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Why drying turns tobacco leaves yellow
Age 9 · Science
Open to everyone until Sunday, November 15
To keep it, print it while it is open.
A fresh tobacco leaf is green because it is full of chlorophyll. When the leaf dries in warm, dim air, the chlorophyll breaks down and the starch inside turns into sugar, so the colour tells farmers how far the drying has gone.
In the picture
- Fresh green leaf: full of chlorophyll and starch
- Leaf turning pale: chlorophyll starts to break down
- Yellow leaf: green is gone and sugar has formed, time to stop
- Thermometer: warmth that keeps the drying going
Examples
- Green leaves turning yellow in autumn also lose their chlorophyll.
- A banana peel goes from green to yellow as it ripens and gets sweeter.
Key takeaways
- Chlorophyll breaks down, so green fades to yellow.
- Stored starch turns into sugar, and colour shows when to stop drying.
Quiz: Why drying turns tobacco leaves yellow (Age 9)
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What happens to the green chlorophyll when a tobacco leaf dries in warm, dim air?
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While the tobacco leaf dries, what does the starch inside it turn into?
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How can a farmer tell that it is time to stop drying the leaves?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This quiz is free there while the lesson is in the free week.
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