Autumn Leaves from FlinnSci

Check off each color mentioned in the poster "The Science Behind Autumn Leaves" from FlinnSci.com?

• red

• green

• orange

• yellow

• purple

The type of chemical that gives leaves (and other objects) their particular colors are called ____________________ .

• indicators

• pigments

• conifers

• transformers

Which pigment is NOT discussed anywhere in the Autumn Leaves article from flinnsci.com

• anthocyanins

• carotenoids

• chlorophyll a

• chlorophyll b

• ALL of these ARE discussed.

Answer explanation

... and they also mention flavenoids!

Which of the following pigments gives autumn leaves the YELLOW and ORANGE colors we sometimes see?

• anthocyanins

• anthocyanins and flavenoids

• flavenoids and carotenoids

• chlorophyll a & chlorophyll b

Answer explanation

...and the color of carrots comes from a carotenoid called beta-carotene.

Pigments can be separated out so they show up differently on a filter paper (like chlorophyll a versus chlorophyll b). This process is called ...

• staining.

• leave peeping.

• paper chromatography.

• pollination.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

The edges of leaves are called "margins." What is the name for the type of margin shown on the leaf in the picture?

• entire

• incised

• lobed

Answer explanation

Looks like they "cut" into the sides with a scissors. You do that to food with your incisor teeth.

What kind of plants can be used to show chlorophyll a separating from chlorophyll b?

• oak leaves

• red cabbage leaves

• spinach leaves

• conifer needles

Answer explanation

Blend the leaves thoroughly in a blender and put a tiny drop at one end of a piece of filter paper to see the two separate lines after the paper dries out.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

When tourists drive around the countryside to view the spectacular fall colors in the trees it is sometimes called ......

• pigmentation.

• forest gazing.

• leaf spying.

• leaf peeping.

Answer explanation

You aren't the only one that never heard it called that!

Plants with ________________ can be used to make indicators that determine how acidic or basic a substance is.

• carotenoids

• xanthophylls

• anthocyanins

• flavenoids

Answer explanation

Xanthophyll is actually another plant pigment that produces some of the autumn colors.

_______________ and water can be blended together to make an indicator used to tell if a solution is acidic, neutral, or basic.

• Red cabbage

• Spinach leaves

• Lobed leaves

• Maple leaves

Answer explanation

The pigment turns red in acidic environments with a pH less than 7 and the pigment turns bluish-green in alkaline (basic), environments with a pH greater than 7.