Flower color change demonstration as a visualization of potentiala harmful effects associated with ammonia gas on living organisms

Abstract

This manuscript describes a simple yet meaningful demonstration that can be easily adopted by high-school teachers to emphasize some potential dangers associated with gas inhalation. The demonstration aims to illustrate the undesirable effects of some gases on living organisms by employing freshly cut, colored flowers and ammonia gas. When in direct contact, the ammonia gas causes abrupt, easily observable changes in the appearances of the flowers, leading to their wilting, discoloration, or color fading. The experiment can be carried out at any time within an academic course because flowers with colorful petals can be easily obtained from any local store throughout the year. The proposed demonstration may also be used, if necessary, to introduce students into important biological and chemical concepts, including simple chemical calculations, the cell structure of flowers, and the effects of harmful gas molecules on living cells.