oil water food coloring alka seltzer science experiment

Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →

Alka Seltzer Science Experiments

Get ready to explore some fizz-tastic fun with these exciting Alka Seltzer science experiments! These activities show how chemistry and physics work together to create exciting, hands-on results. Perfect for elementary school students, each experiment offers an engaging way to learn about science.

What Are Alka Seltzer Tablets?

Alka-Seltzer tablets are more than just fizzy—they’re packed with ingredients that cause a chemical reaction when mixed with water. Inside each tablet, there’s  sodium bicarbonate  (a base, also known as baking soda) and  citric acid  (an acid). When you add water, the citric acid dissolves and releases  hydrogen ions , which react with the sodium bicarbonate. This reaction produces  carbon dioxide gas  (CO₂), so you see bubbles forming.

Basic Alka Seltzer Science

This reaction between an acid (citric acid) and a base (sodium bicarbonate) is called an  acid-base reaction . The gas created during the reaction builds up pressure, which we use to make things move, like in the rocket or boat experiment. This chemical reaction also helps us explore important physics concepts like force and motion.

In these experiments, students will see how these tiny chemical processes can lead to some big, observable results! Whether launching a film canister or creating a bubbling lava lamp, students will learn how chemistry and physics combine to make things happen.

Alka Seltzer Science Experiments Supply List

This list should cover all the materials needed for each experiment, with extras for multiple trials or variations!

• Alka-Seltzer tablets  (enough for multiple experiments)
• Film canisters  (with lids, for rocket experiment)
• Plastic water bottles or clear cups  (for lava lamp and boat experiments)
• Water  (for all experiments)
• Vegetable oil  (for homemade lava lamp)
• Food coloring  (for lava lamp and optional for reaction rate experiment)
• Measuring spoons/cups  (for measuring water and oil)
• Small plastic boats  or DIY boat materials (like foam or plastic, for boat experiment)
• Stopwatch or timer  (for reaction rate experiment)
• Thermometer  (optional, for checking water temperature in reaction rate experiment)
• Hot tap water and cold tap water  (for reaction rate experiment)
• Large tray  or workspace to catch any spills (especially for rocket and boat experiments)
• Paper towels  (for cleanup)
• Safety goggles  (recommended for rocket experiments)

Alka-Seltzer Rockets

First, in the  Film Canister Rocket , you’ll see how gas pressure builds up when the Alka-Seltzer reacts with water. Once the pressure is too high, the lid pops off, sending the canister flying into the air!

This simple experiment shows Newton’s laws, including the Third Law of Motion, that there’s an equal and opposite reaction for every action. As the bubbles of carbon dioxide gas escape, they push the rocket upwards (in the opposite direction). This is a great way to explore chemistry (the reaction) and physics (the motion).

Reaction Rate Experiment

Next, we have the  Reaction Rate Experiment . Here, you can test how factors like the temperature of the water or tablet size affect the speed of the reaction. You’ll time how long it takes for the reaction to finish and see how changes can make it faster or slower.

This is a fun way to learn how temperature affects  chemical reactions . You’ll also get to practice changing one thing at a time to see how it affects the results.

Alka Seltzer Boat Experiment

The Alka-Seltzer Boat Experiment is all about motion. You’ll build a simple boat and use the gas from the Alka-Seltzer reaction to power it across the water. As the gas escapes, it pushes the boat forward (in the opposite direction).

This is another example of Newton’s Third Law of Motion, showing how liquids’ forces can create movement. It’s an exciting way to connect chemical reactions to real-world propulsion.

Homemade Lava Lamp

Now for some bubbly fun with the  Homemade Lava Lamp ! Fill a bottle with water, oil, and food coloring for this experiment, then add an Alka-Seltzer tablet. The gas from the tablet will create bubbles, and as they rise through the oil, they’ll carry colored blobs. The bubbles pop once they reach the surface.

The result creates a mesmerizing lava lamp effect. This is a great way to explore density (why oil and water don’t mix) and how gas can move through different liquids.

Apply the Scientific Method

These Alka-Seltzer experiments also make fantastic  science fair projects , allowing kids to use the  scientific method  and explore different  variables . For example, students can ask, “How does the size of the Alka-Seltzer tablet affect the height of the film canister rocket?” or “How does the temperature of the water affect the speed of the Alka-Seltzer reaction in the homemade lava lamp?”

