lava lamp experiment write up

• 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.

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How to Make a Lava Lamp with FREE Experiment Worksheet

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Kids will be amazed with this DIY Lava Lamp that is really fun and EASY to make! I will show you how to make a lava lamp in just 5 minutes for a truly memorable chemistry experiments for kids . This homemade lava lamp is a fun  oil and water experiment  for kids from toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th gradeers, and up! Lots of pictures and ideas for a lava lamp experiment .  Simply print lava lamp experiment worksheet pdf and you are ready to play and learn with this really cool  diy lava lamp for kids .

Lava Lamp Experiment

I am always eager to find creative, new, and  fun things for kids . As part of our  summer bucket list  we decided to  make a lava lamp . It was a really fun summer science activity that was so EASY I knew you’d want to know  how to make a lava lamp for kids . This  lava lamp experiment is so simple and uses everyday materials you probabaly already have on hand! Try this preschool science experiments with parents, teachers, grandparents, planning for Vacation Bible School, working on a science Summer camp, daycare, or planning a science birthday party . This is a MUST TRY science activities for preschoolers , toddlers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, and up!

Plus don’t miss our pop rocks and soda experiment, 100 fun kindergarten science experiments , and best slime recipes

Lava lamp experiment worksheet

Start by scrolling to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> _____ <<. The lava lamp science pdf file will open in a new window for you to save the freebie and print the template.

DIY Lava Lamp

To make this easy science experiment you will need the following supplies:

• Empty bottle – clear pastic bottle like a water bottle, soda bottle, etc.
• oil – any kind will work. I suggest getting oil that is as clear as possible for it not to affect the coloring. Being stuck at home we used darker yellow oil when we recentrly redid one of our favorite science experiments
• food coloring – any color you like such as blue, yellow, red, green, etc.
• Funnel to minimize the less
•  Alka Seltzer Antacid Tablet (you will need 1 tablet per bottle you make)

How to Make a Lava Lamp

Start out by pouring water about 1/3 of the distance up your recycled plastic container using a funnel to avoid mess. Now add cooking oil (vegetable oil, walnut oil, canola oil, etc.) the rest of the way to go just 2″ from filling your container.

I love crafts, science projects, and activities that reuse items we have laying around the house! For this project, you probably have everything you need to make it laying around your house!

Lava lamp experiment for kids

Children will be fascinated by how the oil & water didn’t mix! They can shake up the jar and watch as the two substances will go back to oil at the top and water at the bottom. You can give them this simple explanation on why oil and water don’t mix:

Oil molecules are only attracted to other oil molecules and water molecules are attracted to water molecules. So they don’t mix together. The reason the oil floats on top is because the oil is less dense than water.

Homemade Lava Lamp

Add 4-5 drops food coloring. It really doesn’t matter how much food coloring you use – you can add as much as you want to get the desired color at the bottom of the jar.

HINT: You can even have children explore mixing colors. Have kids add yellow and red drops to make, orange, blue and yellow to make green, blue and red to make purple, etc.

lava lamp for kids

Notice how the food coloring falls through the oil in balls without mixing at all. Once it gets to the water section it will mix.

how to make lava lamps

Start at the beginning to prepare any other bottles so your other children can enjoy this fun science projects too! We opted to try different colors so we neded up with a homemade lava lamp for all the primary colors – red, blue, and yellow.

how to make a lava lamp for kids

Next add 1 tablet Alka Seltzer Antacid Tab, broke up into several pieces, into the jar.

Make your own lava lamp

It will start to bubble and and create a lava lamp. You will be amazed as the chemical reaction of the water and antacid tab bubbles and shoots the bubbles of colored water up through the oil.

The DIY Lava Lamp with be in constant motion as bubbles keep moving up and down through the oil, but notice how the colored water and oil don’t mix! Kid will be amazed and impressed by this science experiment!

lava lamp diy

You can cause your colored water molecules (think size of balls) to be bigger or smaller molecules by shaking the bottle to break apart the molecules. You can also impact the size of the colored bubbles by trying to putting a smaller portion of the antacid tab in at a time.

homemade lava lamp for kids

This easy-to-make kids lava lamp is sure to be a project kids remember for year to come!

