water oil food coloring alka seltzer experiment

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?

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Alka Seltzer Science Experiment

Here’s another wonderful science experiment that is easy to set up and fascinating to watch. Lately, we have been focusing on a lot of simple water experiments . It has been a while since we mixed it up with oil! Just a few common ingredients and you are well on your way to ooohhhs and aaahhhs by everyone including adults with this alka seltzer science experiment.

ALKA SELTZER EXPERIMENT FOR KIDS

Alka Seltzer Projects

Feel free to explain the science of this alka seltzer experiment as much or as little as you wish depending on the age and attention of your child.

My son is still a little and has a limited attention span. For these reasons, we tend to stick with just making some simple observations and experimenting with the activity as much as he enjoys being a part of it. I would rather spark his curiosity with fewer words then turn him off all together by making him sit and listen to my science definitions.

SIMPLE SCIENCE OBSERVATIONS

Let them tell you what they see or notice each step of the way. If they need a bit more help observing, guide them but don’t feed them the ideas. Liam has had practice with oil and water before when we made a density tower , so he knew the two did not mix.

He is still working on what is sinking and floating and why, but that is why we practice these concepts over and over again!

He also observed that the food coloring only mixed with the water and that when he added the alka seltzer it only stuck to the colored blobs. Some other observations are the fizzing sound, the blobs being lifting and the little pop they make before settling back down. Lots of fun!

Lets get started!

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ALKA SELTZER EXPERIMENT

• Alka seltzer tablets or store name brand is fine
• cooking oil
• a jar or bottle with lid (yes, they will want to shake it too)
• food coloring, sequins or glitter (optional)
• flashlight (optional but way cool for a four-year old!)

HOW TO SET UP ALKA SELTZER EXPERIMENT

Step 1. Fill the jar with oil to about 2/3 full.

Step 2. Fill the jar with water to almost full.

Step 3. Add a good amount of food coloring so you can see the differences in density!

You could also add sequins or glitter here too. We added some sequins like snowflakes but it wasn’t anything remarkable. Liam did work on getting them to go down with the tablets. Once they got underneath, they would sometimes catch a bubble and ride up!

Step 4. Add a small piece of the tablet. We broke the tablets up into little pieces so that we would have lots to try to have smaller eruptions!

We used two full tablets which is probably the best amount. Of course he wanted more and it lost some of its effect, but he love adding it just as much!

Step 5. Observe the fun and use the flashlight to light up the bubbles!

Step 6. Cover and shake if interested and watch the water and oil separate again!

HOW IT WORKS

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

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

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

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 or heavier liquid.

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

MORE FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

TRY AN ALKA SELZTER SCIENCE EXPERIMENT TODAY!

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.

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Hands on kids activities for hands on moms. Focusing on kids activities perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

Easy DIY Lava Lamp Science Experiment for Kids

Science Preschoolers Experiment Water Activities 66 Comments

Lava lamps are simple to make. Like crazy easy.

My kids love experimenting! And I love watching them discover the world through science and creativity.

Even I was shocked at what a big hit this easy DIY lava lamp science experiment was with the boys. Just 5 simple supplies are all you need to DIY your own!

To DIY your own lava lamp science experiment, you’ll needL

• Vegetable oil (or get a clear oil)
• Food coloring of your choice
• Alka-Seltzer Tablets  (as many as you choose, the more the merrier!)
• Clear container (the taller and skinnier, the better the effect)

Don’t have Alka Seltzer? See how to make a lava lamp without Alka Seltzer!

4 Simple Steps to Science Fun & Fizzies

• Fill the container with 2 parts oil, 1 part water, leaving some room at the top of the container for a little bit of bubbling
• Drop in a few drops of food coloring
• Add an Alka-Selzer Tablet, start with 1/4 or a half a tablet to begin with
• Watch is fizz and bubble up to the top!

We did three containers of lava lamps. Three different colors, for triple the lava fun!

It took a lot of oil, though. I wish I had more on hand because I didn’t quite have 2/3 for each container.

The oil is essentially the lava lamp portion, so it would have been nice to have more of it. But it still worked!

I also wish I had clear oil on hand instead of vegetable oil. But I’m not sure what kind of oil besides baby oil is clear. Any suggestions?

