lava lamp science project hypothesis

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• Lava Lamp Experiment

What is a Lava Lamp? 

Lava lamps, also known as liquid motion lamps, have been doing the rounds for ages. The lava lamp science project hypothesis talks about the density of two liquids and the solubility of the two same liquids. In the lava lamp, we have liquids that are very close to each other in density and are insoluble in each other. Many people often end up using oil and water because they are insoluble in each other. But the two liquids have densities that are very different from one another. So you need to find two liquids with very close densities for the experiment to work.  

(Image to be added soon)

Once you have found the two liquids, heat the bottom of the mixture with a light bulb. The denser liquid will absorb the heat and expand. While expanding it low becomes less dense. As both the liquids have similar densities, the previously denser liquid becomes lighter and rises over the other liquid. All of this happens in very slow motion, and the density changes that occur are very mild. 

When Does a Lava Lamp Expire?

A bottle of a lava lamp is said to last nearly 2000 hours. After this, you can either replace it with a new lava lamp or bring a new bottle. A lava lamp usually starts working an hour after turning them on. Most lava lamps run on battery nowadays. You can change the batteries too in case the lamps stop working. 

Lava Lamp Experiment 

The lava lamp experiment works on the principle of density and polarity. Let us see how to make a lava lamp.

Apparatus Needed For Lava Lamp Experiment: 

Flask or a bottle 

Water 

Vegetable oil 

Alka-Seltzer or some other fizz tablets 

What is to Be Done

Fill the bottle or flask with water. Fill it to a quarter. It is advised to use a funnel so that the water doesn’t spill outside. 

Now add vegetable oil to the bottle until it is full to the brim.

Wait for some time. Let the vegetable oil and water levels separate. 

Add food coloring to the mixture. Pick any color, think of any choice. Since the food coloring is also water-based, it will sink and settle at the bottom of the flask. 

Take an Alka-Seltzer tablet and break it into small pieces. Start adding them to the flask one by one. 

The reactions will start inside the bottle as soon as the tablets are added. 

In case the lava lamp reaction stops, keep adding more tablets. 

What Do We Observe

We observe that in the lava lamp experiment, the density of oil is much lower than that of water. Although the water and oil layers separate due to the densities the food couriering has the same density as that of water. As soon as we add the fizz tablets, small bubbles appear that come to the top and bring some water along with it. The bubbles disaster as soon as the reaction stops. You can keep your lava lamp actively working by adding more tablets from time to time. 

Solved Examples

What Chemical Reactions Take Place in The Lava Lamp Experiment? 

Ans: The Alka seltzer, when reacted with water, produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles. They stick to the water droplets. The water and gas combination is less dense than oil, and hence they rise to the top of the flask. The real lava lamps use polar and nonpolar liquids, just like the homemade ones do. The lava lamp experiment measures density and polarity. 

Can Wax Be Used in Some Lava Lamps? 

Ans: Yes. Lava lamps are often filled with wax, water, and other chemicals to make them look brighter and colorful.

Fun Facts About The Lava Lamp Experiment

The lava lamp was first discovered in the year 1948. The ideal lava lamp took 15 years to design.

There can never be two same lava lamps. 

Initially, lava lamps were considered to be unusual and luxurious items, but over time, they have become accessorized products. 

Lava lamps can be highly expensive too. 

The lava lamp experiment is a widespread and fun experiment for kids nowadays. 

The most massive lava lamp is said to hold thousands of gallons of lava. 

FAQs on Lava Lamp Experiment

1. Who Invented a Lava Lamp?

Sir Edward Walker first introduced the lava lamp in the year 1963. He is the founder of the lighting company Mathmos. His company has been designating lava lamps for more than 55 years now. Before him, many other people tried inventing the perfect lava lamp, but it took about 15 years for the ideal lava lamp to be made. Walker’s business became a huge success in the early ’60s and ’70s. Initially, the light bulb was not the beating source. But the founder was desperate to place a light bulb at the bottom as a beating source. Eventually, the plan worked, and we got the very first customized lava lamp. These lava lamps do not cast much light as compared to other light fixtures.

2. Why Does Their Given Name Know Lava Lamps?

Lava lamps are called so because when they are lit up, it looks like burning lava inside. But it is merely a lucid substance inside the fire consisting of water and oil. Lava lamps are used by children and adults alike for room decoration and as a light source too. During the night, kids can turn in the lava lamp and sleep peacefully without fearing the dark. The lamps emit some light, but it is not as bright as other light bulbs. Some lava lamps have unique wax coating material inside. This particular wax expands, and as a result, the liquid becomes less dense. Lava lamps are also known as artificial lamps.

• Properties Of Fluids

Can you recall the mesmerising feel of watching a lava lamp, with its large coloured bubbles rising, sinking and morphing? Guess what! You can make your lava lamp by using materials that are present at home. This is a  science experiment for class 5 , which explains the concepts of liquid density and chemical reactions.

Lava Lamp Experiment

Lava lamp works based on two important scientific principles – density and polarity. This can explain why oil and water don’t mix. Understand the working principle of a lava lamp clearly by performing the lava lamp experiment given here.

Materials for Lava Lamp Experiment

• A plastic bottle.
• Food colouring
• Vegetable oil
• Fizz tablets like Alka-Seltzer
• Fill the bottle with a quarter full of water. Use the funnel to fill the water so that water doesn’t spill outside.
• Add vegetable oil in the quarter-filled water bottle until it is full.
• Now, wait for a few minutes until the water and oil get separate.
• Add food colouring into the bottle.
• Now we can see that food colouring goes through oil and get mixed with water.
• Cut Fizz tablet into a few smaller pieces and drop only one piece in the bottle. This will start reacting and appears like a lava lamp.
• Whenever required, drop another piece of the tablet to make a flow of bubbling in case the lava lamp stops.

Observation

The density of oil is lower than the density of water,  and both don’t mix well. The water and oil that is added in the bottle stay separately due to its density. Meanwhile, the food colouring goes through oil and mixes with water because the food colouring has the same density of water.

