Experiment with Plant Pigments
Anthocyanins
are really interesting pigments! They are responsible
for the
red color in the
tips
of emerging
tulip
shoots. They are found in a lot of fruits and
vegetables, too.
In the fall the pigments in plant leaves change as the temperature changes.
The same pigments can look
different
in
different environments. Try a simple experiment using
materials that are commonly found.
 |
Emerging
tulips show red anthocyanin pigment in their first leaves.
|
Try
this experiment!
(*Adult
supervision necessary for this experiment.)
You
will need:
- *bleach
- white vinegar
- water
- purple grape juice
- 3 clear glass containers
Before
You Start: Record in Your Notebooks
- What do you predict will happen to the grape juice when you put it into each liquid?
- Smell, but do not touch each liquid. How are the bleach, the vinegar, and the water different? How are they the same?
- Describe the color of the grape juice
Now Experiment:
Put a tablespoon each of bleach, vinegar, and water in 3 clear glass containers. Add a few drops of grape juice to each.
Describe what happens to the pigment in each liquid.
Conclusion:
Compare
what you saw with your prediction. Was your prediction correct? Write
a sentence describing what happened to the anthocyanin pigment in each
liquid.
Extension: What other
"red"
plant materials could you test in this experiment?
What's Happening?
Pigments
can change color in different environments. Our solutions have
very different characteristics; one is alkaline (bleach), one is neutral
(water), and one is acetic (vinegar).The soils that plants grow in
also have different characteristics that can affect
anthocyanin
pigments.
These are the pigments responsible for
the
red
tips
of emerging
tulip
shoots in the spring.
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