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Name:  Maegan
Status: student
Grade: 6-8
Location: MS
Country: N/A
Date: 1/30/2005
Question:
Why is lemon juice successful in highlighting hair if the subject stays out in the sunlight once the lemon juice has been applied to the hair? What is the chemistry taking place during this process?

Replies:
Acid plus oxygen plus UV = bleaching. It happens in the sun and air naturally, but slowly. The acid in lemon juice helps it happen faster. The chemistry is called acid-catalyzed oxidation. It happens to a lot of carbon-based substances, hair included.

Jim Swenson


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