Why do newspapers turn yellow or age after some days? Find out yourself in this experiment.
Things Required:
Newspaper
Automobile
Directions:
Lie a piece of newspaper in an automobile so that the sun’s rays may hit it. Leave the paper in the car for five days.
This Is What Happens:
The newspaper appears to have rapidly aged. It changes from white to yellow in colour.
Science Behind It:
This reaction is unique because it is backward from most reactions with oxygen. Usually, the addition of oxygen causes the colour to become lighter. The materials used to make the newspaper are yellow in colour. The chemicals added to turn the paper white do so by removing oxygen. Placing the paper in the car allows the sunlight to heat up the air and the paper causing oxygen to combine with the chemicals in the paper. The addition of the oxygen changes the paper back to its original yellow colour. All newspaper will turn yellow after a period of time. The sun’s light just speeded up the aging process.