When you drop a piece of fizz tablet in the bottle, it releases carbon dioxide that appears as a small bubble and reaches the top by taking some of the water along with it. Now the interesting part is when the bubbles disappear on the top, and the colour falls back. Adding more tablet keeps the reaction for the longer time so that you can enjoy the lava lamp for an extended period of time.

For more interesting experiments, below are the links:

• Tornado In a Bottle
• Anemometer – Measurement of Wind Speed

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

What are the scientific principles on which the lava lamp works, state true or false: the density of oil is higher than the density of water., does the oil mix with water, what is the relationship between density and temperature, what happens when the fizz tablet is dropped in the bottle.

Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!

Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz

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Primary science investigations

• 2 Air pressure and the antigravity bottle
• 3 Air pressure, gases and the leaky bottle
• 4 Dissolving, density and ‘heavy’ sugar
• 5 Fizzy irreversible changes and bath bombs
• 6 Irreversible changes and the ‘fire extinguisher’
• 7 Irreversible changes and the ‘freaky hand’
• 8 Properties of gases, air pressure and ‘sticky’ cups
• 9 Properties of solids and ‘biscuit bashing’
• 10 Viscosity and ‘racing’ liquids
• 11 Freezing and the ‘intriguing ice’ experiment
• 12 Liquids, gases and the ‘lava lamp’

Liquids, gases and the ‘lava lamp’

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Try this investigation to explore liquids and gases, and practise taking accurate measurements

This resource is also available in Welsh and Irish

Get the Welsh language version .

Get the Irish language version .

This experiment focuses on carbon dioxide gas fizzing through liquids. First watch the video of the ‘lava lamp’ demonstration, then find out how you can investigate the mass of carbon dioxide in fizzy drinks with your learners. 

Learning objectives

• To show understanding of solids, liquids and gases.
• To understand that gases have mass.

Enquiry skills:

• To take accurate measurements.
• To apply maths skills in science.

Watch the video

The video below shows how to carry out the ‘lava lamp’ demonstration.

Source: Royal Society of Chemistry

Make a lava lamp to explore mixing liquids and more concepts in primary science.

Download the supporting materials

Set up and run the investigation with your class using the teacher notes and classroom slides, featuring a full equipment list, method, key words and definitions, questions for learners, FAQs and more.

• Teacher notes

PDF  |  Editable Word document

Classroom slides

PDF  |  Editable PowerPoint document

DOWNLOAD ALL

What do learners need to know first?

Learners should already know that there are three states of matter: solids, liquids and gases. They should have a basic understanding of the properties of each state of matter.

Equipment list

Each group of learners should have:

• A set of electronic scales
• A 500 ml bottle of fizzy drink
• Measuring jug (with a capacity of at least 500 ml)
• Spoons, straws or something else to stir the drinks with

Additional resources

• Investigate the properties of liquids and gases further in our leaky bottle investigation , or explore the amount if sugar in fizzy drinks with our heavy sugar investigation .
• Try our particle disco demonstration from our collection of video demonstrations exploring liquids .
• Read up on solids, liquids and gases in this  That’s Chemistry!  textbook chapter .
• Introduce your learners to solids, liquids and gases with our  primary science podcast . 

Lava lamp: teacher notes

Lava lamp: classroom slides, additional information.

Primary science investigations were developed in collaboration with the Primary Science Teaching Trust

Air pressure and the antigravity bottle

Air pressure, gases and the leaky bottle

Dissolving, density and ‘heavy’ sugar

Fizzy irreversible changes and bath bombs

Irreversible changes and the ‘fire extinguisher’

Irreversible changes and the ‘freaky hand’

Properties of gases, air pressure and ‘sticky’ cups

Properties of solids and ‘biscuit bashing’

Viscosity and ‘racing’ liquids

Freezing and the ‘intriguing ice’ experiment

• Practical experiments
• Properties of matter
• Observing and measuring

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A variety of lava lamps (Dean Hochman [CC BY 2.0], Wikipedia)

How does this align with my curriculum?

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Lava lamps are very interesting to look at. But they are also interesting examples of buoyancy, heat transfer and solubility!

What do you think about when you hear the word “groovy”? Bell bottom pants? Flowers? What about lava lamps?

Lava lamps were very popular back in the groovy 1960s! Many people still have them at home today. 

Most lamps light up a room. But lava lamps are mainly just fun to look at. They have coloured wax globules floating around in a transparent liquid. 

Did you know? Edward Craven-Walker designed the lava lamp. He based it on an egg timer he saw in a pub! The egg timer had a ball of wax suspended in water. When the wax melted, the egg was ready to eat. 

Lava lamps are also a “groovy” way of seeing physics and chemistry principles in action.

What is the Kinetic Molecular Theory?

To understand how lava lamps work, you have to understand Kinetic Molecular Theory . It states that all matter is made up of molecules that are always moving. These molecules have kinetic energy . The amount of energy depends on the temperature. When it’s hotter, molecules have more energy. And when they have more energy, they move faster. There are three most common states of matter.

The molecules in solids have the least energy. That means they move more slowly than molecules in liquids and gases.

The molecules in gases have the most energy of all. They move the fastest.

How Is Kinetic Energy Related to Density?

Kinetic molecular theory can help you understand density . Density refers to how much matter there is in a given volume of space. 

Have you ever thrown a coin into a fountain or a rock into a pond? You probably noticed that these objects sink in water. And you’ve probably noticed that other objects, like twigs, float on water. The objects that are denser than water sink. And the objects that are less dense than water float. 

But what does this have to do with lava lamps? Remember the globules - let’s call them “globs” for short - that float around? At room temperature, the globs are a bit denser than the surrounding liquid. That’s why they sit at the bottom of the lamp. But when you turn the lamp on, the globs heat up. The molecules move faster. The globs become less dense than the surrounding liquid. They rise and start to float around!

Did you know? Hot air balloons work the same way as the globs in the lava lamp.

How does the ability to mix affect how a lava lamp works?

So why don’t the globs of wax in a lava lamp mix with the surrounding liquid? 