When the antacid tablet is no longer causing the lava lamp effect you can repeat the process.  If your child shakes the jar violently and the oil, water, and food coloring appear to have made one big colored mess – don’t throw it out. Give it a couple hours and you will see the oil & colored water separate again. Then go ahead and repeat the science experiment again.

lava lamp science project

Minnie wanted to make a multi colored lava lamp. Instead of explaining why it wouldn’t work (the colors would all mix together in the water to make black) I decided to just let her test her hypothesis. We added several different colored drops and tested it out. While her hypothesis was incorrect, the lava lamp effect was just as cool in black.

how to make a homemade lava lamp

This is a MUST try kids activity for sure! I love when kids can learn while having FUN! This activity will help kids learn about chemical reactions, color mixing, and density of oil and water all while doing a (sh, don’t tell them) educational activity for preschoolers, toddlers, kindergartners, first graders, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, and grade 6. For older children use this as a springboard into one of those topics and dive deeper reading some scientific texts to supplement your project.

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Looking for more science experiments to try with your students? Here are our 20 most popular science projects

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Lava lamp experiment worksheet pdf

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Beth Gorden

Beth Gorden is the creative multi-tasking creator of 123 Homeschool 4 Me. As a busy homeschooling mother of six, she strives to create hands-on learning activities and worksheets that kids will love to make learning FUN! She has created over 1 million pages of printables to help teach kids ABCs, science, English grammar, history, math, and so much more! Beth is also the creator of 2 additional sites with even more educational activities and FREE printables – www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com and www.preschoolplayandlearn.com. Beth studied at the University of Northwestern where she got a double major to make her effective at teaching children while making education FUN!

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

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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

P l a y f u l P a r e n t i n g : Bringing Play to Every Day

Lava Lamp Experiment

Making temporary lava lamps is a fun, colorful and easy science experiment sure to keep your kids engaged and entertained, all while learning about basic chemical reactions. Depending on which products you have in your home, here are instructions for two different ways you can make your own lava lamp at home.

Baking Soda Lava Lamp

• Tall empty jar or bottle
• Baking Soda
• Food coloring
• Vegetable oil

What You’ll Do

• Put a few tablespoons of baking soda at the bottom of the jar.
• Add water until the jar is one-quarter full.
• Add 5-10 drops of food coloring and gently mix all ingredients in the jar to combine.
• Add vegetable oil until the jar is three-quarters full.
• With the jar on a flat surface, slowly add in vinegar one tablespoon at a time. Add more as needed.
• Watch the lava lamp activate!

Antacid Lava Lamp

What You’ll Need

• Antacid tablet
• Fill the jar half-way with vegetable oil.
• Add water until the jar is about three-quarters full.
• Add 5-10 drops of food coloring.
• Break an antacid tablet into several pieces and drop the pieces into the jar one at a time.

Safety Tip! Do NOT put a lid on the jar or bottle while the mixture is active and bubbling.

Add Fun! Do this experiment in a dark room and put a flashlight or other light behind the jar for an extra groovy experience.

What Kids Learn

• Critical Thinking

How to Support the Play

• Ask lots of questions. Especially ones without a yes/no or right/wrong answer. “Why do you think that happened?” or “What do you think will happen next?”
• Remember: There is often more than one “right way” of doing things.
• View mistakes and bumps in the road for what they really are – opportunities to learn.

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Experimenting with static electricity is a great way to introduce young kids to science and spark their curiosity to learn more.

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Get your kids excited about exploring music by making your own paper tube xylophone. Or, make a few and start your own xylophone band!

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Spark your child’s imagination and creative thinking skills by building a whimsical gnome home. Make a single home or an entire village.

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How to Make a Lava Lamp

Learn how to make a lava lamp in the simple tutorial below. These DIY lava lamps are SO COOL and completely mesmerizing to watch! The bubbles float up and fall back down in this simple science experiment that’s fun for both kids and adults.

DIY Lava Lamp

Lava lamps were created in the 1960’s and have amazed generations of people. The original, store bought lava lamps typically contain water and wax. A light bulb creates heat which melts the wax and causes it to rise. Then when it cools the wax falls down again.

But did you know that you can make a different type of lava lamp at home using water, oil, and Alka-Seltzer? They’re really simple to make and just as much fun to watch!

It takes only a few ingredients and a couple of minutes to make a DIY lava lamp. Kids and adults alike will love watching the colourful bubbles flow up and down.

Have fun watching the bubbles flow while teaching kids about science!

Check out our Homemade Lava Lamp video tutorial:

*Note: Scroll down for the step-by-step photo tutorial.

Looking for more mesmerizing experiments? Here’s some of our favourites:

Snowstorm in a Jar

Underwater Magic Sand

Tornado in a Jar

Here’s what you’ll need:

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website. 

