Mind-Blowing Science Experiments: Why Do Leaves Change Color?

 Why Do Leaves Change Color?

We all, or at least I, love the beautiful colors of leaves in autumn! It's one of the reasons that fall's my favorite season! But it's winter, and I'm a DIY-er with a curious, scientifically-oriented mind. It's the perfect combination of characteristics! Today, I'm going to demonstrate how leaves change color.



The things you need to do this experiment are:

  • 3 leaves (from the same tree)
  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Jar 
  • Plastic baggie (or plastic wrap)
  • Paper Coffee Filter
  • Small bowl or pan
  • Spoon (or anything else to mix)
  • Approximately 2 hours (don't worry, most of this is just waiting time!)
Step 1:

Break the leaves into tiny pieces and put them into the jar.

Step 2:

Pour rubbing alcohol over the leaves in the jar so that they are just covered/submerged.

Step 3:

Mash and stir the leaves into the rubbing alcohol until the alcohol turns slightly green.  Really give it a good mashing – this is key.



Step 4:

Cover the jar with your baggie/plastic wrap and place the jar in the bowl. Pour hot water into the bowl.



Step 5:

Leave the leaves (pun intended) in the jar in the bowl of water for 30 minutes, swishing the jar occasionally to stir the leaves a bit.  The alcohol should be a very dark green shade (leave longer if needed).  If you can resist, wait even 45 minutes or an hour.


Step 6:

Cut a strip of your coffee filter so that it can reach the alcohol in your jar.




Step 7:

The liquid will travel up the coffee filter and the colors will separate as the alcohol evaporates off the coffee filter.  Let this happen for about an hour for the full effect. The leaves that I used turned into a beautiful autumn yellow.



SO … WHY DO LEAVES CHANGE COLOUR?

In this science experiment, we used rubbing alcohol and energy (hot water) to separate the colors. You likely saw green, and depending on your leaf type, maybe red, yellow, or orange. As we know, chlorophyll gives leaves their green color and is so dominant it hides the other colors/pigments in the leaves. But in the fall, chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down, allowing other colors to finally shine through and show their beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges.

Well, that BLEW my mind!

Toodles,

Anika

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