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Asked by: Jennette Eisenstam
food and drink healthy cooking and eatingWhy does turmeric turn red?
Turmeric is a reddish-yellow rhizome. The moreprominent yellow colour is due to the presence of the xanthophyllpigment, while the reddish-orange colour comes from carotenepigment. As a result, the yellow xanthophyll is suppressed and theorange-red carotene pigment becomes more prominent, so theturmeric turns red.
In this manner, why does turmeric stain turn red?
When washed with soap the stain of turmericturns red because turmeric contains the tartaric acidand soap contains sodium hydroxide, a base. Therefore, it isthe chemical reaction that led to the change in the colour of thestain from yellow to red.
In respect to this, why is turmeric a good indicator?
This activity uses turmeric, a common spice incurry, as an indicator for acidity and basicity.Turmeric is yellow in acid and neutral substances, but turnsbright red with bases. Learners can use their indicator totest household chemicals and determine which arebasic.
Curry contains turmeric powder and soap isbasic in nature. Bases turn turmeric red. Hence, whensoap (which is basic in nature) is scrubbed on thestain, the stain turns red. When thecloth is washed with plenty of water, the soapis removed and the yellow colour of the stainreappears.