# Half a lemon
# Water
# Spoon
# Bowl
# Cotton Bud (Swab, Ball)
# White Paper
# Lamp or other light bulb
Procedure:
1. Squeeze some lemon juice into the bowl and add a few drops of water.
2. Mix the water and lemon juice with the spoon.
3. Dip the cotton bud into the mixture and write a message onto the white paper.
4. Wait for the juice to dry so it becomes completely invisible.
5. When you are ready to read your secret message, heat the paper by holding it close to a light bulb.
Safety Precautions:
# Safety first, goggles on!
The acid from the lemon can burn your eyes and cuts on your skin.
Scientific Principles:
Since lemon juice is acidic and also organic, an oxidation reaction occurs when heat is applied and the words will turn brown. Any other acidic substances will work as well. Theresa and I used vinegar as a substitute (since squeezing lemons is rather dangerous xD)
Me and Theresa. Photocredit to Marcia Lee!
Well apparently our project half-failed because we didn't have a lightbulb to use as a light source, and the fire was a little too dangerous xD! The message reads "HI! WE <3 CHEM!"
No comments:
Post a Comment