Find the Hidden Colors of Leaves
Active Time
30-45 minutes
Total Project Time
Up to 1 day
Key Concepts
plant pigments, paper chromatography, leaves
![]() IntroductionHave you ever wondered why leaves change from green to an amazing array of yellow, orange, and red during the fall? Leaves get their brilliant colors from pigments made up of various color-creating molecules. During the warm, sunny months, plants use their leaves to turn sunlight into food energy, a process called photosynthesis. This primarily uses a pigment that reflects green light, which gives the leaves their characteristic color. In autumn, when colder, shorter days arrive, many kinds of trees no longer make food energy with their leaves and, consequently, no longer need the green pigment. The leaves' other pigments, some of which were already there during summer, become visible. In this science activity, you will uncover these hidden colors by separating plant pigments with a process called paper chromatography. What colors will you see?CreditsTeisha Rowland, PhD, Science Buddies
Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies
This activity is not appropriate for use as a science fair project. Good science fair projects have a stronger focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data. To find a science fair project that is just right for you, browse our library of over 1,200 Science Fair Project Ideas or use the Topic Selection Wizard to get a personalized project recommendation.
Materials
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Active Time
30-45 minutes
Total Project Time
Up to 1 day
Key Concepts
plant pigments, paper chromatography, leaves
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