Henry dropped in tablet after tablet. Over and over, watching it bubble up! 

He used the entire box of Alka-Selzer just for this experiment!

The green one really captured his attention. 

Maybe because it’s his favorite color. Or maybe because it was the tallest and skinniest, so it had the best reactions.

Have more colorful science fun with an easy magic milk experiment !

It was even interesting from the top of the bottles. Or, at least Henry thought so.

Once we were starting to run out of Alka-Selzer tablets, we started combining the colors and making them bubble together.

We were surprised to see that the colored bubbled remained separate!

Instead of red bubbles mixing with blue bubbles to make purple, everything stayed red or blue. Cool, huh?!?!

Can you see the little red ones in the mix of the big blue bubbles?

We tend to do a lot of science in our house, with tons of easy experiments happening all the time.

The boys love anything that fizzes and bubbles. We also really like this baking soda and colored vinegar science experiment for kids.

What’s your favorite science experiment to do with the kids? Share your ideas in the comments!

About jamie reimer.

Jamie learned to be a hands on mom by creating activities, crafts and art projects for her three boys to do. Jamie needed the creative outlet that activities provided to get through the early years of parenting with a smile! Follow Jamie on Pinterest and Instagram !

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Reader Interactions

66 comments.

September 26, 2023 at 11:38 am

Since oil and water separate, you can actually save the oil and use it for future lava lamps. Also, I recommend Alka Seltzer Gold, which has no aspirin.

Pedro walker says

March 25, 2021 at 12:52 am

PeoplePerProjectCom says

May 21, 2020 at 9:57 pm

There are a few different options for making your lava lamp so you can pick the option that works best with your readily available supplies, but let s start with a complete supply list for all the different options. Then you can try them all and see what works best for you!

Elsabe Kruger says

March 2, 2020 at 9:29 pm

Great idea, thank you! Avocado oil is totally clear!

Ivy Bell says

December 31, 2019 at 12:12 pm

I use mineral oil as a good clear, colorless oil. Find it in the pharmacy department.

March 7, 2015 at 4:29 pm

Baby Oil is made of just mineral oil and fragrance. So, mineral oil is just fragrance-free baby oil.

Aleigha says

February 14, 2015 at 9:12 am

What would the age group for the children for this project?

Jamie Reimer says

February 14, 2015 at 11:00 am

I think anywhere from 2 on up can take part in it Aleigha. Just depends on how much you want them to take part. Little kids can just drop the tablet in – that’s the fun part!

abbiee says

February 5, 2015 at 10:19 pm

the ocean waves in a bottle….love that one…

Veronica says

October 22, 2014 at 10:32 am

Would like to try this out, but wondering what do you do with it when the kids are done playing with it? Can you use baby oil instead of cooking oil?

October 22, 2014 at 12:50 pm

Veronica — discard it just like you would the grease from meat that you brown. Yes, you can use baby oil – that would actually have a better look because its clear.

May 9, 2014 at 12:31 am

So in love with this idea. We’ll try coconut oil, there are bunch of them in Thailand. ^^

MARIEL says

May 7, 2014 at 9:38 pm

IT DIDNT WORK.

May 8, 2014 at 11:02 am

Hmmm.. well that’s a bummer Mariel! How come it didn’t work?

May 7, 2014 at 8:48 am

Just a quick question how and where to dispose of the experiment when done?

Heather says

April 3, 2014 at 2:09 pm

You asked about alternative CLEAR OIL to use. I was a teacher of toddlers and preschoolers. MINERAL OIL is clear, cheap, and works. You can find it in pharmacy sections of stores where the laxatives are found. It is meant for possible ingestion so if accidentally swallowed or comes in contact with little mouths.. it is ok… Hope this helps.

April 3, 2014 at 9:22 pm

Thanks Heather! I’ll grab some when I get the Alka-Selzers again! That’s easy enough!

March 10, 2014 at 12:26 pm

Greta idea – looks like so much fun! I can’t wait to try it with my grandchildren! I found bulk white, food grade mineral oil online for only $13.97 for 7 1/2 lbs – and they had even larger, as well. Might be worth the effort for continued explorations!

gemma chadwick says

March 10, 2014 at 4:59 am

I’m sure that Safflower oil (can get in most larger supermarkets) is almost water like in colour bit more expensive than vegetable oil but effects would be great x

Haylie says

December 2, 2013 at 10:33 am

can you use a pop bottle so you can have a lid?

