THE FOLLOWING IS AN ACTIVITY
THAT SHOULD
ONLY BE DONE WITH AN ADULT PRESENT!
Did you know that you can extract
chlorophyll from a leaf fairly easily?
 |
SUPPLIES: |
- a fresh green leaf
- a clear drinking glass
- rubbing alcohol
|
EXPERIMENT:
WITH AN ADULT PRESENT take a fresh green leaf and break or tear
it up into tiny pieces. Place the pieces in a small, clear glass
of rubbing alcohol, with just enough liquid to cover the pieces.
BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO GET THE ALCOHOL NEAR A STOVE OR OPEN
FLAME BECAUSE IT IS VERY FLAMMABLE!
Soak the leaf in alcohol for one hour or longer. Note the color
of the alcohol afterwards.
Why do you think it turned green?
Also note that the pieces of
leaf have become paler in color.
What's happening? Breaking
up the leaf disrupts some of the plant cells containing chloroplasts
and chlorophyll, thus allowing chlorophyll to be released into
the alcohol. As the leaf loses chlorophyll it turns pale green.
Want to learn more about chlorophyll
and how it colors leaves?
Check out our articles on Trees
and Autumn colors!