Image: A sip of these lemonades can brighten your day! (Hoosier Homemade)

Creating Color Changing Lemonades

To create your own color changing lemonade, you’ll need a few key ingredients:

1. Lemon juice: The acidic base of your lemonade.

2. Anthocyanin source: Butterfly pea flower tea can act as a natural source of anthocyanins that changes color from blue to purple to pink depending on the pH. 

3. Sweetener: Sugar, honey, or any sweetener of your choice will make the lemonade delicious.

4. Water: To dilute the lemon juice and tea.
   
   

The process:

1. Brew the butterfly pea flower tea: When you brew butterfly pea flowers in hot water, the anthocyanins dissolve, creating a deep blue tea. This tea can then be used as the base for your color changing lemonade. Let the tea cool.

2. Prepare the lemonade: Mix lemon juice, water, and sweetener to taste.

3. Combine and watch the magic: Pour the butterfly pea flower tea into the lemonade and watch as the blue tea transforms into a vibrant purple or pink drink.

Further Colour Changes Through Adding Baking Soda

The color change occurs because the anthocyanins in the butterfly pea flower tea are sensitive to pH changes. In an acidic environment (like lemon juice), the anthocyanins shift their structure, resulting in a color change. Here’s a simplified explanation of the process:

• Neutral pH (around 7): The anthocyanins appear blue.

• Acidic pH (below 7): The anthocyanins turn purple or pink.

• Alkaline pH (above 7): The solution turns greenish blue indicating an alkaline environment.

This reaction is reversible, meaning you can change the color back by adjusting the pH again. For instance, adding a basic substance like baking soda to the lemonade will neutralize the acidity and shift the color back towards blue

Since baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base, when you add it to the mixture, it neutralizes the acid, raising the pH. This causes the anthocyanins to revert to their blue color. If you add enough baking soda, the solution can even turn greenish-blue, indicating a more basic environment.

The chemical equation for the reaction between citric acid and baking soda is:

C6​H8​O7​  + 3NaHCO3 ​→ Na3​C6​H5​O7​ + 3CO2 ​+ 3H2​O

Making Your Lemonade Even More Fun

Today, lemonade continues to evolve with modern innovations. Color changing lemonades are just one example of how this classic beverage can be transformed into a magical experience. By incorporating natural ingredients and understanding the science behind the color changes, you can create a drink that is both educational and delicious.

For a more dramatic effect, you can add edible glitter to your color changing lemonade, creating a sparkling galaxy in your glass. This not only enhances the visual appeal but also makes the drink more exciting for both children and adults alike.

Conclusion

Color changing lemonades are not only a fun party trick, but also a fascinating phenomenon of chemistry in action. By grasping the science behind these enchanting color shifts, you can wow your friends and family with a drink that's both informative and tasty. So the next time you're craving a cool drink, go ahead and sprinkle some magic into your lemonade.

1. Wikipedia. (n.d.) ‘Lemonade’
2.  Wikipedia (n.d.) ‘Anthocyanin’
3. Samira. Alphafoodie. (2020). ‘Simple Colour-Changing Magic Lemonade (Blue-Purple)’