What the red parts actually are

#202

Melissa and Jam dive into a fun and educational holiday-themed activity using poinsettia plants. They explore the chemistry behind these festive plants, specifically focusing on anthocyanins, which are pigments that give the leaves their red color and act as pH indicators. The episode includes a hands-on experiment that listeners can try at home to visualize how different household items can change the color of poinsettia leaves. Perfect for a holiday break activity that educates and entertains both kids and adults.

00:00 Introduction to Holiday Activities
00:24 The Poinsettia Plant: A Festive Icon
01:21 Chemistry Behind Poinsettias
02:35 Historical and Cultural Significance
04:36 Anthocyanins and Plant Pigments
07:54 Understanding Light Absorption
11:47 Interactive Chemistry Lesson
18:52 Exploring the Fascinating World of Light and Color
19:50 Understanding the Science Behind Color Perception
22:10 Fun Science Experiments with Kids
22:56 Making Poinsettia Tea: A Step-by-Step Guide
24:37 Creating Homemade pH Paper
26:14 Testing Household Items for Acidity and Basicity
27:42 Interactive Chemistry Activities for All Ages
37:09 Wrapping Up: Chemistry Fun for the Holidays

References from this episode:

1. https://www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/17-%E2%80%93-Poinsettia-Plant-Indicator.pdf
2. https://bibliotecadigital.ipb.pt/bitstream/10198/3206/1/artigo%20Food%20Chemistry,%2063,%201998,%20435-440.pdf
3. http://lib3.dss.go.th/fulltext/Journal/J.agri.food%20chem/1999/no.1p1-216/1999v47n1p67-70.pdf
4. https://www.compoundchem.com/2013/12/16/poisonous-poinsettia-ph-indicators/
5. https://youtu.be/ORl6EKQI1ws
6. https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/plantchemcast/the_dark_myth_of_the/
7. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00113?ref=article_openPDF
8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154322000734

• Scott B
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.