DESCRIPTION:
As water evaporates off the surface of flower petals, capillary action in the stems pulls water up to the leaves and petals. If the water is colored, that also colors the petals. This can be used to demonstrate how nutrients and pollutants in the soil and water are delivered to plants.
TOPICS COVERED:
– capillary action
MATERIALS NEEDED:
– vessel to hold the flowers with colored water in it
– flowers
PROCEDURE:
1. Place the flowers in the colored water
2. Watch them change colors – the flowers may take several hours to change
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
White flowers show the color the best. The stems of flowers can also be cut in half, and each side placed in a different vase for a 2-toned flower.
REFERENCES:
“Color Changing Carnations.” Steve Spangler Science. Accessed 3 Apr 2011. http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/colorful-carnations