The full printable instructions are at the end of this post, but here’s a list of products on Amazon that are similar to the supplies we used:

• Food colouring
• Canola oil (or vegetable oil)
• Alka-Seltzer tablets

• 1/2 cup Water (less or more, depending on container size)
• 8-10 drops Food colouring
• 1-2 cups canola or vegetable oil (less or more, depending on container size)
• 1-2 tablets Alka-Seltzer (broken into small pieces)
• tall clear container
• Measuring cup
• spoon or stir stick

Instructions:

Step 1: add the liquids.

Step 2: Add Alka-Seltzer tablet

Step 3: Be amazed!

Helpful Tip:

What oil can I use for a homemade lava lamp?

We highly recommend using canola or vegetable oil in your lava lamp, but you can also use baby oil.

We experimented with baby oil (see our Snowstorm in a Jar Experiment for a similar reaction), and even a mixture of baby oil and canola oil. Baby oil is awesome because it makes your lava lamp completely clear instead of yellow. But the bubbles were smaller than the bubbles in the cooking oil.

Baby oil is thinner than canola oil which means the bubbles move up and down faster in the baby oil so the “lava” effect wasn’t quite as good. We also noticed that the Alka-Seltzer fizzed up a little bit more in our lava lamps with baby oil, which sometimes made it harder to see the bubbles clearly.

What container is best for a DIY lava lamp?

You will need a tall, clear container such as a drinking glass, mason jar, or soda bottle. We used drinking glasses that held 1-3/4 cups of liquid because they had a cool lava lamp shape to them.

I don’t recommend using a large container because it will be more difficult to throw away the oil when you’re done (see the next section on how to clean it up when you’re done). Plus the bubbles are more impressive in a container that’s 2 cups or less.

You can also make your lava lamp in a jar or bottle that has a lid. This will allow you to close it off and use the lava lamp again. Make sure the Alka-Seltzer has stopped bubbling before you put the lid on!

How do you clean it up when you’re done?

Oil shouldn’t be poured down the drain since it could clog your pipes. When we were done with our lava lamps we poured the oil into a container with a lid and threw it in the garbage. Be sure to follow your local guidelines for disposing of oil.

How many times can you use the DIY lava lamp?

You can use your homemade lava lamp over and over until it stops reacting with the Alka-Seltzer. We dropped in at least 6 tablets into each of the lava lamps you see in the photos and they were still going strong.

By the end of the 6 tablets the oil was a tiny bit cloudy, but we were still getting a good, strong chemical reaction.

How to make a lava lamp without Alka-Seltzer?

Using Alka-Seltzer, oil, and water is the easiest way to make a DIY lava lamp, but you can definitely make a similar chemical reaction without the Alka-Seltzer.

The first option is to use baking soda and vinegar. Pour 1 cup of oil and 1/4 cup of of vinegar in your container. Drop the food colouring in. Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water and slowly pour it into the container.

You can also make a lava lamp with salt. Fill your container 3/4 full of water, top it up with oil, and then scoop in tablespoons of salt at a time and watch the reaction make bubbles.

What’s the science behind this homemade lava lamp?

The oil sits on top of the water because it is lighter, or less dense than the water. You might have heard the saying “oil and water don’t mix”, which is completely true.

Oil is hydrophobic, literally meaning that it fears water. Oil repels, or doesn’t absorb, water, which is why they don’t mix.

The Alka-Seltzer tablet contains both an acid (citric acid) and a base (sodium bicarbonate aka baking soda). As the Alka-Seltzer comes into contact with the water the two ingredients react and become a gas: carbon dioxide.

The carbon dioxide is lighter than the water and oil, so bubbles rise up, but they bring water droplets with them. As the gas escapes, the bubbles sink back down to the bottom. This creates the lava lamp effect in this experiment.

Homemade lava lamps are such a cool science experiment. You can try different types of oil, different glass shapes and different colours to see what you like best. It’s so much fun to watch the colourful bubbles rise and fall!

Here’s even more science experiment ideas:

Where to buy:

You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon , or wherever books are sold:

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About Debbie Chapman , the Author of this Post

I'm Debbie Chapman, founder of One Little Project and author of the book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids . I love creating fun and easy crafts and cooking up delicious recipes for my husband and 3 kids.

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Lava Lamp Experiment

Did you know that oil and water are not the same density? That is why oil and water don’t mix.

