Why leaves change colors

It's that time of the year when the leaves turn the different shades of yellow, orange and red. Here's an experiment that will show you why leaves turn those different colors.

Materials

• Jar
• Green leaf
• Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

STEP 1: Place a green leaf in the jar.

STEP 2: Cover the leaf with rubbing alcohol and wait until the rubbing alcohol turns green.

STEP 3: Remove the leaf from the rubbing alcohol and observe.

Explanation

The rubbing alcohol removed the green color from the leaf, revealing the hidden color. As the days get shorter with the arrival of autumn, the tree receives less sunlight. When this happens the chlorophyll breaks down and the green color disappears, revealing the hidden colors.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website "Hooked On Science" at hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@hookedonscience.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.