What is a skeleton leaf and how can you make your own? Find out with this simple tutorial!
Reagents and equipment: stove, pot, 0.5 L water, leaves, 3 tbsp. baking soda, toothbrush, cutting board.
Heat 0.5 L water in a pot and dissolve 3 tbsp. baking soda in it. Immerse a leaf in the solution. Cook for 2.5 hours on medium heat. Gently transfer the leaf to a cutting board. Use a toothbrush to carefully clean the pulp from the leaf. Press the resulting skeletal structure. In 24 hours, your skeleton leaf will be ready!
The skeletonization of leaves is a natural process. Fallen leaves gradually break down under environmental and microorganic influences, and their “skeletal” components, the veins that move water and nutrients, take the longest to decompose. A similar process can be simulated at home. In an aggressive environment and high temperature, the leaves’ pulp is destroyed and can be removed with a brush. The skeletal structures are much more durable because they consist of plant fibers, which also comprise the stems and roots. Plant fibers can be used to produce threads and fabrics.
Safety precautions: Conduct this experiment only under adult supervision.