Turmeric stains white clothes yellow.when stained cloth is washed with soap the stain turns into reddish brown. The reddish brown stain again becomes yellow when washed with lot of fresh water. Why?

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Solution

Turmeric is a pH indicator and displays different colours in acidic, neutral and basic solutions. It is yellow in colour in acidic and neutral medium and changes to a red brown colour at basic pH. Soap is basic and in presence of soap turmeric is reddish brown and on washing off the soap with water the medium is neutral again.

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