Think about chocolate syrup and milk. They’re miscible liquids. That means they can mix to form a homogeneous mixture .  The chocolate syrup mixes completely with the milk to form yummy chocolate milk!

But some liquids are immiscible . They don’t mix with each other. It all depends on the force of attraction between the molecules in the two liquids.

For example, what happens when you try to mix oil and vinegar - like in a salad dressing? The molecules in the vinegar are more attracted to each other than to the molecules in oil. The molecules in oil are more attracted to each other than to the molecules in the vinegar. No matter how much you shake or stir your dressing, they will never stay mixed together.

But chocolate syrup molecules are attracted to milk molecules. And milk molecules are attracted to chocolate syrup molecules. That’s why you get chocolate milk and not a lava lamp in a glass!

Each immiscible liquid is called a phase . A mixture with two immiscible liquids is called a biphasic mixture . A mixture with more than two immiscible liquids is called a multiphasic mixture .

When you watch the globs float around in a lava lamp, you’re looking at a biphasic mixture!

Did you know? The globs in a lava lamp are made of paraffin wax . That’s the same type of wax used in many candles and crayons !

Why Do the Globs in a Lava Lamp Move Around?

One of the most interesting features of a lava lamp is the way that the globs float around. But why does this happen? You know that the globs are less dense than the surrounding liquid. And you know that the globs and the liquid are immiscible. So why don’t the globs just rise to the top of the lamp and stay there?

Well, lava lamps are designed so that the temperature at the top is a bit cooler than at the bottom. And what happens to molecules when they cool down? That’s right! They lose energy and move closer together. So when a glob reaches the top of the lava lamp, it contracts . It becomes denser than the surrounding liquid and begins to sink. When it reaches the bottom, the whole cycle repeats!

A lava lamp is an example of a convection current . Convection currents cause liquids and gases to rise and fall because of changes in their density. There are convection currents all around you, even in the Earth’s crust! 

Want to Try a Lava Lamp Experiment?

You can build your own lava lamp in your classroom or at home! Here’s what you’ll need:

A transparent container, like an empty water or soda bottle

Vegetable oil

Food colouring

An effervescent tablet (like Alka-Seltzer®)

A flashlight (optional)

How to make a lava lamp:

Fill one quarter of the bottle with water

Add food colouring

Fill the rest of the bottle with vegetable oil

Add half an effervescent tablet

Optional: if you have a flashlight, go to a dark room, turn on the flashlight and watch your groovy new lamp in the dark!

And there you have it: your very own lava lamp. Watch what happens to these immiscible liquids. Pretty groovy, don’t you think?

Starting Points

Connecting and relating.

• Have you observed a lava lamp first-hand? What did you think of it? 
• Would you like to own a lava lamp? Why or why not? 
• Can you think of any mixtures you have seen that have globules in them? Is there anything you have tried to mix that has distinct layers? 

Relating Science and Technology to Society and the Environment

• Provide examples of convection currents in the natural environment. 
• You might have seen the word “homogenized” on a carton of milk or on a jar of peanut butter. What does this mean? Why is this done by food manufacturers?

Exploring Concepts

• What is kinetic energy? How does kinetic energy change matter?
• How does the Kinetic Molecular Theory help explain changes in the density of matter?  
• How does the Kinetic Molecular Theory explain what happens to water as it changes states from solid ice to liquid water and then to water vapour or steam?
• How are convection currents formed in a lava lamp? How are convection currents formed under the Earth’s crust?

Nature of Science/Nature of Technology

• In which fields of science and technology would it helpful to understand the Kinetic Molecular Theory?

Media Literacy

• How would you market a lava lamp to kids so that it was both cool and educational? What message would you give about the product so that kids would want to buy one?

Teaching Suggestions

• This article supports teaching and learning of Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Heat and Energy related to buoyancy, fluids, heat transfer, and mixtures & solutions. Concepts introduced include globules, Kinetic Molecular Theory, kinetic energy, solids, liquids, gases, density, miscible, homogeneous mixture, immiscible, phase, biphasic mixture, multiphasic mixture, contracts and convection current. 
• Before reading this article, teachers could have students complete a Vocabulary Preview learning strategy to engage prior learning and introduce new terminology. Ready-to-use Vocabulary Preview reproducibles for this article are available in [ Google doc ] and [ PDF ] formats. 
• To consolidate understanding after reading the article, teachers could have students complete a Concept Definition Web learning strategy for the concept of Kinetic Molecular Theory . Ready-to-use Concept Definition Web reproducibles for this article are available in [ Google doc ] and [ PDF ] formats. 
• To consolidate an understanding of different types of mixtures, teachers could have students create a graphic organizer, like a T-chart, to compare and contrast heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures.
• To further explore miscible and immiscible mixtures, teachers could have students do the hands-on activity  What happens when we mix liquids?  (Hands-on Activities). 
• There are various applications of mixtures that could be used for cross-curricular art projects as well. For example, wax resist art and paper marbling.

Chemistry for Kids: Chemical Mixtures (2019) A plain-language, illustrated description of mixtures, including the difference between a solution and mixture.

The Kinetic Molecular Theory  (2016) A video (1:30 min) Scámarca Productions describing the theory. Based on an old junior high school assignment by the filmmaker!

How Liquid Motion Lava Lamps Work (2019) A How Stuff Works description of lava lamps, including their history. 

How Do They Make Lava Lamps? (2016) A video(3:02 min.) from Science Channel giving a behind-the-scenes look at how commercial lava lamps are made.

What is immiscibility? (2019) A Let’s Talk Science Hands-on Activity.

Why do oil and water not mix? (2019) A Let’s Talk Science Hands-on Activity.

Lumen Learning. (n.d.). Kinetic Molecular Theory of Matter .

Maggie's Science Connection. (n.d.). How a lava lamp works .

McVean, A. (2018, July 19). The Luminescent Chemistry of Lava Lamps . McGill University.

Scamarca Productions. (2016, May 24). The Kinetic Molecular Theory (Animation ) .

Related Topics

Homemade Lava Lamps: Chemistry in action!

