Science Common Sense


1155 - Why can the acidity and alkalinity of common food be differentiated using smell, touch, and taste, and why do flowers and leaves change color when they come into contact with acidity and alkalinity?

I'll explain it simply.

Acidity and Alkalinity of Food:

Our senses can detect acidity and alkalinity in food because of special helpers in our bodies:

Color Change in Flowers and Leaves:

Some flowers and leaves change color when they come into contact with acidity or alkalinity because of special tiny things called pigments. These pigments are sensitive to acidity or alkalinity and can change color when they meet acidic or alkaline substances.

Imagine pigments like litmus paper. If you put litmus paper in acid, it turns red. If you put it in alkali, it turns blue. Some flowers and leaves have similar pigments that change color when they meet acidity or alkalinity. This is why we can use flowers or leaves to check if something is acidic or not.

These are simple explanations of complex concepts!