Amanda says

November 20, 2013 at 9:42 pm

Try it with neon food coloring, turn off the lights and then sit the bottle (we use water bottles) on top of a flashlight! Very cool effect. Don’t put the lid back on though until you are through bc it’ll stop your fizzy action. :). We also discovered that the less you shake it, the cooler it looks.

November 28, 2013 at 9:26 pm

Oh very cool. Definitely going on our to do list.

Jen smith says

November 12, 2013 at 11:35 pm

Coconut oil is clear. If you get the one that melts at a lower temp it should work great. I have a 70 or 75 degree one that never gets solid unless I put it in the fridge. :) this is a cute idea!

November 13, 2013 at 10:02 pm

Great tip Jen! Never thought of Coconut oil!

November 11, 2013 at 7:12 am

I have done this for years, but without the Alka Seltzer (very cool addition). This is great to do in empty water bottles, and you can glue the lid shut. My daughter loved this as a baby and still loves her “wave bottle” as a toddler. I can’t wait to do it again as a science project with the Alka Seltzer!

November 13, 2013 at 10:05 pm

Love the simplified version as a sensory bottle for toddlers Amy!

Inez19 says

May 14, 2013 at 1:19 am

Can I use small plastic soda bottles or the liter size ones?

May 14, 2013 at 6:45 am

Inez, I think either would work just fine, just change up the amounts accordingly.

Kaylee says

January 18, 2013 at 11:17 am

Great project! I had a question…does it really matter what material the bottles are? I’m planning on doing this with my preschool class, and I’m debating whether to stock up on glass bottles/containers, or if I can get away with plastic. Thanks!

January 18, 2013 at 12:39 pm

Oh, I think plastic would work just fine. As long as they’re clear. And taller, skinnier bottles work best!

October 18, 2012 at 10:30 am

This looks amazing! My daughter is constantly asking for more science projects and I think she will love this. :)

October 17, 2012 at 6:46 pm

Just did this with my kids. They loved it! Thanks!

blackpaws says

February 1, 2012 at 12:50 am

Thanks for this! Emily loved this experiment and like your Henry she kept looking from the top of the bottle to watch the reaction.

I used aspro clear and baby oil so not sure if that is why we had mostly little bubbles of lava but still fun to watch. Emily kept wanting to add more and to shake.

http://blackpaws.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/more-l-craft/

Oh, How Happy We Are says

January 22, 2012 at 10:11 pm

Charlotte: says

January 22, 2012 at 4:59 pm

Oh yeah, we need to do this! I have such a mental block when it comes to science-y things but I think this looks ace

January 22, 2012 at 1:51 pm

Wonderful idea! Can't wait to try this out with my little guy.

January 20, 2012 at 11:49 am

Great idea, I love the bright colours you made.

Science Sparks says

January 19, 2012 at 10:12 pm

Oh lava lamps are fab! it was one of our first experiments! Yours are so colourful. Brilliant!

Thanks for linking to science sparks fun sparks!

The Iowa Farmer's Wife says

January 19, 2012 at 2:42 pm

this is so neat! I'm buying alka selzer today! :) I have a huge bottle of vegetable oil I need to use up. Mineral oil is also clear, but I've only seen it in small bottles. I'm sure it comes larger though!

Jill @ A Mom With A Lesson Plan says

January 19, 2012 at 2:04 pm

One of my goals for this year is to get over my fear of science! This one would be awesome… and easy!

Jamie @ hands on : as we grow says

January 18, 2012 at 9:58 pm

@Rosie – as long as you have Alka Seltzer Tablets, you can keep adding to it! The vinegar/water will stay good for as long as you want!

January 18, 2012 at 9:52 pm

how long does it last? do you have to throw it away after ur done?

Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says

January 17, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Great post! I love that your ad above is advertising real lava lamps!

Raising a Happy Child says

January 17, 2012 at 8:40 pm

It was on my "to do" list for a long time! So pretty.

Chrissy @ The Outlaw Mom Blog says

January 17, 2012 at 5:38 pm

My kids will absolutely love this! Can't wait to try it!