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Did you have a lava lamp growing up? As it turns out, it is easy and inexpensive to create your own lava lamp while learning a thing or two about chemistry.

Creating your own lava lamp is a great way to showcase the reaction between vinegar and baking soda to your child in a colorful way. Plus, given the nature of this experiment, the reaction continues for quite some time!

It’s easy to set up and there are tons of lessons you can teach your child with this experiment, including chemistry, how colors mix to create new colors, and challenging their fine motor skills.

How to make the Lava Lamp science experiment

Supplies you will need.

For the Lava Lamp experiment, you’ll need:

• A container (we used a tall mason jar)
• Cooking oil
• Baking soda
• Food coloring

Before you start

Due to the reaction occurring in this experiment, do not use a lid on your container!

Instructions

Here is how to do the Lava Lamp science experiment with your toddler:

Step 1: Add baking soda to the container

Add enough baking soda to cover the bottom of your container, plus a little extra.

Get your child involved : Have your child add the baking soda to the container! I helped guide the baking soda to the container and then let her pour it. It’s great for helping your child follow directions!

Step 2: Add cooking oil to the container

Start pouring the cooking oil directly on top of the baking soda. Don’t worry – they won’t mix. Even if they mix at first, the baking soda will settle back to the bottom of your container.

Since the cooking oil is where you will see the action of this experiment – don’t skimp! I filled my container about 1/2 full with cooking oil, but that’s because we were running low. Ideally, I would have filled it about 2/3 full!

Get your child involved : I also let my child pour in the cooking oil. Since the cooking oil bottle was pretty large and heavy, I helped her get the bottle up to the mason jar and helped her start pouring. From there, she poured the rest.

Step 3: Create your colored vinegar in a separate container

I used a small ramekin for my colored vinegar. I filled it about halfway full, then added 3-4 drops of food coloring (you can add more if you want a deeper color). Then, use your pipette to give it a good swirl to mix it together.

Get your child involved : Let your child add however many droplets of food coloring to your vinegar. Even better if you can mix colors to create new colors, then talk about it!

Step 4: Use a pipette to add colored vinegar to the container

The reaction will be pretty slow at first because there is quite a bit of baking soda at the bottom of the mason jar and very little vinegar.

The more colored vinegar you add, the bigger the reaction!

Get your child involved : Allow your child to do this step entirely on their own! It’s fantastic for fine motor skills and it lets them take charge of the reaction.

Try experimenting

We wanted to see what would happen if we added multiple colors to the experiment at once.

• Would the colors mix into one color?
• Would each individual color stay intact?

We found that each color stayed separate from the others, giving us a pretty neat-looking lava lamp! Be sure to hit play in the video below to watch the individual colors in the lava lamp.

The science behind the Lava Lamp science experiment

The Lava Lamp experiment is excellent for learning about chemistry and seeing the reaction between an acid and a base!

How it works

The Lava Lamp experiment is a classic vinegar-baking soda experiment. The difference this time is that the reaction takes place in the cooking oil, creating colorful beads bouncing around.

As we add the colored vinegar to the container, it sinks to the bottom because vinegar is more dense than oil.

Once it reaches the baking soda at the bottom of the container, it creates carbon dioxide bubbles mixed with vinegar, which float to the surface of the oil. When it reaches the surface, the bubble pops and colored vinegar sinks back down to cause another reaction. This is how you see dancing colored bubbles.

More chemistry experiments to try out with your child

• Fizzing lemons experiment – using lemons and baking soda to make a lemon volcano
• Magic Milk experiment – an explosion of colors with a chemical reaction lesson
• Fizzing paint experiment – another vinegar and baking soda reaction, but with an artistic twist!

FAQ about the Lava Lamp Science Experiment

How do you make the lava lamp experiment with alka seltzer.

Since Alka Seltzer provides carbon dioxide bubbles without the use of vinegar and baking soda, you will need fewer ingredients for the lava lamp experiment.

Simply fill the bottom of your container 1/3 of the way full with water, add the food coloring you desire, fill the rest of your container with oil, and add the Alka Seltzer.

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Science Projects > Chemistry Projects > How To Make A Homemade Lava Lamp + Video  

How To Make A Homemade Lava Lamp + Video

You know the mesmerizing feel of watching a lava lamp, with its large colored bubbles sinking and rising and morphing. With this project, you can make your own (temporary) lava lamp with household materials! It’s easy and safe, and it looks very cool.

Check out our project video to see the homemade lava lamp in action!

What You Need:

• Flask or bottle
• Vegetable oil
• Food coloring
• Alka-seltzer

What You Do:

1. Fill the flask most of the way with vegetable oil.

2. Fill the rest of the flask with water. The water will sink to the bottom under the oil.

3. Add a few drops of food coloring; your choice of color. The food coloring is water-based, so it will also sink and color the water that is now at the bottom of the flask.

4. Break an alka-seltzer tablet into a few small pieces, and drop them in the flask one at a time.

5. Watch your lava lamp erupt into activity! As the reaction slows down, simply add more alka-seltzer.

What Happened:

A lava lamp works because of two different scientific principles, density and polarity.

• Density is the measurement of how compact a substance is – how much of it fits in a certain amount of space. (The scientific equation is density = mass/volume .) If you measure an equal volume of oil and water, you’ll find that the water is heavier than the same amount of oil. This is because water molecules are packed more tightly and a cup of water actually has more mass than a cup of oil. Because water is more dense than oil, it will sink to the bottom when the two are put in the same container. Density is affected by temperature—the hotter a liquid is, the less dense it will be.

Real lava lamps use a polar and non-polar liquid just like our homemade one did. In a real one, however, the densities of the liquids are much closer together than vegetable oil and water. The denser liquid sinks to the bottom, but the lava lamp light heats it up until it expands and becomes less dense, causing it to rise upward. As it gets farther from the light, it cools down, becoming more dense again until it sinks; then the cycle starts all over.

Instead of using a light, in our homemade lava lamp we used alka-seltzer to power the lamp. The alka-seltzer reacts with the water to produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles. These stick to the water droplets. The water/gas combo is less dense than the oil, so they rise to the top of the flask. At the top, the gas bubbles pop and escape into the air, allowing the dense water to sink back to the bottom again.

