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Activity #7
RED CABBAGE INDICATOR

KEY CONCEPT
pH, a measure of acidity or basicity, can be roughly determined using a red
cabbage indicator solution.
SKILLS Observing, recording, investigating

TIME 30-45 minutes
AUDIENCE Middle school students
OBJECTIVE
To determine the approximate pH of a variety of familiar solutions using a readily
available indicator.
SAFETY
Wear chemical splash goggles! Additional precautions depend on the identity of
the substances tested. The aqueous ammonia or its vapors can damage the
eyes. Eye protection is required. Use aqueous ammonia only in a well-ventilated
area. Should contact with eyes occur, rinse the affected area with water for 15
minutes. Medical attention should be sought while rinsing. Contact lenses should
not be worn when working with ammonia. Avoid strong household bases.
Check label precautions on other household substances.
CONTENT FOCUS
Acid-base indicators are generally large organic molecules that react with acids
and bases. When they react, the structure of the molecule changes and so does
the color. Many colored solutions found around the home can be used as acid-
base indicators: fruit and vegetable juices, food colorings, inks and even tea.
Some indicators such as litmus and phenolphthalein change color near the
neutral point as a solution changes from acidic to basic or vice versa. Others are
one color in strongly acidic solution and a different color in weakly acidic or basic
solutions. Still others pass through a variety of color changes as the pH changes.
Red cabbage contains two principal types of plant dyes, anthocyanin and
flavonol. The anthocyanin pigments are red in strongly acidic solution, blue in
neutral and weakly basic solutions and colorless in strongly basic solutions.
Weakly acidic solutions contain some of the red form and some of the blue form
and thus appear purple. Flavonol pigments are colorless in acidic and neutral
solutions and yellow in basic solutions. Weakly basic solutions thus contain both
blue (anthocyanin) and yellow (flavonol) dyes and appear to be green.
The pH corresponding to various colors will vary slightly with concentration,

solvent, age and variety of cabbage, etc. Most flowers and fruits contain
anthocyanin as pigments.
ADVANCE PREPARATION
Red cabbage indicator may be prepared by any of the following methods. It may
be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for several days or frozen for
several months.
1. Heat chopped red cabbage in water (a cup to a cup) on the stovetop or
in a microwave until the water is deep purple. Pour the liquid off the
top. Or
Cut the red cabbage into chunks and place in a blender or food processor.
Cover with water and blend for several minutes. Strain to remove the
solids. Or
Chop the red cabbage into small pieces and place in a zip-closing plastic
bag. Add enough warm water to completely soak the cabbage. Seal the
bag and knead, rubbing the pieces of cabbage together. When the water
has been well colored by the dye from the red cabbage, open a corner of
the bag and pour the dye solution into a container. The cabbage should
remain in the bag.
2. Gather and prepare the test solutions. It may be convenient to provide

multiple sets of these solutions in, for example, baby food jars.
TIPS
• Students will not be able to determine exact pHs as each color covers a
range of pH values. Purple, for example, may indicate a slightly acidic or
neutral solution.
MATERIALS
• red cabbage indicator
• white Styrofoam egg cartons with the tops removed (1 per group)
• plastic spoons or straws
• substances to be tested, such as:
o vinegar
o baking soda (1 teaspoon to ¼ cup water)
o colorless soda (7-Up®, etc.)
o baking powder (1 teaspoon to ¼ cup water)
o Milk of Magnesia® liquid or antacid tablets (1 tablet per ¼ cup
water)
o lemon or other fruit juice
o aspirin (1 tablet per ¼ cup water)
o tap water
o salt (1 teaspoon to ¼ cup water)
o all purpose cleaner
o liquid soap
o household ammonia or window cleaner with ammonia
PROCEDURE
1. Transfer a sample of a solution to be tested into one of the wells in the egg
carton. If using a spoon, transfer 2 spoonfuls. If using a straw, lower one end
of the straw 1 inch into the solution and seal the other end with your finger.
Keep your finger in place while you move the straw over the egg carton and
then release it. Repeat once more.
2. Fill in the identity of the test solution on the data table.
3. Transfer the red cabbage indicator into the well of the egg carton with the test
solution. Use 1 spoonful or 1 inch depth on the straw. (That is, half as much
indicator as test solution.)
4. Swirl gently to mix. Observe the color and record it on the data table. Refer to
the color chart to determine acidity or basicity and record on the table.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the remaining test solutions.
EXTENSIONS
• Have students bring liquid or water soluble solids from home to test.
• Have participants make a Red Cabbage Indicator color chart with markers
before they do the activity.
SUGGESTED QUESTIONS
1. Is red cabbage indicator more useful than an indicator such as litmus, which
is only one color in acid and one color in base? Explain why or why not.
Yes, red cabbage indicator would be more useful because it not only
indicates whether a solution is acidic or basic but also gives some
indication of how acidic or how basic the solution is.
2. Is a solution which turns red cabbage indicator green acidic or is it basic? Is

a solution which turns red cabbage indicator violet acidic or is it basic?
A solution which turns red cabbage indicator green would be basic
while one which turns it violet would be moderately acidic.

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Activity #7

RED CABBAGE INDICATOR

SKILLS Observing, recording, investigating

Check label precautions on other household substances.

The pH corresponding to various colors will vary slightly with concentration,

2. Gather and prepare the test solutions. It may be convenient to provide

2. Fill in the identity of the test solution on the data table.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the remaining test solutions.

2. Is a solution which turns red cabbage indicator green acidic or is it basic? Is

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