Anna @ The Imagination Tree says

January 17, 2012 at 5:10 pm

gorgeous pics!! definitely on our to-do list!

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas says

January 17, 2012 at 1:23 pm

aww, thanks for mentioning us! What fabulous photos you got of the reactions!

Also I found that the cheaper ($$$) the oil the clearer it was. I got a cheapy, cheapy one and it was not as yellow and worked perfectly – just a tip to test for next time!

Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says

January 17, 2012 at 1:15 pm

This looks a lot of fun will try it when J is a little bit older I think

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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.

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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!

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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

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more in 10-12 years

Blobs in a bottle.

You will need

• A clean 1 liter clear soda bottle
• 3/4 cup of water
• Vegetable Oil
• Fizzing tablets (such as Alka Seltzer)
• Food coloring
• Pour the water into the bottle.
• Use a measuring cup or funnel to slowly pour the vegetable oil into the bottle until it’s almost full. You may have to wait a few minutes for the oil and water separate.
• Add 10 drops of food coloring to the bottle (we like red, but any color will look great.) The drops will pass through the oil and then mix with the water below.
• Break a seltzer tablet in half and drop the half tablet into the bottle. Watch it sink to the bottom and let the blobby greatness begin!
• To keep the effect going, just add another tablet piece. For a true lava lamp effect, shine a flashlight through the bottom of the bottle.

How does it work?

To begin, the oil stays above the water because the oil is lighter than the water or, more specifically, less dense than water. The oil and water do not mix because of something called “intermolecular polarity.” That term is fun to bring up in dinner conversation. Molecular polarity basically means that water molecules are attracted to other water molecules. They get along fine, and can loosely bond together (drops.) This is similar to magnets that are attracted to each other. Oil molecules are attracted to other oil molecules, they get along fine as well. But the structures of the two molecules do not allow them to bond together. Of course, there’s a lot more fancy scientific language to describe density and molecular polarity, but maybe now you’ll at least look at that vinegrette salad dessing in a whole new way.

When you added the tablet piece, it sank to the bottom and started dissolving and creating a gas. As the gas bubbles rose, they took some of the colored water with them. When the blob of water reached the top, the gas escaped and down went the water. Cool, huh? By the way, you can store your “Blobs In A Bottle” with the cap on, and then anytime you want to bring it back to life, just add another tablet piece.

MAKE IT AN EXPERIMENT

The project above is a DEMONSTRATION. To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these questions:

• Does the temperature of the water affect the reaction?
• Does the size of the bottle affect how many blobs are produced?
• Does the effect still work if the cap is put on the bottle?
• Does the size of the tablet pieces affect the number of blobs created?

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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:

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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. 

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Lava lamp experiment

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Looking for a fun and easy science experiment to do with your preschoolers ? Try making lava lamps! All you need is mineral or vegetable oil, water, food coloring, and Alka-seltzer tablets for this fun homemade lava lamp.

What is a homemade lava lamp?

This is an excellent activity for young scientists! Learn why we think science for kids is so important in this post.

Making a lava lamp experiment at home is a fun way to explore the chemical reaction of the sodium bicarbonate in the Alka-seltzer tablets as they interact with the water to make carbon dioxide gas. Since the water is denser than the oil, the water and oil won’t mix, leaving the colored water at the bottom of the container. And, because the food coloring only mixes with the water and not the oil, you can watch the bubbles carry colored water particles up the container before they pop and sink down again.

If you want to watch this lava lamp science experiment in action, check out this video by the Bearded Science Guy !

Download a scientific method worksheet before starting

This is totally optional, but you may want to head over to my TpT store and download the  Scientific Method   worksheet for free. This way, you can emphasize key learning moments while introducing your preschooler to the scientific method. By practicing this, they will become confident in their ability to hypothesize, test, and evaluate experiments!

Plus, if you write down the step-by-step instructions and tuck this away in a folder for later, they can re-create the same activity another time.

How to create the lava lamp experiment

This simple project uses just a few household materials to create a beautiful science experiment. Follow the steps below to get started.