Kids can then form a  hypothesis , conduct multiple trials to test different  variables , and record their observations. For a science fair project , students could create charts or graphs to display their results, showing how variables like water temperature, tablet size, or even water volume impact the reaction.

These hands-on projects demonstrate their understanding of chemical reactions and showcase how they used the scientific method to explore real-world concepts. Plus, they’re fun and visually exciting, making them perfect for science fairs!

More Science Experiments

These related science experiments reinforce the key concepts of gas production,  chemical reactions , and physical principles like density and motion while offering even more hands-on fun for students!

Liquid Density Tower: Layer different densities of liquids (like water, syrup, and oil) in a clear container. This experiment explores density differences and visually compares how the oil and water interact in the lava lamp experiment.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano: This classic experiment is another fun way to explore an acid-base reaction. When baking soda (a base) reacts with vinegar (an acid), it creates carbon dioxide gas, leading to a foamy “eruption” similar to what happens in the Alka-Seltzer experiments.

Balloon Inflation Experiment: Place a small amount of baking soda inside a balloon and attach it to the top of a bottle filled with vinegar. The acid-base reaction creates carbon dioxide gas that inflates the balloon. This is a great experiment for understanding gas production during chemical reactions.

Oil and Water Density Experiment: This experiment explores why oil and water don’t mix, much like the homemade lava lamp. Students can experiment with adding other substances, like dish soap, to see how they interact with the oil and water.

Rocket Balloon Experiment: Tie a string between two points, thread a straw onto the string, and then attach an inflated balloon to the straw. When you let the balloon go, it propels forward as the air escapes. This experiment demonstrates Newton’s Third Law of Motion, just like the Alka-Seltzer film canister rocket.

Soda and Mentos Eruption: This explosive reaction occurs when Mentos are dropped into soda, causing rapid gas production and a geyser effect. It’s a fun way to compare how different substances can cause varying reactions with gas buildup. Also, try pop rocks and soda !

Fizzing Lemon Volcano: Cut a lemon in half and add baking soda on top. The acid in the lemon juice reacts with the baking soda to produce fizzing bubbles, showing how natural acids can also cause acid-base reactions.

Helpful Science Resources

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kids or students and feel confident presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Printable Science Project Pack 👇
• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• DIY Science Kits
• Science Tools for Kids
• Scientific Method for Kids
• Citizen Science Guide
• Join us in the Club

We did something very similar this summer — using some old Efferdent tablets… So fun to watch!

This looks like so much fun! We haven’t experimented with oil yet, but we’re definitely going to have to give it a try!

Lots of great learning here! Thanks for linking up with After School!

Very clear explanations. Learners will enjoy it! Thank you!

that looks like fun!!!! should try it when I get home aye…

I appreciate your article. Thank you so much Littlebins for this helpful article. Hands-on Science Classes is really effective for preschoolers as early Science Education. Thanks again and I will surely share your article with my friends.

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide

~ projects to try now ~.

Science Fun

• A clean plastic bottle, try to use one with smooth sides
• Vegetable Oil (or you could use Mineral or Baby Oil instead)
• Fizzing tablets (such as Alka Seltzer)
• Food Coloring

Watch Scientist Joe as he makes the Lava Lamp Experiment here!

Instructions:

• Fill the bottle up about 1/4th (1 quarter) with water.
• Pour the vegetable oil in the bottle until is almost full. You may want to use a measuring cup with a spout or a funnel. You may have to wait a couple of minutes for the oil and water to separate.
• Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring. Watch as the color sinks through the oil. Did your drops of color mix with the water immediately or float in between for a few minutes?
• Break your fizzy tablet in half and drop part of it into the bottle. Get ready … here come the bubbly blobs!
• You can even get a flashlight, turn off the lights and drop in another half tablet. This time shine the flashlight through the lava lamp while the blobs are bubbling!

WATCH THE QUICK AND EASY VIDEO TUTORIAL!