Lava lamps powered by heat are trickier to make and can use more hazardous materials. You can experiment fairly safely with things like rubbing alcohol and mineral oil or lamp oil. See if you can make a lamp powered by heat!

More Density Science Projects

Rainbow density column.

Using a knowledge of liquid density, you can easily “stack” several liquids on top of each other! Use food coloring to make a rainbow of colors.

• Liquids of different densities: honey, corn syrup, dish soap, water, vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol
• Graduated cylinder or tall glass or jar
• Pipets (medicine droppers)

1. Pour an inch (or however much you want) of honey into the bottom of the cylinder or glass.

2. Use food coloring to color a little bit of corn syrup (if it’s the light kind; just leave it brown if it’s the dark kind). Slowly and carefully pour an inch of the corn syrup on top of the honey.

3. Color some liquid dish soap and carefully add an inch on top of the corn syrup. You may find it easier to use a pipet for this one instead of pouring.

4. Next, use a pipet to add an inch of colored water on top of the dish soap.

5. You won’t be able to color the vegetable oil, because food coloring is water-based and water and oil don’t mix! Go ahead and add an inch of oil on top of the water.

6. Finish it off with an inch of colored rubbing alcohol. (If you have lamp oil, you could also add that to the very top.)

7. Voila – a beautiful rainbow of stacked liquids!

Each of the liquids you used had a different density . You added them to the cylinder in order of most dense (honey) to least dense (rubbing alcohol). Since each new liquid was less dense than the one before it, it floated on top instead of mixing together. You can try other liquids, if you want to! To figure out where your new liquid would fit in the column, you can measure the density of all the liquids. Measure an exactly equal volume of each liquid and weigh it (be sure to subtract the weight of the container). Even though the amount of liquid is the same, the denser ones will be heavier. (Density = mass/volume.)

There are many different things that affect density, such as temperature. Heat causes substances to expand and become less dense, while cold causes them to contract and become more dense. (One exception is water – it becomes more dense with cold until the freezing point, but it freezes in a crystalline structure that makes ice less dense than liquid water.) Adding things to a liquid will also change its density. For example, salt water is more dense than regular water (which is why it’s easier to float in salt water than in fresh water!). You can try building a density column using only colored water. Try stacking hot, cold, and room temperature water, or try building a column with salt water, sugar water, and fresh water.

Now that we’ve explored the fascinating world of density columns in our previous experiment, it’s time to take our learning to the next level with a fun and delicious twist! In this exciting adaptation, we’ll be using everyday coffee ingredients to create a coffee-themed density column. This hands-on experiment not only builds on our understanding of density but also adds a flavorful twist to our scientific exploration. So, grab your lab aprons and get ready to brew up some knowledge as we dive into the world of coffee and chemistry!

Coffee Density Column

If you’re like us and love coffee almost as much as science, try this density column adaptation with coffee ingredients.

Layer the following ingredients carefully from the bottom up: -Honey -Your favorite flavor syrups -Low fat Milk -Coffee -Whipped Cream

More Fun Projects:

• Check out the science of scuba divers and submarines when you make a cartesian diver
• See how density affects the weather when you make a colorful convection current
• See the difference salt can make when you simulate the density of the Great Salt Lake

Density Science Lesson

Forget the life jacket. The Dead Sea contains the saltiest water on earth, which is also the densest water found naturally on earth! You don’t need flotation devices if you are swimming in the Dead Sea. Your body’s density is already much less than the water’s, so the only thing you can do is float higher than you ever would in fresh water!

Freeze and float. Most liquids contract when they freeze, making them more dense in their solid form than in their liquid form. (They have the same mass, but it’s packed into a smaller volume.) Water does the opposite: it expands as it freezes, lowering the density. Since ice is less dense than water, it floats. And it’s a good thing it does! If water acted like most other liquids, lakes and rivers would freeze solid and all life in them would die. Instead, a layer of ice forms on the surface, leaving liquid water underneath.

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What is the hypothesis of making a lava lamp?

Table of Contents

• 1 What is the hypothesis of making a lava lamp?
• 2 Why is it called a lava lamp?
• 3 Why is a lava lamp a chemical reaction?
• 4 What is the controlled variable in a lava lamp experiment?
• 5 What is a good hypothesis for a lava lamp?
• 6 How are the blobs in a lava lamp made?

Hypothesis:We think that adding oil, water, and food coloring together will make a lava lamp effect because we alredy know that water and oil separate because of their complete density contrast. The alka-seltzer will make it have a lava lamp effect.

Why is it called a lava lamp?

As the warmed wax rises through the surrounding liquid, it cools, loses its buoyancy, and falls back to the bottom of the vessel in a cycle that is visually suggestive of pāhoehoe lava, hence the name. The lamps are designed in a variety of styles and colours.

What makes a lava lamp work?

In a liquid motion lamp, the heat usually comes from a light bulb. The heavier liquid absorbs the heat, and as it heats up, it expands. As it expands it becomes less dense. Because the liquids have very similar densities, the formerly heavier liquid is suddenly lighter than the other liquid, so it rises.

Why is a lava lamp a chemical reaction?

In the water layer, the tablet begins to dissolve and the chemicals in the tablet react with each other creating bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. Changes in density as gas is added to or taken away from water cause it to float up and sink down through the oil. Thus the lava lamp is created!

What is the controlled variable in a lava lamp experiment?

Hypothesis and Variables INDEPENDENT VARIABLE- The temperature of the water. DEPENDENT VARIABLE- We are measuring how well the lava lamp works. CONSTANTS- The amount of water, oil, and salt put in the the container will be about the same. CONTROL GROUP- The control group will be hot lava lamp.

What kind of light does a lava lamp need?

What is a good hypothesis for a lava lamp?

How are the blobs in a lava lamp made.

How does the wax in a lava lamp work?

