THE
THE CHEMISTRY BEHIND
WHEN THE
INK IS SPRAYED ONTO
A POROUS MATERIAL THE
WATER IN THE INK REACTS WITH
CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE AIR TO
FORM CARBONIC ACID. THE
CARBONIC ACID THEN REACTS WITH
THE SODIUM HYDROXIDE IN A
NEUTRALIZATION REACTION TO FORM
SODIUM CARBONATE.
NEUTRALIZATION OF THE BASE
CAUSES A COLOUR CHANGE OF
THE INDICATOR AND THE STAIN
DISAPPEARS.
05
CHEMIRTRY
WITH INDICATOR INVISIBLE
THE WAY THIS INK WORKS IS
BASED ON PH, A SCALE OF
INK
ACID AND ALKALINE. BAKING
SODA IS ALKALINE, OR BASIC.
THE JUICE, OR INDICATOR
SOLUTION, IS ACIDIC. WHEN
BASIC AND ACIDIC THINGS
COMBINE, THEY CREATE A
CHEMICAL REACTION. SO,
WHEN THE INDICATOR
SOLUTION TOUCHES THE
INVISIBLE INK, A CHEMICAL
REACTION HAPPENS, AND THE
INK CHANGES COLOR!
Zahraa al Noor
& Nada Minhaj
06
01

WHAT IS INVISIBLE INK?
Invisible Ink is any substance that
you can use to write a message that
01 THE MATERIALS
is invisible until the ink is revealed.
Anyone can write an invisible
message, assuming you have paper,
because body fluids can be used as
invisible ink.
to form carbonic acid: CO2 + H2O → H2CO3
Carbon dioxide in the air reacts with water
Paper
Two bowls
Water
Baking soda
Cotton swab (or anything to apply the ink, like
an old paintbrush, your finger, etc.)
Grape juice or cranberry juice (this is the
indicator solution)

02 INSTRUCTIONS

+ carbonic acid -> sodium carbonate + water:

Neutralisation reaction is sodium hydroxide
2 Na(OH) + H2CO3 → Na2CO3 + 2 H2O
1. Mix equal parts of baking soda and water
in a bowl. Warm water is better, since it
makes the mixing process easier, but it is
not necessary.
2. Using a cotton swab or something similar,
write or draw out your message on a piece
of paper. While the ink is still wet, you’ll
be able to see what you’re doing.
3. Let the paper dry completely; now the ink
should be invisible!
It was most commonly used in the
4. Pour some grape or cranberry juice into a
bowl. Using a cotton swab, or an old
past, during wars, it was the form of
paintbrush, add the indicator solution to
communication without the enemy
the paper. When it is added to the parts of
finding out or intercepting their
the paper with invisible ink, it will change
messages. color, letting you read the message!
02 03 04