Here is everything you will need to make your own lava lamp at home:

• You can use a jar, bottle, glass, or even some recyclables. Whatever is on hand!
• Oil (mineral or vegetable oil)
• You can find these near the denture cleaning section (by the toothbrushes and toothpaste) in any major grocery store or pharmacy
• Your favorite food coloring color

That’s it! Make sure to follow the directions below carefully and you’ll be able to watch the lava lamp experiment in action!

Instructions

• Fill a glass jar or bottle about 1/4 full with water.
• You can use either mineral oil or vegetable oil for this, whatever you have on hand! The only difference is that vegetable oil has a yellow tint (like in my photos above)
• Since the denser liquid sinks, the oil floats and stays on the top
• Ask your kiddos – What do you notice? Do the oil molecules and the water molecules mix? What about the color?
• You can toss a full one in, but we actually started with quarters and it worked alright!
• The tablet will fizz the creation creates carbon dioxide, making the colored bubbles float to the surface. It makes a cool lava-like effect, much like the real lava lamps many of us grew up with.

Extending learning

In my opinion, most of the fun in science lies in observation! Once your kiddos have finished watching the colorful blobs float and pop, try asking them some questions like these to facilitate STEM-based conversations:

• Why don’t the oil and the water mix?
• What would happen if we put a whole Alka-seltzer tablet in?
• Why do the bubbles pop?

These are just a few ideas to get their little minds thinking scientifically. You could also try experimenting with different types of oil, different colors, and different amounts of water and oil.

This fun experiment is one of my favorite science lessons because it’s quick and easy, and requires little materials! Children can begin to understand how different densities of liquids interact (oil and water) and can watch as the substances interact once the tablets are dropped in. They will love watching the bubbles attach themselves to the colored water during the chemical reaction created by the Alka-seltzer tablets.

Have you tried this lava lamp experiment at home? We would love to see how it turned out!

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Searching for more science experiments and science-related activities to do with your little ones? Check out this category to see all of our posts about science for kids!

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How to Make a DIY Lava Lamp With Just a Few Ingredients

Who knew Alka Seltzer was so magical?

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

• Tall glass container ($6, amazon.com )
• Food coloring ($4 for set of 4, amazon.com )
• Vegetable oil ($2, amazon.com )
• Large flashlight ($10, amazon.com )
• 1 tablet Alka Seltzer ($4, amazon.com )

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Fill 1/4 of your glass container with water.

2. Add a few drops of food coloring.

3. Fill the rest of the glass with vegetable oil.

4. Place your flashlight face-up on the table, turn it on and put your glass on top of it.

5. Kill the lights.

6. Drop a tablet of Alka Seltzer into your container and watch the magic happen.

Pin it for later!

Stephanie was the deputy editor for CountryLiving.com.

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

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!

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?

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

How To Make A Homemade Lava Lamp + Video

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

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

What You Need:

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

What You Do:

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

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

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

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

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

What Happened:

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

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

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

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

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

More Density Science Projects

Rainbow density column.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. Voila – a beautiful rainbow of stacked liquids!

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

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

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

Coffee Density Column

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

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

More Fun Projects:

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

Density Science Lesson

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

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

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Bubbling Blob – Lava Lamp

Learn how to make your own wave bottle.

Print this Experiment

Learn how to make a wave bottle using oil, water, and a secret ingredient that makes the whole thing fizz, bubble, and erupt.

Experiment Videos

Here's What You'll Need

Clean, plastic soda bottle with a cap (16-ounce size works well), vegetable oil (the cheaper the better), food coloring, alka-seltzer tablet, large flashlight, let's try it.

Fill the bottle three-quarters full with vegetable oil.

Fill the rest of the bottle with water (almost to the top but not overflowing).

Add about ten drops of food coloring. Be sure to make the water fairly dark in color. Notice that the food coloring only colors the water and not the oil.

Divide the Alka-Seltzer tablet into four pieces.

Drop one of the tiny pieces of Alka-Seltzer into the oil and water mixture. Watch what happens. When the bubbling stops, add another chunk of Alka-Seltzer.

When you have used up all of the Alka-Seltzer and the bubbling has completely stopped, screw on the soda bottle cap. Tip the bottle back and forth and watch the wave appear. The tiny droplets of liquid join together to make one big wavelike blob.

