How to Make Goldenrod Paper

Science teachers often use goldenrod paper in the classroom to draw students' interest. This golden-yellow paper turns deep red when in contact with baking soda or ammonia. Pour vinegar on the paper and it turns yellow again. Goldenrod paper is treated with dyes that react to the basic chemicals in ammonia and baking soda and the acids in vinegar, similar to litmus paper.

Goldenrod paper is no longer manufactured, but you can make it yourself at home or in the classroom. Creating this paper could become a science project for your students or an educational rainy-day activity. You need only a few household items and a clear space in which to work.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic tub
• Turmeric
• Ammonia
• Baking soda
• Bowl
• Cotton swabs
• Saucepan
• Paper
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Boil 2 cups of water in a saucepan and remove from heat. Let cool for five minutes and add 4 tbsp. turmeric. Turmeric is a bright yellow spice used in Indian cooking and available at your local grocery store. Stir the turmeric into the water until the water turns yellow. The turmeric will not dissolve.

2. Pour the turmeric solution into the plastic tub and lay a piece of paper on top of the solution. Poke it into the liquid with a spoon or your fingers, though it will stain your skin. Use regular computer paper or a coffee filter. Both will absorb the solution well.

3. Remove the paper from the turmeric solution and lay it on a cushion of paper towels to dry. As it dries, excess turmeric powder will dry and begin to flake off. Tap all excess powder back into the tub by holding the paper up and tapping it lightly with your fingers or a spoon.

4. Mix two solutions; one of two parts water to one part ammonia and another of equal parts baking soda and water. Dip a cotton swab into each one and draw on the goldenrod paper. It should turn red, then back to yellow as the ammonia dries. Drip vinegar on the baking soda lines to turn them yellow again.

References

• TeacherSource.com: Goldenrod Paper
• CSGreenwitch.org: Morris' Disappearing Bag (PDF)