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Science Fun

DIY Lava Lamp Chemical Reaction Science Experiment

In this fun and easy science experiment, we are going to show you how to make a DIY lava lamp by using a chemical reaction. Most do-it-yourself lava lamp science experiments require the use of an Alka-Seltzer tablet, but in this version we are going to show you how to make an awesome lava lamp with a few items you probably already have in your kitchen. This is a great visual science experiment to observe and also provides insight into density. 

• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup of vinegar
• Food coloring
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon water
• Clear cup or glass
• Small bowl or cup
• Tray to catch and contain any spills caused by the bubbling chemical reaction.  

Instructions:

• Place the glass in the tray. 
• Add the 1 cup of vegetable oil to the glass.
• Next, add the 1/4 cup of vinegar.
• Add 4 to 8 drop of food coloring. 
• Mix well with the spoon.
• Now mix the baking soda and water in the small bowl. 
• Pour the baking soda and water mixture into the glass.
• Observe what happens. 

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How it Works:

The oil is less dense and thus seems to float on the vinegar. The oil is also less dense than the baking soda and water mixture. When the mixture is poured into the glass, it sinks to the bottom and the chemical reaction occurs between the baking soda and vinegar. This endothermic chemical reaction creates carbon dioxide as well as causes the glass to cool noticeably. As the carbon dioxide bubbles rise toward the surface, little globs of colored water stick to the bubbles creating the lava lamp effect. As the bubbles reach the surface, they pop, and the colored water sinks back toward the bottom of the glass. 

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Does the temperature of the vinegar effect the chemical reaction? Do other types of oil behave differently than the vegetable oil. Do different amounts of water or baking soda cause any noticeable changes in the chemical reaction?  

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Next experiment.

Printable Lava Lamp Experiment Worksheet (for preschool-middle school!)

Categories Easter STEM Activities

If you haven’t tried doing a lava lamp experiment with your students yet, make this your year! It’s such a fun and simple addition to no-prep STEM activities. I’ve also designed a printable lava lamp experiment worksheet that you can use along with this experiment to scale the activity for any grade level between preschool and middle school. Because no matter the age of the children I’ve done this experiment with- the 15 year olds love watching this chemical reaction in action as much as preschoolers do!

All you have to do to set-up this lava lamp experiment is to download the lava lamp experiment worksheet that goes along with this lesson and get started! You probably already have everything you need to complete this experiment in your classroom or kitchen at home.

How to Make a Lava Lamp

Here’s how to set up your own lava lamp STEM project.

When I’m introducing science experiments and STEM activities for kids, I like to choose activities that are simple and easy to set up, but that also have a bit of a “wow” factor. In all my years working with kids from toddlers through middle school, these sorts of simple, hands-on experiments spark an interest in science like nothing else.

That’s why we always try to make things easy, low-cost, and usually simple enough for kids to do mostly on their own- because experience is the best teacher!

The lava lamp experiment is no different.

I’ve created a free worksheet that you can use to expand on the science and STEM elements of this activity with leveled questions from preschool through middle school. Grab the lava lamp experiment worksheet below and simply select the STEM extensions that are relevant to the age group you are currently teaching.

How Does the Lava Lamp Science Experiment Work?

When you make a DIY lava lamp, kids can learn a lot!

A lava lamp made with Alka-Seltzer tablets is a lesson in chemical reactions. Alka-Seltzer contains citric acid and baking soda, which react together when added to water.

This reaction creates carbon dioxide gas, which travels to the surface of the oil. The colored water gets carried up with the gas, making the jar bubble with colored lava lamp bubbles!

Lava Lamp Experiment Questions

Here are some questions that you can discuss when completing the lava lamp experiment with any age group. And don’t forget to download the lava lamp experiment worksheet for even more STEM extension ideas!

Science: Learn about endothermic reactions, acids and basics, and carbon dioxide.

Technology: What is an Alka-Seltzer tablet made of?

Engineering: Does changing the size of the container or amount of water or oil change the reaction?

Art: Lay a piece of paper across the top of the jar and see if you can capture the colored bubbles as they rise to the surface.

Math: How long does the reaction take from start to finish? How many bubbles does each tablet make?

What Do You Need to Make a Lava Lamp?

You don’t need a lot to make a homemade lava lamp, which is why it is one of my favorite quick STEM activities for kids in all grades. But in case you don’t already have what you need for the homemade lava lamp in your classroom or kitchen- these are the supplies you need before getting started for each group of students.

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• Alka-Seltzer tablets
• Clear plastic jars
• Liquid food coloring

How Do You Make a Lava Lamp?

Decide how many colors you want to make. We did a green, a pink, and a purple, but Easter colors also include light orange and light blue, and yellow.

You could divide your class up into groups of 3-4 and give each one a jar to experiment with.

Fill the jar 1/4 of the way with water.  Add a few drops of food coloring.

Fill the jars 2/4 of the way full of oil. Don’t fill it all the way up with oil or when you add the tablets, the jars will overflow.

Break the Alka-Seltzer tablets into 4-6 pieces.

Drop one piece into the jar and watch the carbon dioxide gas carry the colored water to the top of the jar.

The more tablets you add, the stronger the bubbling reaction is. If you add too many tablet pieces, the jar can bubble up and overflow, and the lava lamp bubbles will break apart.

Adding less Alka-Seltzer tablet pieces will produce a truer “lava lamp” experience.

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Super Cool Lava Lamp Experiment for Kids

This lava lamp experiment is super cool! Your kids will love exploring colored water and oil, but a surprise ingredient will make this science activity even more exciting!

It’s always a hit with the kids. So grab a few household supplies and give this lava lamp science activity a try!

Lava Lamp Science Experiment

As part of our science lessons this school year, we are trying out all kinds of really neat science experiments and activities. This lava lamp experiment tops the list!

*Disclaimer: Adult supervision is required for this experiment. You must supervise your children at all times while doing it.  Do not allow children to put any of the items in their mouth and do not do this experiment if your children still put things in their mouth.

Both of my kids had a blast with this. We’ve actually done it several times and with all different colors, but it never ceases to amaze them. It’s almost shocking how long they will engage with it.

One great thing about this science experiment is that you only need a few supplies and your probably already have most of them in your home or classroom.