How it Works:

The oil floats on top of the water because it is less dense or lighter than water. The food coloring has the same density as the water so it sink through the oil and mixes with the water. When you add the tablet it sinks to the bottom then starts to dissolve. As it dissolves it makes gas, carbon dioxide. Gas or air, is lighter than water so it floats to the top. The air bubbles bring some colored water with them to the top. When the air comes out of the colored water blob, the water gets heavy again and sinks. It does this over and over again until the tablet is completely dissolved.

Extra Experiments:

What happens if you put the cap on after dropping the fizzy tablet in? What if you drop a whole tablet in? When it stops bubbling, try sprinkling some salt into your lava lamp. What happens?

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO!

previous experiment

Next experiment.

Super Fun 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!

Fun 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:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 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!

This  Skittles Rainbow  science experiment is super easy and fun! It even comes with free recording sheets.

Skip to Main Content

Chemistry project

Make a Lava Lamp

• Flask  or empty water bottle (a clear plastic bottle works well)
• Vegetable oil, cooking oil, or baby oil
• Food coloring
• Alka-Seltzer
• Fill the flask most of the way with your choice of oil.
• Fill the rest of the flask with water. The oil floats and the water sinks to the bottom of the jar under the oil and looks like little, clear blobs.
• 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.
• Break an Alka-seltzer tablet into a few small pieces, and drop them in the flask one at a time.
• Watch your lava lamp erupt into activity! As the chemical reaction slows down, simply add more Alka-seltzer.

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

Concept 1: Density

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; 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.

Concept 2: Polarity

Polarity is the quality of having two oppositely charged poles.

Water molecules are "polar" because they have a lopsided electrical charge that attracts other atoms. The end of the molecule with the two hydrogen atoms is positively charged. The other end, with the oxygen, is negatively charged.

Just like in a magnet, where north poles are attracted to south poles ("opposites attract"), the positive end of the water molecule will connect with the negative end of other molecules.

Oil molecules, however, are non-polar— they don't have a positive or negative charge, so they are not attracted to the water molecules at all. This is why oil and water don't mix!

What Happened:

Set up your chemistry projects like a pro with this lab equipment! This set contains the most commonly used chemistry lab equipment, equipping you to explore critical chemistry concepts with durable glassware.

View Details:

Out of Stock, Expected to Ship: 11/28/2024

Need It Fast? See Delivery Options In Cart.

You observe temperature every day with how hot or cold you feel. Temperature is so much more than that! Design and carry out a fun experiment by making a thermometer and using it to measure the effects of various conditions on temperature.

Wonder (K-2nd grade)

In Stock & Ready to Ship

Item ships to the United States only.

Combining flavor, fun & chemistry, this spherification kit is a great & tasty intro to food science! Use food-grade versions of three chemicals used in molecular gastronomy recipes to create colorful, edible spheres!

Ideal for Grades 6+

If you are what you eat, what makes up your food? Experiment and learn about the connections between chemistry & nutrition for a meaningful STEM activity.

Learn how to make elephant toothpaste with the Elephant Toothpaste Reaction Kit - an incredibly fun, educational & hands-on demonstration of chemical reactions! Provide kids with a safer version of a classic experiment.

Create and watch a chemiluminescence reaction. Combine instant light powder and water in a beaker, and then watch in amazement as blue light glows!

Discover the relationship between crystalline structure and phase changes with the Super Cool science curriculum kit! Make and view crystals to discover the importance of physical changes on how we use matter.

Launch (8th-12th grade)

Lava Lamp variation

Snowstorm in a Boiling Flask

• Boiling (or Florence) Flask ; or any clear glassware
• White Paint
• Glitter (white or blue)
• Alka-seltzer
• Mix about 1tsp of white paint with about 100 ml of water
• Add a generous amount of glitter to the mixture
• Pour the white, glittered water into the  boiling flask  (or any  clear glassware) . This should fill your  glassware  about 1/5th full
• Fill the rest of the  glassware  with baby oil. The clear baby oil is less dense than the water mixture and will stay on top
• Break an  alka-seltzer tablet  into a few small pieces
• Drop the  alka-selzer pieces  in the flask one at a time.
• Watch as the snowstorm appears!
• As the reaction slows down, simply add more  alka-seltzer.

