Description
Create your own enchanting rainbow lava lamp right at home using simple ingredients found in your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 clean, clear jar or bottle
- Approximately ¾ cup vegetable oil
- Approximately ¼ cup water
- Food coloring (choose a rainbow variety for vibrant results)
- Alka-Seltzer tablets (or other effervescent tablets)
- Optional: Flashlight or phone light
Instructions
- Pour vegetable oil into the jar until it is about ¾ full. Allow it to settle before moving to the next step.
- Slowly pour water into the jar until it is nearly full. Observe how the water sinks to the bottom, beneath the oil layer, due to its higher density.
- Choose one color of food coloring and add a few drops. Wait for the drops to pass through the oil and mix with the water below. Repeat with other colors one at a time for a layered rainbow effect.
- Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet in half. Drop one half into the jar. Watch as bubbles rise, carrying the colored water upward, creating a lava lamp effect. When the bubbling slows, add another piece to keep the reaction going.
- Turn off the lights and shine a flashlight from below or behind the jar for enhanced movement and color.
Notes
- This experiment is safe for children but should be supervised.
- Feel free to experiment with different color combinations for unique effects.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: N/A
- Category: DIY Craft
- Method: Layering and chemical reaction
- Cuisine: N/A
Nutrition
- Serving Size: N/A
- Calories: N/A
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: N/A
- Cholesterol: N/A