However, they will add up to something that’s more fun. This difference in density is the foundation of the fascinating Lava Lamp Science Experiment.

Combining elements of chemistry, art, and design, the homemade lava lamp offers science lessons about concepts of density, nonpolar liquids, and chemical reactions in an exciting and visually appealing way.

All you need for this engaging lava lamp science activity are simple household ingredients and a tall clear glass or bottle. This cool lava lamp science project is perfect for kids and adults alike.

Homemade Lava Lamp

How to make the perfect lava lamp? We experimented with a few different ways and will show you what we found out.

• oil (we used baby oil and vegetable oil)
• food coloring
• Alka-seltzer effervescent antacid tablets
• tall glass or bottle
• adult supervision

Instructions

• Fill the glass with 1 to 2 inches of water.
• Add your favorite food coloring.
• Fill the rest of the glass with oil but stop at about 1 inch from the top so that it won't bubble over.
• Drop an antacid tablet into the mixture and watch.
• Try using different sizes of alka-seltzer tablet.
• Try using different types of oil.
• Try mixing the different types of oil to get your favorite "lava" flow.

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Did you try this project?

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Density is the amount of matter in a given space, measuring how tightly packed the particles that make up a substance are.

Water is a polar liquid. It is slightly denser than oil, a nonpolar liquid.

Thus, if we mix the two, water will sink to the bottom while the oil will float above. This interaction forms the basis for the lava lamp science project.

The Reason Behind It

Alka Seltzer tablets contain three ingredients: aspirin (pain killer), sodium bicarbonate, and citric acid.

When immersed in water, sodium bicarbonate, and citric acid combine to produce sodium citrate, carbon dioxide, and water.

This sodium citrate can neutralize stomach acid. This is why alka-seltzer is an antacid medicine.

During the chemical reaction, carbon dioxide gas is created as a byproduct. Since carbon dioxide has a lower density than water, it forms bubbles that rise to the top, taking droplets of dyed water along with them.

These colorful bubbles create the energetic lava lamp display we associate with lava lamps.

When the bubbles burst , the blobs of colored water sink back to the bottom due to their higher density than oil.

The lava lamp action continues until all the ingredients in the tablet are used up.

Which oil is the best?

In our lava lamp experiment, we experimented with different types of oil to find the perfect lava lamp.

We first tried baby oil, which is clear, colorless, and has a pleasant scent. However, the bubbles produced were plenty and tiny, quickly clouding the solution and making it difficult to see the characteristic colorful blobs of lava lamps (the picture below is exceptional among many cloudy pictures).

The bubbles also fell quickly through the oil and back into the water. You could miss them easily if you blinked.

Next, we tried traditional vegetable oil, which worked much better.

The large bubbles of colored water fell gracefully through the vegetable oil, creating a better representation of the lava lamp.

However, the oil appeared yellowish, even though it was clear.

Preferring a colorless appearance, we attempted a third trial by mixing a small amount of vegetable oil with baby oil.

This combination resulted in slightly smaller bubbles than using vegetable oil alone, but they looked impressive and fell slowly and elegantly through the oil.

The oil mixture was also slightly yellowish but visually appealing, combining the best aspects of both oils. I think we have a winner!

It was combining the best of both worlds.

Note: There is no need for a dark background and backlight to create a spectacular lava lamp. The lava lamp project is splendid the way it is.

Through this simple lava lamp experiment, we observed the captivating interplay of liquid density, chemical reactions, and artistic design became a wonderful lava lamp science project.

Exploring Variations and Further Experimentation

To make your lava lamp science project even more engaging and educational, you can explore multiple variations and further experiment with different aspects of this. Here are a few ideas you can try:

1. Food Coloring: Experiment with different colors or combinations of food coloring to create a rainbow of lava lamps. Observe how different colors interact and how the hues change as the colored water droplets move through the oil.

2. Alka-Seltzer Tablet Sizes: Try breaking the Alka-Seltzer tablets into various sizes or using different quantities to see how the lava lamp action changes. Observe the differences in bubble size, speed, and duration of the lava lamp display.

3. Oil Types: As we discovered earlier, different oils can have varying effects on the lava lamp experiment. You can experiment further with other types of oils, such as coconut oil, canola oil, or even essential oils. You can witness how the lava lamp experiment behaves with these options.

4. Temperature Effects: Investigate how temperature affects the lava lamp action using hot water, cold water, or a combination. Analyze the impact of temperature on the density and behavior of the oil and water.

