INVISIBLE INK FORMULAS
FORMULA #1 FORMULA #5
» 1 Tablet of Laxative » Vinegar or Lemon Juice
» 1 Tablespoon Rubbing Alcohol » Red Cabbage Water
(chop one large red cabbage into small pieces
» Cotton balls Note: blackberries, red onions, or even hibiscus
» Household Ammonia flowers can be used as well – simmer the cabbage
pieces until the water turns a deep shade of purple.
Mash the laxative tablet into the tablespoon of alcohol. Be sure Allow the water to cool. Refrigerate when not in use).
the tablet is entirely dissolved. Write a message on the paper
Write your message in lemon juice or vinegar and wait for it to
with paintbrush dipped into the solution. As the solution dries,
dry (or use hair dryer). Using a spray bottle, mist red cabbage
the writing will disappear. To develop the message: dampen
water over it to expose the message.
the cotton ball with liquid ammonia and dab it on the page. The
writing will reappear.
FORMULA #6
FORMULA #2 » 3 Tablespoons Baking Soda
» Lemon Juice » 3 Tablespoons Water
» Heat Source » Grape Juice
Write your message in lemon juice and wait for it to dry. Use a Mix about 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 3 tablespoons
hair dryer, iron or light bulb (carefully) to expose the message. water. Write with this mixture on paper and let it dry. Paint or
rub the grape juice across the paper to expose the message.
FORMULA #3
FORMULA #7
» Vinegar
» 1 Teaspoon Corn Starch
» Heat Source
» 1/4th Cup Water
Write your message in vinegar and wait for it to dry (or use hair
dryer). Use a hair dryer, iron or light bulb (carefully) to expose » Lodine
the message. » Water
Mix the corn starch with the water. Heat it a little, about 30
FORMULA #4 seconds in a microwave. Stir it and let it cool. Write your
message on paper and let it dry. To expose the message wipe
the surface of the paper with a sponge this has been wetted in
» Whole Milk iodine and water.
» Heat Source
Write your message in milk and wait for it to dry. Use a hair
dryer, iron or light bulb (carefully) to expose the message.
FORMULA #8
» Whole milk
» Sandpaper
» Pencil
Write a secret message with whole milk. Let it dry. Scrape the
pencil point with the sandpaper, letting the pencil dust fall on
the message area.
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SECRET MESSAGE EGG CHALLENGE
WHAT YOU NEED
» Small bowl
» Measuring cup
» Alum (can find in the spice aisle at your local supermarket)
» White vinegar
» Q-tips
» Hard-boiled egg
WHAT TO DO
In the bowl, dissolve one part alum in one part vinegar. Mix well. Use the Q-tips
cotton swab to write or draw something on the eggshell using the alum and vinegar
solution as ink. Let dry. Remove the eggshell from the egg.
WHAT HAPPENS
The alum-and-vinegar solution dries invisible, but when the eggshell is removed the
writing is visible on the egg’s surface (the egg is still edible).
WHY IT HAPPENS
The vinegar (acetic acid) dissolved the calcium carbonate in the eggshell, allowing
the alum to permeate the shell and discolor the egg white.
*Ok, we have to admit, we’ve never gotten this to work. If you’re successful,
e-mail us a photo at eductors@spymuseum.org and we’ll send you a prize!
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