Hooked on Science: Love potion flower

Using a special love potion, a common household ingredient, you can add a little science to your Valentine's Day by turning white flowers a bright pink.

Materials

* Phenolphthalein

* Ammonia

* White artificial flower

* Spray bottle

Instructions

STEP 1: Saturate the white artificial flower in phenolphthalein and allow the flower to dry.

STEP 2: Fill the spray bottle with ammonia. Spray the ammonia onto the artificial flower and observe.

Explanation

Phenolphthalein is a pH indicator, which is a substance that indicates the degree of acidity or basicity through a color change. When the ammonia is sprayed onto the artificial flower, which was previously saturated with phenolphthalein, the flower turned a bright pink. This indicates the ammonia is a base.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science.