Lava Lamp Experiment

Supplies Needed:

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• Vegetable Oil
• Food coloring – primary colors or neon
• Original Alka Seltzer tablets

To begin, color about 1/2 cup of water with food coloring. I like using these gel food colors for vibrant coloring.

Take the Alka Seltzer tablets and break them into 2 or 3 pieces. Place them in a small cup or container.

Fill a glass about 3/4 full with vegetable oil. Then pour in the colored water until the liquid in the cup is about 1-2 inches from the top.

You don’t want it to overflow! Well, unless you want to turn it into an eruption experiment too. For this reason and quick cleanup, I like to do this on a tray.

Add pieces of the Alka Seltzer tablet to the cup. *DO NOT let kids put the tablet in their mouth at any time.

Why this Science Experiment Works

The water and oil do not mix and the oil doesn’t change color because the food coloring is water soluble. The Alka Seltzer reacts with the water to make bubbles of carbon dioxide.

The bubbles attach themselves to the blobs of colored water and bring them to the top of the glass. When the bubbles pop the blobs of colored water fall back to the bottom of the glass.

This lava science experiment is sure to WOW your kids. They may even ask you to do it over and over again like mine did!

Video of Lava Lamp Experiment

Winter Lava Lamp Experiment!

This Blizzard Lava Lamp experiment is super cool! Your kids will love exploring colored water and oil with a winter twist!

Our kids were so excited because it looked like a blizzard was going on inside the glass. They had a blast with this fun science activity!

Benefits of Science Experiments with Kids

Science experiments help foster curiosity, ignite children’s imagination and help nurture a love for learning! It’s a great way for kids to develop fine motor skills, problem solving and analytical thinking while having fun and being creative!

From colorful chemical reactions to mesmerizing physics your kids will have a blast learning.

1. Hands-On Learning

When young kids actively engage in experiments, they grasp complicated concepts more easily. The tactile nature of experiments allows them to visualize abstract ideas, fostering comprehension that traditional teaching methods might struggle to achieve.

2. Cultivating Critical Thinking

Through engaging in science experiments, children refine their skills in observing, analyzing, and incorporating new information.

3. Fostering Creativity

Science experiments often involve a degree of unpredictability. When children witness unexpected outcomes, they are prompted to think creatively and to experiment with new strategies. This nurtures an environment of innovation, where they learn that failure is not a setback, but rather an opportunity to learn!

4. Building Confidence and Self-Esteem

As kids conduct experiments and have successful results, their confidence grows. This newfound confidence will have a positive ripple effect, encouraging them to tackle new challenges with enthusiasm and perseverance.

5. Real-Life Application

Science experiments bring scientific theories to life, showcasing how the principles are applied in real-world situations.

6. Improved Fine Motor Skills

Engagement in science experiments is a fun way for kids to work on fine motor skills. They will be accomplishing a variety of tasks using their hands, while learning and having a great time.

7. Bonding and Collaborative Learning

Science experiments can become wonderful bonding experiences for families, friends, and classmates. Whether it’s a family project or a group activity in the classroom, kids will develop connections and create great memories.

Science experiments offer amazing benefits for kids while being fun and engaging!

Other Fun Science Experiments

Grow a Rainbow  with this fun science experiment! This is quick to setup and you just need markers, a paper towel and two cups of water!

Try this super simple  Oobleck recipe  that only requires two household ingredients!

If your kids love this oobleck activity, they will absolutely love the  Dinosaur Dig Excavation  activity!

This rainbow  Walking Water Science Experiment  is one of our most popular science activities!

This  rain cloud jar science experiment  gives children a chance to explore clouds and rain in a fun and engaging way.

Explore chromatography with this fun  chromatography science experiment  for kids!

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How To Make A Lava Lamp

Have you ever made a DIY lava lamp? We love to explore science with common items found around the house. A homemade lava lamp (or density experiment) is one of our favorite science experiments for kids . Combine two fun science concepts for a cool lava lamp experiment the kids will love to do over and over again! 

HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE LAVA LAMP

EASY DIY LAVA LAMP

Get ready to add this simple lava lamp experiment to your science lesson plans this season. If you want to explore liquid density and chemical reactions, this is the science activity to try! While you’re at it, make sure to check out these other fun chemistry experiments .

Our science activities are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun! Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home!

We have heaps of fun variations of this alka seltzer lava lamp that are perfect for different themes and holidays during the year.

• Valentine’s Day Lava Lamp
• Earth Day Lava Lamp
• Halloween Lava Lamp

LAVA LAMP SCIENCE

There are quite a few things going on here with both physics and chemistry ! First, remember liquid is one of three states of matter . It flows, it pours, and it takes the shape of the container you put it in.

However, liquids have different viscosity or thicknesses. Does the oil pour differently than the water? What do you notice about the food coloring drops you added to the oil/water? Think about the viscosity of other liquids you use.

Why don’t all liquids simply mix together? Did you notice the oil and water separated? That’s because water is heavier than oil. Making a density tower is another great way to observe how not all liquids share the same density.

Liquids are made up of different numbers of atoms and molecules. In some liquids, these atoms and molecules are packed together more tightly, resulting in a denser liquid. Learn more about density here.

Now for the chemical reaction ! When the two substances combine (alka seltzer tablet and water), they create a gas called carbon dioxide, which is all the bubbling you see. These bubbles carry the colored water to the top of the oil, where they pop, and the water then falls back down.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:   DENSITY TOWER EXPERIMENT

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LAVA LAMP EXPERIMENT

You can also do this lava lamp experiment with salt instead of alka seltzer tablets!

• Water Bottles, Mason Jars, or Plastic Cups
• Food Coloring
• Baby Oil or Cooking Oil
• Alka Seltzer Tablets (generic is fine)

Lava Lamp Tip: Set up this experiment on a plastic tray or dollar store cookie sheet to minimize the mess. Dollar stores also have nice little mason jar-like jars you can use too. Science in a jar is quite fun, so we picked up six of them the last time we were there!

Check out our homemade science kit or engineering kit for more ideas about science supplies!