5. Bottle Shapes and Sizes: Try using different shapes and sizes of glass or plastic containers for the lava lamp science project. Observe how the container’s dimensions affect the movement and visual appearance of the colorful blobs.

So, gather your household supplies, and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the homemade lava lamp.

Exploring various aspects of this experiment will not only give valuable science lessons.

This will also create a mesmerizing and colorful display that can captivate the attention of everyone around you. Enjoy the learning process and be mesmerized by the beauty of the lava lamp experiment as it unfolds before your eyes.

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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. 

Make This A Science Project:

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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How to make a lava lamp

January 1, 2023 By Emma Vanstone 4 Comments

Do you know how to make a lava lamp ? DIY lava lamps are one of our favourite science experiments as they are super simple to make, can be used over and over again, and you can be as creative as you like with them. We’ve made Minions, reindeer and even snowmen lava lamps!

Lava lamp s are also a safe, exciting and visual way to introduce chemical reactions and the often tricky concept of density to children ( the oil floats beautifully on top of the water ).

What you need to make a lava lamp

• A clear plastic or glass bottle or jar
• A bottle of vegetable oil
• Alka Seltzer
• Food colouring (a bright colour is best!)

DIY Lava Lamp Instructions

Fill the bottle about a quarter full with water. Top up with vegetable oil to the (near) top.

The oil and water should separate into two layers, water at the bottom and oil on the top.

Once the oil and water have separated, add enough food colouring to achieve the colour you want. The colour will mix with the water at the bottom.

Pop in half an Alka Seltzer tablet and watch the bubbles form. Add more Alka Seltzer little by little to keep the bubbles rising and falling.

Top Tips for making a DIY lava lamp

Try using effervescent vitamin tablets instead of Alka Seltzer; these are usually a bit cheaper and have the same effect, although they might colour the water slightly.

More science experiments to try

What happens if you use half a tablet? Or two?

Once the reaction has finished, try gently tipping the bottle on its side. What do you notice?

Why do homemade lava lamps work?

Alka seltzer is made of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, which react with the water to form carbon dioxide gas and sodium citrate. It is the bubbles of carbon dioxide that carry the coloured water into the oil, giving a lava lamp effect.

NOTE – Please supervise the use of Alka Seltzer and effervescent vitamin tablets.

Why do oil and water separate?

Water and oil do not mix. This is because water is a polar molecule – its structure means it has a positive charge at one end and a negative charge at the other. Water molecules stick together because the positive end of one water molecule is attracted to the negative end of another. Oil molecule structure is different – it is non-polar, meaning that its charge is more evenly spread out, so the oil is not attracted to water. We call it hydrophobic (water-fearing), as it tries to get as far away from water as possible and does not mix. Oil rests on top of the water rather than underneath because it has a different density to water.

More DIY lava lamp ideas

How about a pumpkin themed lava lamp for Halloween? These make a great last-minute pumpkin or a fun alternative if you don’t fancy carving one this year.

We had a lot of fun making our Minion version of a lava lamp . If I did this again, I’d use blue water at the bottom, as you couldn’t see the yellow very well in the oil.

Or how about a Christmas Lava Lamp ? Our reindeer and snowman were super cute and a big hit with the kids last year.

If you enjoyed this activity, you’ll love our other experiments for kids. We have hundreds of science-based investigations and activities, with something for all interests and ages.

The Royal Institution has an excellent lava lamp and other fab experiments, too!

Last Updated on May 2, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

July 07, 2015 at 12:36 am

This is awesome!!!

July 29, 2015 at 5:56 am

ooh that looks GREAT fun

March 25, 2020 at 3:23 pm

This was so much fun ! If you haven’t try it!

September 13, 2020 at 5:25 pm

Looks so cool. For how long will it “work”?

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Make Your Own Lava Lamp: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Fun Science Experiment

As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.

To make your own lava lamp, you'll need a clear bottle, water, vegetable oil, food coloring, and an Alka-Seltzer tablet. Start by filling the bottle 3/4 full with water and add a few drops of food coloring. Then, pour about 1/4 cup of oil into the bottle and watch it float on top. Drop a small piece of the Alka-Seltzer tablet into the bottle and observe the bubbles rising through the oil, creating a mesmerizing lava effect. Seal the bottle tightly and place it on a light source to enhance the visual experience. Keep exploring to discover more customization techniques and stunning visual effects.

