Tricky Chemistry

Have you ever seen how a mere water turns into wine? Well, of course it's not like in Bible. It's just looks like the water transform into wine, or that's how you saw it. I found this article about simple magic trick that using chemistry as its basic. It using some sodium carbonate and pH indicator called Phenolpthalein to do this trick. The article itself has explained how it could happen. But let's see it more deeply than just a how-to. Welcome to the tricky chemistry :) .

The important substance that supports this trick is phenolpthalein. Phenolpthalein is a pH indicator that can indicate base solutions. When it put into a solution with pH more than 10, it will turn the solution's color into fuchsia or purple (depending how much you put it in). As for acid solution, phenolpthalein will not change its color, so it still colorless as before adding.

So, why the water can turn into purple? It's because the water in this trick is added by sodium carbonate. In water, sodium carbonate reacts with water molecule and produce sodium salt (NaOH) and carbonic acid. pH of this solution change from 7 (neutral) into about 10 (base). And because it is a basic solution, the addition of the indicator into the base solution will turn the magic on!

That's how the simple magic trick can be done in a simple way. It can be use to demonstrate the chemistry to children or for entertainment purpose. Just one thing you need to remember: Do not ever drink the water used in this trick. Phenolpthalein has tendency to be a carcinogenic, so for your own health never drink it or eat something without washing your hands after demonstration. Enjoy the trick!