Just like in the lava lamp project our homemade snowstorm was created when we used  alka-seltzer  to react 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. Refer to the science lesson from the lava lamp project above or print this free lesson. 

Printable Project

Pin This Project

FREE Science eBook

4 Popular Slime Recipes

DIY Super Bubbles

Make a Bouncy Ball

We get it. Science can be messy. But Home Science Tools' products and service can handle it.

Our products are durable, reliable, and affordable to take you from the field to the lab to the kitchen. They won't let you down, no matter what they're up against. Whether it's (over)eager young scientists year after year, or rigorous requirements that come once-in-a lifetime.

And if your science inquiry doesn't go as expected, you can expect our customer service team to help. Count on friendly voices at the other end of the phone and expert advice in your inbox. They're not happy until you are.

Bottom line? We guarantee our products and service won't mess up your science study—no matter how messy it gets.

Questions? Get in touch with our Customer Service team.

How To Make A Homemade Lava Lamp

Yet another fun and exciting science experiment from our Fascinating Science for Kids eBook  ! This post was inspired by The Recipe Room , Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas , and Steve Spangler Science .

Just so you are not confused, this is not a real lava lamp…you can’t plug it into the wall or anything. But it does, however, imitate the look of a lava lamp! This makes for a great science activity for kids!

Related Post: 25 Awesome Science Fair Ideas For Kids

How To Make A Lava Lamp

Homemade lava lamp supplies:.

•  a 16 oz. or 1 liter bottle (we used a 2-liter and it used WAY too much oil)
• vegetable oil (or whatever kind you have),
• food coloring
• Alka-Seltzer tablets

*Alka-Seltzer tablets are considered medicine and contain aspirin. Do not let your child handle this medication.*

Step By Step Lava Lamp Instructions:

STEP 1. Fill your plastic bottle half-full with oil. This is why I suggest using a smaller bottle…we used over half a bottle of oil with this experiment alone!

STEP 2. Fill the remaining half of the bottle with water. Have your children watch as the water separates and slowly sinks to the bottom (because the water is heavier).

STEP 3. Add 10 drops of food coloring. Make sure to use only 1 color.

STEP 4. Cut one Alka-Seltzer tablets into fourths. Again, do not let a child handle the Alka-Seltzer tablet as it is medication.

STEP 5. Drop one of the pieces of Alka-Seltzer into the top of the bottle and watch what happens!

 To get the “lava-lamp” effect, you’ll need to add another fourth of Alka-Seltzer every 30 seconds or so.

The Science Behind This Lava Lamp Experiment:

Oil and water.

Both the water and the food coloring sink to the bottom of the bottle while the oil floats at the top because water is heavier than oil. The food coloring dissolves in the water but not in the oil.

How does Alka Seltzer work?

When you drop the piece of Alka-Seltzer into the bottle, it reacts with the water and creates carbon dioxide gas bubbles. Because the food coloring has already dissolved into the water, the bubbles are “colored” and float to the top! Once they ‘pop’, the colored bubbles sink back to the bottom of the bottle.

This post was first published May, 2012. Last updated 2018.

________________________________________

If you liked making this homemade lava lamp, download your free Science eBook,  that has this lava lamp experiment and 14 other science experiments…

Click below and enter your e-mail address. You’ll immediately receive an e-mail that will have the link to the eBook!

Click here for more fun science activities for kids…

Ice Cream In A Bag Experiment

How To Make Oobleck

STEM Activities for Kindergarten

25 Awesome Science Fair Ideas for Preschool and Kindergarten

How To Make It Rain

Related Posts

We're winding down on Fascinating Science for Kids experiments...we only have two left! Today we're…

I'm a little sad that all the fun and fascinating science experiments are coming to…

We are going on over 20 days of consecutive hundred-degree temperatures. It is too hot…

We were under a tornado warning for almost 2 straight hours last night with the…

We had so much fun coming up with our very own variation of a gelatin…

  I love the idea of giving a gift to a child that involves quality…

12 Comments

I have been meaning to do this with my daughter but never remember to buy Alka-Seltzer. It definitely looks like fun!