Table of Contents

Gather Materials

Round up a clear 16-oz soda bottle, water, vegetable oil, food coloring, and an Alka-Seltzer tablet. You'll also need a funnel and measuring cups to precisely pour the liquids.

Make certain the soda bottle is clean and dry. Remove any labels, as they can interfere with the lava lamp effect. You can use a bottle of any size, but a 16-oz bottle is ideal for creating a visually appealing lava lamp.

Vegetable oil is the best choice for this project because it's clear, inexpensive, and readily available. You'll need enough oil to fill about 2/3 of the bottle.

Food coloring adds vibrant hues to your lava lamp. Choose a color that contrasts well with the clear liquids, such as red, blue, or green.

An Alka-Seltzer tablet provides the chemical reaction that makes the lava lamp work. The tablet releases carbon dioxide gas when it comes into contact with water, causing the colored water droplets to rise and fall through the oil.

Gather all these materials in one place before you start the project to guarantee a smooth and enjoyable lava lamp-making experience.

Mix Water and Food Coloring

First, choose your desired food coloring for the lava lamp.

Next, fill a glass or plastic bottle about 3/4 full with water, and add a few drops of the food coloring.

Gently mix the water until the food coloring is evenly distributed.

Choose Desired Color

You'll need to choose your desired lava lamp color and mix it with water. Consider the ambiance you want to create with your lava lamp. Bright, vibrant colors like red, blue, or green can energize a room, while softer hues like purple or pink can create a calming atmosphere. You can also mix colors to create unique shades.

Once you've selected your color, add a few drops of food coloring to the water. Start with a small amount and gradually add more until you achieve the desired intensity. Keep in mind that the color will appear lighter when the lamp is lit, so you may want to make it slightly darker than your intended shade.

Stir the water and food coloring mixture thoroughly to guarantee even distribution. If you're using multiple colors, be careful not to overmix them, as this can result in a muddy appearance.

Aim for a swirling, marbled effect for a visually appealing lava lamp.

Add to Water

To create the colored water for your lava lamp, pour the water into a clear container, such as a measuring cup or bowl.

Carefully add 10 to 20 drops of your chosen food coloring, depending on the desired intensity. Use a spoon or stirrer to thoroughly mix the water and food coloring until you achieve a uniform hue. If you'd like a more vibrant color, add a few extra drops, but be cautious not to overdo it.

Once you're satisfied with the color, it's time to transfer the mixture to your lava lamp bottle.

Slowly pour the colored water into the bottle, ensuring that you don't splash or spill any of the liquid. Fill the bottle about two-thirds to three-quarters full, leaving enough room for the oil and the lava lamp effect to occur.

If you accidentally pour too much water, you can use a turkey baster or a small cup to remove the excess.

With the colored water now in the bottle, you're ready to move on to the next step in creating your mesmerizing lava lamp.

Pour about 1/4 cup of oil into the bottle. You can use any type of light cooking oil, such as vegetable or canola oil.

The oil should sit on top of the water because it's less dense. If you don't have a measuring cup, simply pour the oil until it fills about one-third of the bottle.

Observe how the oil and water don't mix. They remain as separate layers due to their different densities. This is a key principle in creating a lava lamp effect.

At this point, you can add a few drops of food coloring to the bottle. The food coloring will sink through the oil layer and mix with the water below.

Choose any color you like, or experiment with multiple colors for a unique effect.

Next, break an effervescent tablet, such as Alka-Seltzer, into a few small pieces. Drop one piece into the bottle and watch as the chemical reaction begins.

The tablet will react with the water, creating bubbles that rise through the oil layer, carrying the colored water with them. This creates the mesmerizing lava lamp effect.

Create the Lava Effect

Drop a small piece of the effervescent tablet into the bottle and watch the magic happen. As the tablet dissolves, it'll release carbon dioxide gas, which attaches to the water droplets. This makes them less dense than the surrounding oil, causing them to float upwards.

When the gas escapes at the top, the water sinks back down, creating a mesmerizing lava-like effect.

To enhance your lava lamp experience:

• Experiment with different colors by adding food coloring to the water.
• Try using various sizes of effervescent tablet pieces to control the speed and size of the "lava" blobs.
• Place a flashlight or LED light beneath the bottle to illuminate the hypnotic display.

The key to creating a stunning lava lamp effect lies in the density difference between the water and oil. The effervescent tablet provides the catalyst for the movement, while the colored water adds visual appeal.

