- Cut up red cabbage and put it into a pot of boiling water that will just cover the cabbage.
- Boil the
cabbage until it almost turns white.
- Remove the cabbage and let the liquid cool.
- Store this indicator in the refrigerator until needed.
- Test a small amount of the indicator against clear liquid soap, ammonia and fresh milk to see the colors of a base.
- Clear soda, vinegar and many other liquids are acid.
- Check salt water, antacid and water, fruit juice, tea, baking soda and water and other household items.
- Gently blow through a straw into a cabbage water solution and see the color change--are you making an acid or base?
- Test other things like cherries, beets, radish skin, flower petals, green leaves, etc. to see if they are acid, base or neutral. Neutral substances will not change the color of the indicator.
