Secret Messages

Did you know that you can use everyday items to send secret messages?

Use a Q-tip and lemon juice to write a message that can only be revealed by using a hair dryer! Use a white candle on the white index card to write a hidden message that will be unveiled when you color or paint over it. Last, but not least, rub a Q-tip soaked with Windex on the yellow paper and it turns bright red! What happens if you rub a Q-tip soaked in lemon juice on the red streaks? The paper changes back to yellow!

Lemon Juice Messages

Why it works: Lemon juice is mildly acidic and acid weakens paper. The acid remains in the paper after the juice has dried. When the paper is heated with the hair dryer the acidic parts on the paper burn or turn brown before the rest of the paper does.

White Candle Messages

Why it works: Candles are made out of wax and wax is hydrophobic. Hydrophobic means that it repels water. When you go over the wax message with water based colors (like markers or water colors) the wax repels the color, leaving the white paper underneath unharmed.

Goldenrod Paper Messages

Why it works: The goldenrod paper is created using a special dye that turns red when exposed to a base. Windex contains a cleaning agent called ammonia which is classified in chemistry as a base. The opposite of a base is an acid. So, by applying an acid like lemon juice to the secret message, it reverses the reaction!

Enjoy your secret messages!