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Chemistry and Chemists № 3 2023 Journal of Chemists-Enthusiasts |
Flowers change colour: effect of alkalis and acids on plant dyes - pt.8, 9 В.М. Вітер |
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Salvia Splendens (''Red Salvia'') flowers, ammonia and hydrochloric acid - pt.8
In Ukraine, a bright red flowering plant is grown in flower beds. This flower is very common in our country as an ornamental plant. We call this plant "Chervona sal'viya" ("Red Salvia"), the biological name is Salvia Splendens. This species is native to Brazil but is grown in many other countries. Salvia Splendens plants are usually grown in large groups, many bright red flowers look very beautiful - like a fire. Many years ago, I saw Salvia Splendens plants with dark blue flowers (maybe they were dark purple - I can't remember). Such plants of Salvia Splendens with dark blue flowers (instead of red ones) were very rarely found in our flower beds. The red flowers of Salvia Splendens can be used for chemical experiments with plant dyes. The pigment(s) in these flowers is probably an acid-base indicator. Perhaps, the bright red colour will turn dark blue or dark purple in an atmosphere of ammonia? (I guess so, because there are Salvia Splendens plants with flowers of such colours). A small amount of concentrated ammonia solution was poured in a glass. The red flowers were placed in the glass (suspended above the level of the solution). The red flowers of Salvia Splendens gradually turned dark purple. Then these dark purple flowers (after the treatment with ammonia) were placed in an atmosphere of hydrochloric acid vapours. A thick smoke of ammonium chloride immediately formed. The dark purple flowers turned red. But this process was slow, the flowers were doused by hydrochloric acid to speed up the colour transformation. The plant tissues of the flowers were partially destructed by the strong acid. ***
С детства на клумбах встречал небольшое растение, которое у нас называют "Сальвия". Цветет оно огненно-красными цветами. Обычно сальвии сажают не по одиночке, а большими группами близко друг к другу, что создает неповторимое зрелище, когда вся клумба "горит" ярко-красным пламенем. Делают и композиции: на части клумбы сажают сальвии, а в других местах - растения, которые цветут обильно-синим или желтым или розовым цветом. |
Salvia Splendens |