With a little experimentation, you'll be able to fine-tune your lava lamp to create an enchanting display that'll leave you and your friends in awe of this simple yet fascinating science experiment.

Seal the Bottle

Once you've finished creating the lava effect, it's time to seal the bottle.

Tighten the cap securely onto the bottle, making sure it's not cross-threaded.

Double-check for any leaks by turning the bottle upside down and watching for any liquid escaping.

Tighten Cap Securely

Why risk a leaky lava lamp? Once you've added all the ingredients to your bottle, it's vital to tighten the cap securely to prevent any spills or leaks. A properly sealed bottle guarantees that your lava lamp will function as intended, providing hours of mesmerizing entertainment.

When tightening the cap, keep these tips in mind:

• Use a bottle with a tight-fitting, leak-proof cap
• Confirm the bottle's neck and cap threads are clean and dry
• Twist the cap firmly, applying even pressure to create a secure seal

Double-check that the cap is tightly closed by gently turning it counterclockwise. If it doesn't budge, you've successfully sealed your lava lamp.

In the event that the cap feels loose or you notice any leaks, carefully remove the cap, clean the threads, and try again. A well-sealed bottle is essential for the proper function and longevity of your homemade lava lamp.

With a securely tightened cap, you're one step closer to enjoying the enchanting display of colorful, bubbling "lava" in your very own DIY creation.

Double-Check for Leaks

After tightening the cap, it's vital to double-check your lava lamp bottle for any potential leaks.

Hold the bottle upside down over a sink or bowl for a minute to see if any liquid escapes. If you notice any drips or leaks, you'll need to re-seal the bottle more securely.

Ensure the cap is screwed on tightly and that the seal is properly aligned. If the leak persists, try using a different cap or bottle. It's important to have a completely leak-proof container to prevent any mess or damage to your surroundings.

Once you've confirmed that your lava lamp is leak-free, you can proceed to the next step.

If you're satisfied with the seal, give the bottle a gentle shake to observe the interaction between the oil and water. The densities of the two liquids should cause them to separate, creating the mesmerizing lava lamp effect.

Illuminate Your Lava Lamp

A few simple steps will bring your lava lamp to life with a stunning glow. First, find a suitable light source, such as a small LED light or a battery-operated tea light candle. Place the light source underneath the lava lamp bottle, making sure it's centered and stable. If you're using a plug-in light, verify that the cord is safely positioned and not a tripping hazard.

When choosing a light source for your lava lamp, consider these factors:

• Brightness : Confirm the light is bright enough to illuminate the lava lamp effectively.
• Size : Choose a light source that fits comfortably under the bottle without causing instability.
• Heat : Avoid using high-heat light sources, as they may damage the bottle or cause the lava to move too quickly.

Once your light source is in place, switch it on and marvel at the stunning display of color and motion within your DIY lava lamp. The light will illuminate the liquid and wax, creating a fascinating visual effect that's perfect for relaxation or as a unique decorative piece in your room.

Experiment and Customize

Experimenting with your DIY lava lamp is half the fun! Once you've mastered the basic recipe, it's time to customize and create your own unique designs.

Try using different colors of food coloring to create a vibrant, multi-hued lamp. You can also experiment with the amount of water and oil to alter the size and speed of the "lava" blobs.

For a more dramatic effect, consider adding glitter or small beads to the mixture. These will catch the light and add an extra layer of visual interest.

Another option is to use a shaped bottle, such as a heart or star, to give your lava lamp a distinctive look.

Don't be afraid to get creative and try out different combinations. Keep a record of your experiments so you can replicate your favorite designs.

With a little imagination and some trial and error, you'll soon have a collection of one-of-a-kind lava lamps that reflect your personal style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to use any type of oil.

For your safety, stick to using vegetable or mineral oil. Avoid oils with low smoke points or unknown ingredients. Always handle the oil carefully and clean up any spills immediately to prevent accidents.

Can I Use a Plastic Bottle Instead of Glass?

You can use a plastic bottle instead of glass, but it's not recommended. Plastic can melt or release chemicals when exposed to heat, which is necessary for the lava lamp effect. Stick with glass for safety.

How Long Will the Lava Lamp Effect Last?

The lava lamp effect can last for several hours, but it'll gradually slow down as the reaction weakens. You can extend the effect by adding more salt or Alka-Seltzer tablets when needed.

Can I Use Baking Soda Instead of Alka-Seltzer?