You can do this with regular table salt… Fill bottle 3/4 water, add a few drops of color and fill the bottle with oil but leave about 1 inch at the top. Let children add salt with a spoon and watch the fun. Hope you enjoy :) Also, it’s easier if you use a tall skinny glass instead of a bottle…..

THis is totally on list for summer. Thanks for sharing.

I tried to download the free Science Book but it takes me to the page where you subscribed to the blog which I have been for many months now. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for all your great information and inspiration. You are a great mom. Your kids are lucky to have you,

We just did this experiment today. Definitely use a smaller water bottle to save on oil. I didn’t realize you had to keep adding the tablets to get the bubbles moving. We will be keeping this experiment outside on the picnic table. Thanks.

hii..i live in iran and i can’t find alka seltzer anywhere….!what can i use instead of that?

I didn’t have Alka-Seltzer either, but it worked with a fizzing denture cleaning tablet. Cool!

• Pingback: Ice Cream in a Bag Experiment - I Can Teach My Child!
• Pingback: 21 Dinosaur Crafts Ideas - Spaceships and Laser Beams

I Love this !!! I conduct Childrens’ Nature Camps and these are great ideas I can use! Please put me on your email list! Thanks! Lori Henderson

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• February 27, 2020

Just a heads up-This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something through one of my links-you won't pay a penny more-but I'll make a small commission. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Purposeful play, lava lamp science experiment, stem activity for kids, the lava lamp science experiment for kids is a simple and fascinating stem activity , diy lava lamps are a classic, science activity perfect for kids of any age and explores water properties, cause and effect, density and polarity., vegetable oil, alka seltzer original tablets, food coloring, fascinating and hands-on way to explore science, explores cause and effect, hands-on way to explore density and polarity, experiment with carbon dioxide, how to do the lava lamp science experiment, step 1: add water and oil, fill the bottom of a jar with water (we filled our jar about 1/8 with water), fill the rest of the jar with vegetable oil nearly to the top, step 2: add food coloring, add drops of food coloring , step 3: drop in alka seltzer, break the alka seltzer tablets into fourths, invite your child to drop in a tablet and watch the magic, step 4: continue, keep adding alka seltzer tablets and watch the magic continue, shop this project, simply tap the photo to purchase.

What is the Science Behind the Lava Lamp Experiment?

The science behind the experiment, after the water and oil are added to the jar, the oil floats above the water because it is lighter than water (it has a lower density)., the water and oil do not ever mix because of polarity. water is polar and oil is non-polar., when the food coloring is added-it shoots through the oil and goes straight to the bottom because it is heavier than oil., when the tablet is added and dissolves-a gas is created (carbon dioxide)., carbon dioxide is lighter than water so it floats up to the surface bringing a little of the colored water with it as it does., once the gas bubble reaches the surface it breaks and the colored water floats back to the bottom of the jar, more science activities.

Rainbow Cupcake Science Experiment

Rainbow Lava Lamp Science Experiment

Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

Snowflake Baking Soda Experiment

Snowstorm in a Jar Science Experiment

Chocolate Reindeer Playdough

Christmas Magic Milk Science Experiment

Christmas Lava Lamp Science Experiment

Hello there! I'm Sarah Britton and I am so excited you stopped by! Join me as we explore simple yet effective ways to create purposeful play opportunities for your child.

Turkey & Thanksgiving Crafts

Sign up to our email squad and get your hands on this huge set of turkey and thanksgiving crafts., this website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. learn more here..

DIY Lava Lamp

Introduction: DIY Lava Lamp

Lava lamps are fun! They’re very colorful and bright. A lot of people like to use it as a night light. People, especially kids, can do a science experiment and create their own lava lamp using bottle, oil, water, food coloring, and Alka-seltzer. It’s really easy and it will explain science to kids in a fun way!

• Vegetable Oil
• Funnel (optional)
• Alka-seltzer Food coloring (color of your choice)
• Flashlight (optional)

Step 1: Fill Most of the Bottle With Vegetable Oil.

Get your bottle and fill the bottle with vegetable oil leaving approximately a quarter empty. There’s no exact measuring on how much you have to put in your bottle as different sizes of bottles may vary. You can use a funnel to pour your oil so it’s not messy.

Step 2: Fill the Rest of the Bottle With Water.

