how to make invisible ink for your science fair project
How to Make Invisible Ink for Your Science Fair Project
If you want to write a secret message or just want an idea for your science project, making invisible ink would be a good choice. So how to make invisible ink? Don't run to the store just yet! This article will let you in on some cool tricks to make this possible, using simple things like baking soda, lemon juice, and a black light.
- Take equal amounts of water and baking soda, and mix them into a paste.
- Dip a cotton swab into this, and write the message on a sheet of paper.
- Let it dry for a while.
- You can then reveal the message in two ways:
- Directly hold the paper over a candle flame (be careful not to burn it) or a light bulb, and the message will appear in brown color.
- Take grape juice concentrate and using a cotton swab, paintbrush, or a sponge, spread it over the paper. The acidic grape juice and alkaline soda react, and the message appears in purple color.
- Squeeze a lemon in a bowl. You can add a few drops of water if you want.
- Dip a feather tip, stick, or cotton swab into the bowl, and write the message on a sheet of paper.
- Allow the paper to dry.
- Hold the paper near a candle flame, bulb, or some other heat source, and the message will appear brown in color.
- Alternatively, you can sprinkle salt all over the writing, allow it to dry, and then color the whole page with a wax crayon. The message will then be visible.
- To make invisible ink that glows in UV light, take any of the above substances. Prepare a consistency that can be applied to paper.
- Using a paintbrush or cotton swab, write any message on the sheet of paper. Words written on dark paper will have better contrast.
- Allow the paper to dry.
- Turn of the lights or go to a dark room, and hold a black light near the paper. The message will glow.