Little Scientists: Lava “Lamp”

Bring those groovy lava lamps back with just a few household ingredients! Perfect for your scientists-in-training.

Messy level: 2 (oil clean-up)
(5 = Super messy. 1 = Not messy at all.)

Materials

• Oil (both cooking or baby oil work)
• Water
• Alka-Seltzer
• Food coloring
• Clear jar

Instructions

1. Fill the jar about 2/3 full of oil.

2. Fill the remainder of the jar with oil.

3. Add drops of food coloring.

4. Drop in 1-2 tablets of Alka-Seltzer.

5. Watch it bubble!

But why?

Why don’t oil and water mix? Click here for an explanation.

– from the scientific mind of Miss Jen