Arnaldus de Villa Nova around the year 1300 is credited with developing a litmus test for pH, (Chemical Education Digital Library), utilizing a blue dye derived from lichens in the Netherlands. A good chronology of the advancement of pH testing technology from 1906-2009 can be found in John Buie's 2010 article in Lab Manager, October 07, 2010, "Evolution of the pH Meter: Tracing the origins of the pH meter."

  

liz commented over 1 year ago

Here's the link to the article mentioned above: http://www.labmanager.com/lab-product/2010/10/evolution-of-the-ph-meter#.Wcl9xUqGP-k

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I found this webpage that describes how to use either red cabbage, turmeric, radish, or elderberry to make a quick and short term color change test: http://tuxgraphics.org/npa/litmus-redcabbage-tumeric-radish-ph-indicator/

Home-made "litmus paper" made from elderberry juice. It's stable and almost as good as real litmus paper:

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