice on paper after heating “
Move your card over the heated light, or hairdryer until lemon juice changes colour.
Stop before the paper starts to burn.
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Why Does This Happen?
This is the classic ‘invisible ink’ experiment. Lemon juice is acidic and contains sugar.
The acid from the lemon juice affects the paper, effectively weakening the paper structure. Adding heat to the paper causes the acid-affected paper to burn first. Additionally, sugar will form caramel when heated, this is present in small quantities within the lemon juice.
Variable testing
- Try other fruit juices – which work best?
- Also, try other weak acids; does this work as well?
- What will happen if you add extra sugar to your painting solution?
From colour changes to slimy science, we’ve got your kitchen chemistry covered!
Get in touch with FizzicsEd to find out how we can work with your class.
Want to dive into acid-base chemistry?
Get the 30-minute video + PDF + curriculum links for your class here!
Liquid Nitrogen Show
Years K to 6
Maximum 60 students
Science show
45 minutes
Online Class Available
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
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