#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
   

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