LAVA LAMP INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Gather your ingredients! We started with one cup, and then we decided to make a rainbow of lava lamps.

STEP 2:   Fill your cup or jar(s) about 2/3 of the way with oil. You can experiment with more and less and see which one gives the best results. Make sure to keep track of your results. This is a great way to turn a science activity into an experiment.

STEP 3:   Next, you want to fill your jar(s) the rest of the way with water. These steps are great for helping your kids practice fine motor skills and learn about approximate measurements.

Make sure to observe what happens to the oil and water in your jars as you add each ingredient.

STEP 4:   Add drops of food coloring to your oil and water and watch what happens. However, you don’t want to mix the colors into the liquids. It’s ok if you do, but I love how the coming chemical reaction looks if you don’t mix them!

STEP 5:   Now it’s time for the grand finale of this lava lamp experiment! It’s time to drop in a tablet of Alka Seltzer or it’s generic equivalent. Make sure to watch closely as the magic starts to happen!

When the lava lamp chemical reaction slows down, add another tablet. What do you think will happen? How is the colored water moving up through the oil? Ask plenty of questions to get your kids thinking!

You can really get your lava lamp experiment  going crazy by adding more tablet pieces but watch out… It might erupt out of the bottle! Be prepared for a little mess, but this homemade lava lamp is so much fun!

What else can you do with those aka seltzer tablets? What about making alka seltzer rockets !

LAVA LAMP SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

Want to turn this lava lamp into a cool lava lamp science project? Check out these helpful resources below.

• Easy Science Fair Projects
• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas

What is a good question to explore for this lava lamp project? What if you didn’t add oil at all? Or what if you change the temperature of the water? What would happen? Learn more about variables in science.

MORE FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS TO TRY

• Skittles Experiment
• Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
• Growing Borax Crystals
• Elephant Toothpaste
• Magic Milk Experiment
• Egg In Vinegar Experiment

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If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
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14 Comments

Amazing. I’m a counselor for children and adolescents of all different functional levels and I love incorporating art into therapy. Thank you for this idea. It is so cool!

Your welcome! So glad that this can be useful to you. My son loves anything that will erupt too!

Baby oil works the best for this experiment. It is clear, so it allows for the food coloring to really stand out.

Baby oil is great for this experiment but regular oil works well too in case you don’t have any on hand.

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Thank you for the idea , I might use it for an extra credit project

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This science experiment, this is what I’m going to to do for a science fair project!!!

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How can I download instructions for the experiments? I’d rather have a print out to check with during experiments than my phone.

Check out my classic science pack in the SHOP! https://little-bins-for-little-hands.myshopify.com/products/classic-science-pack

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Babble Dabble Do

How To Make A DIY Lava Lamp With Baking Soda

July 28, 2020 by Ana Dziengel 1 Comment

Let’s learn how to make a DIY lava lamp  using  Arm & Hammer Baking Soda ! This is a mess-free chemical reaction that will mesmerize kids!

This post is sponsored by Arm & Hammer. All opinions are my own.

I have made DIY lava lamps many different ways over the years but this is the first time I tried it with a layer of baking soda at the bottom. What I love most about this method is you can continue to activate it for a loooooong time and that means parents, you might just get an extra 5 minutes to yourself today.

Today’s project is the second science experiment of Arm & Hammer Summer Camp!  I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of this fantastic summer resource as the science counselor!

DIY Lava Lamp

Downloadable directions here.

• 1 clear plastic bottle or jar with cap
• 4 tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda
• 12 ounces of vegetable oil (may need more or less depending on the bottle size)
• ¼ cup vinegar
• Food coloring
• Plastic cup
• Pipette or eye dropper
• Measuring cup

Instructions

Time needed:  15 minutes.

Using the funnel, pour 4 tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda into the bottle or jar. Let it settle into a flat layer at the bottom of the bottle.

Pour in the vegetable oil carefully to avoid disturbing the layer of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda and set aside.

Pour vinegar into the plastic cup. Add 3-4 drops of food color and stir to combine.

Use the pipette to add 5-6 drops of colored vinegar to the plastic bottle. Watch the reaction.

Continue to add drops of vinegar until bubbles stop floating to the surface. If your pipette is long enough you can also stick it down into the layer of baking soda for a big burst of action!

Tips/Suggestions: 

• Even though this DIY lava lamp is a mess free chemical reaction, I recommend doing this on a tray to protect the surface below during the pouring process.
• If you use multiple colors of vinegar eventually the colors will combine.
• Try doing this in different sized containers. Does the container shape alter or change the look of the lava lamp reaction?

The science behind a DIY lava lamp

Acid/base chemical reactions.

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a chemical compound known as a base . A base is substance that releases hydroxide ions when combined with water. An acid is a substance that contains a high concentration of positive hydrogen ions. In this experiment vinegar is the acid.

When an acid and a base are combined, a chemical reaction occurs. During a chemical reaction, chemical bonds in a substance are either destroyed or created. When sodium bicarbonate and vinegar are combined they react and produce carbon dioxide, a gas which you see bubble up as soon as the vinegar droplets come into contact with the baking soda.

We have more chemical reactions you can try here!

Oil and vinegar do not mix because of polarity. Polarity is a concept used to describe how certain molecules are attracted to or repel other molecules. Vinegar is an acid and its molecules are polar, meaning the molecules have slightly charged poles. Polar molecules are attached to each other.

Oil contains fatty acids and non-polar molecules which are attracted to other non-polar molecules. Polar and non-polar molecules repel each other, therefore the vinegar droplets will not mix with the oil, giving you a colorful lava lamp style display.

I love this simple DIY lava lamp experiment because you can make it using just a few simple pantry ingredients and recycled jar. It doesn’t  get any easier than this! If you missed yesterday’s camp science experiment, go here.

If you enjoyed this experiment and would like to see the other fun Arm & Hammer Summer Camp activities, check out Arm & Hammer’s YouTube channel.

Brenda Lang says

December 22, 2020 at 5:54 am

Omgosh! This is too cool. Can’t wait to try this out but not until after Christmas.

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