Fill your bottle with water leaving just about a third of the bottle empty. For an easier pour, you can use a funnel to prevent any spilling. Adding water to your bottle is one of the most important steps for your lava lamp.

Water and oil don’t mix together because the oil is lighter than the water. Since the water is more dense, it will sink to the bottom of the bottle. Water and oil don’t mix together because of “intermolecular polarity” which basically means that water molecules are attracted to water molecules and oil molecules are attracted to oil molecules. Adding oil and water together will make the “bubbles” in your lava lamp with your Alka-Seltzer in the next step. Carbon Dioxide gas will be produced from the reaction of the Alka-Seltzer tablet reacting to the water. The temperature of the water will affect its density. The hotter the water, the less dense it will be.

A little tip, using hot water is better than cold or room temperature water and you’ll see why in a bit.

Step 3: Add a Few Drops of Food Coloring.

Take a food coloring of your choice and add a few drops of food coloring into your mixture of oil and water. Adding food coloring is basically adding more fun to your lava lamp. The amount of food coloring you put in your bottle depends on your preference and how big your bottle is.

From my experiment, I added roughly 7 drops of food coloring. You don't want to put a lot because it might just make your whole "mixture" of oil and water the same color but you also don't want to put less because you might not be able to see the color that you want your lava lamp to be.

Step 4: Break an Alka-Seltzer in Half.

Break your Alka-seltzer in half. After breaking the Alka-seltzer in half, drop it in your bottle of oil, water, and food coloring. Adding an Alka-Seltzer to your bottle makes everything bubble. This is due to the fact that Alka-Seltzer is both acidic and basic. Tablets contain sodium bicarbonate (a base) and citric acid, therefore starts dissolving and creating a gas.

Because of the gas that the Alka-Seltzer made, the bubbles took the colored water with it. The bubble then reaches the top of the bottle.

So, from what I’ve stated in Step 2, using hot water is better than using cold or room temperature water. This is because using hot water will produce more bubbles in your lava lamp. Since the hot water has a higher temperature, its molecules move faster than cold or room temperature water.

Step 5: Add the Other Half to Keep the Effect Going.

At some point, the fizz from the first half of your Alka-seltzer will stop. In order for your lava lamp to continue its effect, add the other half of the Alka-seltzer.

Step 6: Enjoy!

Use a flashlight to have that real lava lamp effect. Having the cap on or off shouldn’t make any difference with your lava lamp. Just keep adding more Alka-seltzer if you want your lava lamp to continue. Use different colors in different bottles so you can have a variety of colorful lava lamps!

For my experiment, I did two different bottles (however, I didn't show the second bottle I made) to see why you have to specifically use a vegetable oil. In my first bottle, I used vegetable oil (the picture in the first step) which turned out really well. In my second bottle, I used extra virgin olive oil. I wouldn't recommend using extra virgin olive oil. Because the oil is too dark, you wouldn't be able to see the fizz from the Alka-Seltzer and the food coloring.

In the video, I've used the other half of the Alka-Seltzer (I forgot to record dropping the first half of the Alka-Seltzer. I got excited). That's why before I dropped the Alka-Seltzer, there was already bubbles on top and the oil and water have some color.

Weather Experiment: Homemade lava lamp

Each week we show you a fun science experiment that will entertain the kids and keep them learning. In this groovy weather experiment kids will learn how to make homemade lava lamps.

Supplies needed:

• A bottle or jar with smooth sides
• Vegetable oil
• Food coloring
• Alka seltzer tablets

Steps for the experiment:

• Fill your bottle 1/4 of the way with water.
• Fill the rest with the oil and wait for the water and oil to separate.
• Add a few drops of food coloring to the mix.
• Drop half a tablet of Alka Seltzer into the jar and watch the bubbly blobs form.

Explanation: Density is a big factor in this experiment just like it is in weather forecasts. The water is more dense than the oil which is why is sinks to the bottom of the bottle. The tablet release a gas called carbon dioxide which floats to the top because gas is lighter than water in liquid form.

Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information.

Now signed up to receive the headlines newsletter..

Local Coverage on Your Phone or Streaming TV. Watch Live and Free 24/7.