With the Dyeing with Indigo Organic Chemistry Laboratory Kit, introduce the color and excitement of organic chemistry to students. Watch as a bright yellow dye is oxidized by air to a rich blue color, right before your students’ eyes!
Introduce the color and excitement of organic chemistry to your students! Watch as a bright yellow dye is oxidized by air to a rich blue color—right before your students’ eyes. Indigo, the organic dye used in this lab, was used by the Romans and is still used today to dye fabrics, such as blue jeans. Discuss the chemistry of fibers and fabrics using the included fabric swatches. Each swatch contains six different fibers so dyeing-capability comparisons can be made. This activity can also be used in consumer science and to teach the importance of chemistry in history. Dyeing makes a memorable organic chemistry lab experience—one your students will not soon forget! Includes fabric swatches, all necessary chemicals and specialized equipment, Teacher Notes and reproducible student handouts as well as detailed information on indigo dye and its place in history.
Complete for 30 students working in pairs.
Correlation to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Science & Engineering Practices
Planning and carrying out investigations Using mathematics and computational thinking Constructing explanations and designing solutions
Disciplinary Core Ideas
MS-PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter HS-PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter HS-PS2.B: Types of Interactions
Crosscutting Concepts
Structure and function Stability and change
Performance Expectations
MS-PS1-2: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.