Make
Ink
Needed:
- Fine steel wool
- Kerosene
- White vinegar
- Tea bags
- Mucilage
- Water
- Several containers
Experiment:
Clean a wad of steel wool with kerosene and let it dry
overnight. Put the steel wool into a jar and cover it with vinegar.
Set it in a pan of water that is hot, but not boiling. Put four
tea bags into half a cup of water and boil. Let both solutions
cool and then mix them in equal amounts. Dip a finger into the
mixture and mark a large X on a newspaper page. It will gradually
show up black.
Explanation:
The chemical reaction between the vinegar and iron produces
hydrogen ions and iron acetate. The tea yields tannin.
When mixed, they produce ferrous tannate, which is almost
colorless. But, when exposed to air and allowed to dry,
ferrous tannate changes to ferric tannate (which is black).
In anywhere from three hours to a day, the color change
in the X should be complete. A little mucilage mixed with
the newly produced ink will allow it to flow from a pen
as regular ink.
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