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Make something disappear

Make something disappear
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Write secret messages with lemon juice or baking soda that disappear when dry, then reveal them safely using gentle heat to observe the effect.

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Step-by-step guide to make secret disappearing messages with lemon juice or baking soda

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What you need
Adult supervision required, cotton swabs or small paintbrush, gentle heat source (warm lamp or hairdryer or iron for adult use only), lemon juice or baking soda, small bowl, teaspoon, towel or cloth (for ironing), water (only if using baking soda), white paper

Step 1

Gather all the materials and place them on a clean flat table.

Step 2

Choose which invisible ink you want to use: lemon juice or baking soda.

Step 3

If you chose lemon juice pour a little lemon juice into the bowl and if you chose baking soda mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with 2 teaspoons water in the bowl until dissolved.

Step 4

Dip a cotton swab or small paintbrush into the ink so the tip is slightly wet.

Step 5

Write a secret message or draw a small picture on the white paper using the wet swab or brush.

Step 6

Lay the paper flat and wait until the writing dries completely and looks invisible.

Step 7

Hold the paper a few inches away and check that the message is hard to see when dry.

Step 8

Ask an adult to help reveal the message using a gentle heat source.

Step 9

With the adultā€™s help slowly warm the paper by holding it near a warm lamp bulb or by using a hairdryer on low from about 6 inches away or by pressing a warm iron on low through a towel for a few seconds.

Step 10

Watch closely as the heat makes your secret writing appear and notice how the ink changes.

Step 11

Share your finished creation on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can I use if I don't have lemon juice, baking soda, or cotton swabs?

If you don't have lemon juice or baking soda, use plain milk exactly the same way (dip a cotton swab or small paintbrush and write, then let it dry), and if you lack cotton swabs try a toothpick or the clean corner of a paper towel to apply the ink.

My secret message never appearsā€”what likely went wrong and how do I fix it?

If the message doesn't appear, check that you used the correct baking-soda mix (1 teaspoon baking soda to 2 teaspoons water) or undiluted lemon juice, let the paper dry completely so it looks invisible, and then with an adult slowly warm the paper (lamp bulb, hairdryer about 6 inches away, or warm iron through a towel) until the writing shows.

How can I adapt this activity for younger kids or make it more advanced for older kids?

For younger kids have an adult pre-mix the baking-soda solution and let them make big simple shapes with a cotton swab and wait for drying, while older kids can use a fine paintbrush to write detailed messages, experiment with milk as a substitute, or test different paper types to compare results.

How can we extend or personalize the invisible-ink activity once we've revealed the message?

To extend the activity, compare which reveal method (warm lamp bulb, hairdryer at about 6 inches, or warm iron through a towel) shows the fastest or darkest result on lemon-juice or baking-soda writing, then decorate the paper and photograph your revealed creation to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make secret disappearing messages with lemon juice or baking soda

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DIY Magic Trick for kids! How to make objects disappear!!

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Facts about invisible ink and simple chemistry for kids

šŸ§‚ Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can act as an invisible ink and is often revealed using a pH indicator like grape juice.

šŸ”„ Gentle heat (like a warm lamp or low hairdryer) can reveal lemon-juice messages safely with an adult present.

šŸ•µļø Invisible ink has been used for centuries ā€” from Renaissance couriers to spies in World War II.

šŸ‹ Lemon juice contains citric acid that oxidizes and browns on paper when warmed, revealing secret writing.

šŸ“œ Smooth, light-colored paper works best for invisible ink ā€” rough or glossy paper may hide or smear the message.

How do I make secret messages disappear and reveal them using lemon juice or baking soda?

To make invisible messages, dip a cotton swab or thin paintbrush in lemon juice or a baking-soda solution and write on plain paper. Let the ink dry completely so it becomes invisible. To reveal lemon-juice ink, an adult gently warms the paper near a bright lamp or carefully presses with a warm iron on low, using a cloth barrier. For baking-soda ink, paint over the dried message with grape or cranberry juice to make the writing appear. Always supervise and test on scrap paper first.

What materials do I need to write invisible messages with lemon juice or baking soda?

Youā€™ll need plain white paper, fresh lemon juice or baking soda mixed with water, small bowls, cotton swabs or a thin paintbrush, and scrap paper for testing. For revealing: a bright lamp or an iron (adult only) works for lemon juice; grape or cranberry juice works as a reveal for baking-soda ink. Also have a towel or heatproof surface, an apron or old clothes, and adult supervision. Avoid open flames and strong chemicals.

What ages is the lemon-juice or baking-soda invisible ink activity suitable for?

This activity fits ages 4 and up with supervision. Ages 4ā€“6 enjoy watching an adult write and reveal messages while practicing fine motor skills. Ages 7ā€“10 can mix solutions and write with close adult supervision, especially when heat is involved. Ages 11+ can handle more steps independently but should still have an adult operate hot tools like irons or lamps. Adapt instructions and responsibilities to each childā€™s maturity level.

What are the benefits and safety tips for doing the invisible-ink activity with kids?

Benefits: it teaches simple chemistry (oxidation and acidā€“base reactions), boosts observation, fine motor skills, and creativity. Safety tips: never use open flamesā€”use a lamp or low iron heat handled by an adult; work on a heatproof surface and test on scrap paper first. Use non-toxic, food-based materials, wash hands after use, and keep good ventilation. Emphasize adult supervision during any heating step to keep the experiment fun and safe.
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Make something disappear. Activities for Kids.