Learning Soil Science with Sauerkraut

What better way to learn about the abstract concept of ACIDIC or ALKALINE foods and soils than to play with sauerkraut? We added acid (vinegar) to turn our cabbage water red (thereby lowering the pH), and added an alkaline (baking soda) to turn the purple liquid blue (raising the pH).

We started with this beautiful test, before turning to our second experiment: adding our acid and base to dilated soil. Rather than turning different colors, we expected our watery sludge to fizz, bubble, and overflow (another sign of a chemical reaction) if the pH was too high or low. No action? Our soil was neutral!

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