Materials

• To complete this project, you need to have red cabbage and bleach. The red cabbage is necessary because of the chemical that creates the red color. This chemical reacts with acids and bases in a different way, changing the color of the cabbage juice. Other materials can also be used in the project to note which colors the cabbage juice becomes with each material. However, you must not to mix the bleach with any other element. You should have a glass or plastic container for each element you intend to introduce to the cabbage juice.
  
  

Process

• Cut up the cabbage into smaller pieces to create the cabbage juice. This can be done two different ways. Either boil the cabbage in water until the water turns dark, or blend the cabbage with water in a blender until you have purple water. The juice can be strained to remove any chunks. Separate the water between the containers so you have a separate container for each element. Pour a small amount of bleach into one container and small amounts of any other elements into the other containers.
  
  

Results

• Based on the acidity of the element placed into the cabbage juice, the juice will begin to change color. If the liquid turns a light yellow or green, it is an indicator that the element is an acid. If the liquid turns dark green or blue, the element is a base. The degree of color change indicates the overall acidity level of the element. If the cabbage juice remains purple, the element is neutral. When bleach is added to the juice, it turns yellow, which means that bleach is acidic.
  
  

Acids and Bases

• Knowing the differences between acids and bases can be very important when conducting experiments in science. They each react differently in given circumstances and, in some cases, the results can be volatile and unstable. Therefore, it is important to know which types of elements can be mixed together and which ones should be avoided. This is also why it is important for teachers to supervise their classes and offer assistance in determining safe practices in the lab.