Cabbage Inks
Introduction
For thousands of years, people have used colors collected from nature to create art. Many plants have natural pigments, and the one in red cabbage (anthocyanin) is very special — it can change color when it’s mixed with ingredients from your kitchen. In this activity you will use acids (like lemon juice) and bases (like baking soda) to make your own rainbow of colorful paints from red cabbage!
Design Challenge
Mix your own colorful paints using pigment from red cabbage. Use them to create a piece of art!
Subject
Biodesign, Chemistry, Art
Ages
8+
Time
Extract: 1 hour | Mix: 30 min | Create: 30 min-3 days
Key Concepts
Pigment, pH, acids and bases, paint
This activity was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA), Grant Number R25 GM129220, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Getting Started
Learn more with our videos
Learn more with our PDF guides
Cabbage Inks Activity Guide
Follow this guide to turn red cabbage into your own rainbow of color-changing paints!
Cabbage Inks
Tie Dye
Try these simple steps to explore using your pigment as an eco-friendly fabric dye.
Cabbage Inks
Essential Questions
Get answers to some of the sticky questions frequently asked by adults.
Cabbage Inks
Pride Flags
Check out these handy tricks to mix the colors you’ll need for your own LGBTQ+ Pride flags.
Cabbage Inks Color Palette
Learn more about the cabbage colors you can make by adding acids and bases!
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