Hey there! Today, we’re super excited because it’s almost National Coloring Day! This special day is all about coloring and having fun. To celebrate, we’re going to do a cool project: making invisible ink! This ink will disappear, and then you can color over it to reveal a secret message. Let’s get started!
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own invisible ink:
First, mix a quarter cup of baking soda with a quarter cup of water. Don’t worry about being exact; just try to have the same amount of each. This mixture will be your invisible ink!
Use the cotton swab to write a secret message on the white paper. Then, wait for it to dry. Once it’s dry, the message will be hidden!
Now, it’s time to reveal the secret message! Dip the paintbrush into the grape juice and paint over the paper where you wrote the message. Watch as the message appears! Isn’t that awesome?
This invisible ink trick is not just fun; it’s also a bit of science! The baking soda you used is a type of chemical called a base. When you paint over it with grape juice, a reaction happens. The grape juice contains a chemical called anthocyanin, which changes color when it touches a base like baking soda. That’s why the message becomes visible!
Scientists use similar reactions in their labs to learn more about different chemicals. They mix things together to see how they change, just like we did with our invisible ink!
Now you know how to make invisible ink and reveal secret messages. You can try this fun experiment at home anytime you want, as long as you have some grape juice handy. Thanks for joining us in this fun activity! If you want to keep learning and having fun, make sure to check out more of our projects. See you next time!
Colorful Reactions: Try using different juices or liquids to reveal your invisible ink message. Ask a grown-up to help you find other liquids like lemon juice, vinegar, or cranberry juice. Use each one to paint over a new secret message. Which liquids work best? Why do you think that is? Observe the colors and reactions, and discuss your findings with a friend or family member.
Secret Message Hunt: Write several secret messages using your invisible ink on different pieces of paper. Hide them around your home or classroom. Create a treasure map or clues to lead someone to find and reveal the messages. This activity will help you practice writing and reading, and it’s a fun way to share your invisible ink skills with others!
Everyday Chemistry: Look around your kitchen or home for other examples of chemical reactions. With the help of a grown-up, try mixing baking soda with vinegar and observe what happens. Can you find other safe and simple reactions? Talk about what you see and how it might be similar to the invisible ink experiment. This will help you understand how chemistry is part of everyday life!
