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Here's some liquid magic. Three identical glasses... |
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...and one magic potion! |
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When the potion is poured into the first glass, the liquid turns red. |
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In the second glass, the liquid turns purple. |
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In the third glass, the liquid turns blue! |
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The secret is the content of the glasses. There's a different liquid in each. In the first glass is white vinegar, which is an acid. The same stuff that dissolves food in your tummy and sometimes gives you tummy ache. |
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The middle glass has ordinary water in it. |
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The third glass has ordinary water mixed with bicarbonate of soda in it. That's an alkaline which can relieve tummy ache. You need to allow the bicarbonate mixture needs to settle. Then pour off and use the clear liquid, so that all three glasses look the same. |
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The special potion is just red cabbage water. To make some, just chop up a red cabbage. |
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Put the chopped up cabbage into a bowl and very carefully pour on some boiling water. |
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Wait for the mixture to cool down and then strain out the cabbage. The mixture should go purple. If it goes green-blue or red you need to make sure the hot water you use has been distilled. |
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Red cabbage water is able to tell whether a liquid is acid, alkaline or neutral. Oh, and it stinks! In the first glass, the vinegar turns red because it's an acid. |
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The second glass stays purple because water is neutral. |
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In the third glass, the colour changes to an aquamarine shade of blue, because the bicarbonate of soda is alkaline. |
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Not magic at all - just chemistry in action. A great Little Eureka that you can do at home - as long as you can stand the smell! |
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