There are some trees in my neighborhood whose leaves always start to change color earlier than the rest. I noticed them this morning as I drove down my road. And when I got home I noticed one in my backyard was starting to develop some red leaves too. That means it’s time for my annual post about why leaves change color in the fall.
Reactions is a great YouTube channel from the American Chemical Society. I’ve featured a handful or more of their videos this year. One of the Reactions videos explains the chemistry involved in the process of leaves changing color. The video explains how chlorophyll and the glucose stored inside trees create the red, yellow, and brown of fall foliage.
For an explanation of why leaves change colors that elementary school students can understand, watch the following SciShow Kids video.