Doing a quick color test with litmus paper

Litmus is a substance that is extracted from a type of lichen and absorbed into porous paper. There are three different types of litmus — red, blue, and neutral. Red litmus is used to test for bases, blue litmus is used to test for acids, and neutral litmus can be used to test for both. Here’s how the paper reacts to acids and bases:

✓ If a solution is acidic, both blue and neutral litmus will turn red.

✓ If a solution is basic, both red and neutral litmus will turn blue. Litmus paper is a good, quick test for acids and bases.