You can use baking soda instead of Alka-Seltzer, but you'll need to add vinegar to create the reaction. It won't last as long or be as impressive as using Alka-Seltzer tablets, though.

Is It Possible to Create a Larger Lava Lamp?

Sure, you can create a larger lava lamp by using a bigger bottle or container, increasing the amounts of water, oil, and Alka-Seltzer. Just make sure to maintain the proper ratio between ingredients.

You've just created your very own lava lamp! It's a fun, easy science experiment that's perfect for rainy days or anytime you want to explore the fascinating world of density and immiscibility. Don't be afraid to experiment with different colors, oil types, and additives to create your own unique lava lamp designs. With a little creativity and curiosity, you'll be amazed at the mesmerizing, colorful displays you can create in a bottle.

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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 household items. A homemade lava lamp (or density experiment) is one of our favorite science experiments for kids .

Lava Lamp Experiment

You can also experiment with salt with this lava lamp instead of using Alka Seltzer tablets!

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

LAVA LAMP INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Gather your ingredients! We started with one cup and then made 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. See below for more tips on experimentation and using the scientific method .

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! Drop an Alka Seltzer tablet or its generic equivalent into each cup or jar. Make sure to watch closely as the magic happens!

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!

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Lava Lamp Science Information

Quite a few things are going on here with both physics and chemistry! First, remember liquid is one of three states of matter . It flows, pours, and 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 mix? 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 carbon dioxide, 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.

How To Set Up A Lava Lamp Science Fair Project

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

💡 By changing the water’s temperature, you can observe and measure how it affects the behavior of the bubbles of carbon dioxide.

Sample Hypothesis: “If the temperature of the water used in a homemade lava lamp increases, then the movement of the colored gas bubbles will become faster and more vigorous because heat affects the density and buoyancy of the liquids involved.”

• Independent Variable: The temperature of the water used in the lava lamp.
• Dependent Variable: The speed and movement pattern of the colored gas bubbles in the lava lamp.
• Controlled Variables are…

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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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• 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.

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Make Your Own Lava Lamp

Introduction: Make Your Own Lava Lamp

The purpose of this experiment is to show the density in a lava lamp. Our hypothesis is when the temperature increases, then the time taken for the reaction to be complete decreases because the temperature gives more kinetic energy for the molecules, and so they will collide faster.

Step 1: Materials

- 1 plastic soda bottle with cap or any long cup

- Vegetable oil

- Baking soda or salt

- Food coloring

Step 2: Procedure

1. Get a tall cup

2. Add two thirds of water into the cup

3. Add two or three teaspoons of oil

4. Add two or three teaspoons of salt or baking soda until a reaction occurs

5. Add food coloring

6. Tip the bottle back and forth to observe the reaction properly

Step 3: Data and Photos

Step 4: Data Analysis

The oil floats on to if the water because it is less dense or lighter than water. The food coloring has the same density as the water, so it sinks through the oil and mixes with the water. When you add the salt, it sinks to the bottom then starts to dissolve. We tried this experiment twice to make sure our data was correct, so that our experiment resulted with proper measurement and no mistakes. When we recorded the measurements of the temperature of the lava lamp and when it erupts, it did not come to the same results as all temperatures were completely different from one another, but the hot and room temperature lava lamps were similar, which we also tried twice.

Step 5: Results and Conclusion

Our results were that when oil is applied to water, they separate. When we applied the food coloring, it dissolves in the water rather than the oil. Chemicals react with water when the baking soda is added, creating bubbles. The impact is similar to that of a lava lamp. Like lava, the food coloring flows around the container. So, our lava lamp experiment was successful and worked just as planned.

Our conclusion was that after trying different household products, the baking soda, oil and water mixture made the best lava lamp other than the salt, oil, and water lava lamp. It had more active bubbles that rose to the surface and was more interesting than the other one and also worked better and in a proper way.

Step 6: Application

This experiment is important because many people can’t go out during this time or can’t afford to buy a lava lamp, so we can ease their problems by applying science and fun into an experiment while also learning how it works. It can also be important to teach people the chemistry behind lava lamps and how various substances react with other substances, so it can be applied for learning or something like cooking. This can also be applied in practice to learn more about dissolving and mixtures.

In this experiment I learned many things, like the chemistry behind a lava lamp and how various substances react with each other. For example, the baking soda reacts with the water to produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles and stick to the water droplets. This experiment was something I’ve never tried before, and it was very fun to learn something new in this experiment while having fun too.

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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.  

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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.