How Does It Work

First of all, you confirmed what you already know—oil and water do not mix. Even if you try to shake up the bottle, the oil breaks up into small little drops, but it doesn’t mix with the water. Why is it that oil and water are such opposites?

Oil and water don’t mix because of how their molecules are constructed. Water is what is known as a polar molecule . A water molecule is shaped like a V, with an oxygen atom at the bottom point of the V and a hydrogen atom on each of the two top ends. However, there is unequal sharing of electrons between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. This means that the bottom of the molecule has a negative electrical charge, while the top carries a positive charge.

Vegetable oil, on the other hand, is a nonpolar molecule made of long chains of hydrocarbons—strings of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms. Unlike the water molecule, there is equal sharing of electrons between the carbon and hydrogen atoms. This means that the electrical charges of the atoms are not separated, so the molecules don’t have opposite positive and negative ends.

If you were to think of molecules like groups of people, the polar molecules hang out with other polar molecules, and the nonpolar molecules with other nonpolar molecules. This brings us back to the reason why oil and water don’t mix. Water is a polar molecule, and it just doesn’t hang out with nonpolar molecules like oil. Scientists say that oil and water are immiscible .

The adage “like dissolves like” will help you remember what will mix with what. Salt and water mix because both molecules are polar—like dissolves like. It’s also easy to mix vegetable oil and olive oil, or motor oil and peanut oil . . . but that’s gross. You also noticed that food coloring only mixes with water . . . and now you know why. Food coloring is a polar molecule because it dissolves in water. In other words, food coloring and water are miscible . Vegetable oil is not affected by the food coloring because they are polar opposites.

Here’s the surprising part . . . the Alka-Seltzer tablet reacts with the water to make tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide. These bubbles attach themselves to the blobs of colored water and cause them to float to the surface. When the bubbles pop, the color blobs sink back to the bottom of the bottle, and the whole thing starts over until the Alka-Seltzer is used up. When the chemical reaction between the Alka-Seltzer and water is over and the bubbling stops, you’re left with a cool looking wave bottle that will sit proudly on your desk.

Take It Further

Make a lava lamp.

As you watched the bubbling color blobs rise and fall in the water, you probably thought to yourself, “This is just like a lava lamp . . . without the lamp!” On a side note, if you have no concept of what a lava lamp is, pull out your smart phone and Google it.

To make a cool looking lava lamp, you’ll need a large flashlight. Carefully rest the bottle of oil and water directly on the lens of the flashlight and repeat the experiment above with the bright light shining up and through the liquid. Groovy, baby!

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Christmas Lava Lamp Science Experiment

You have to try this Christmas lava lamp science experiment with your kids! It is a fun and exciting way to add Christmas science to your holiday plans!

The kids and I absolutely love doing science experiments, so it definitely makes sense to enjoy them with a holiday twist.

Combining science and holidays is perfect because the interest level goes up, engagement increases and it adds even more excitement for the upcoming holiday.

*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.

Let’s do a Christmas Lava Lamp Science Experiment

This lava lamp experiment is the most popular experiment we have ever shared on the website and a total favorite in our home.

Adding a Christmas twist to it is crazy easy. All you need to do is use green or red food coloring or watercolor paints. The experiment itself is also super easy to do. You only need a few common household items and a couple of minutes to set up.

Several kids can do it at the same time, so it’s perfect for a group of kids. Just make sure they are old enough to resist putting things in their mouth and that you supervise them at all times.

Every time I set up this science experiment my kids get excited. They love doing it! And they always want to do it again and again.

What Do Kids Learn When They Do Science Experiments?

While doing the experiment is fun and exciting, it is also educational. You can explain the science to them in simple terms, but that isn’t super important when it comes to young kids.

Young children benefit from doing experiments like this even if they can’t totally comprehend the science involved. Engaging with science in a hands-on way like this gives them prior experience to recall when they do learn the science behind it.

It encourages their curiosity and invites them to wonder, predict and observe. They even learn about cause and effect. These are skills that will lay the foundation for them to understand more complex scientific concepts in the future.

Setting Up the Christmas Lava Lamp Experiment

Supplies Needed:

This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase through one my links, I may receive a small commission. 

• Oil (I used vegetable oil)
• Food coloring (I like gel for vibrant colors)
• 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 2 inches from the top.
• You will then add a piece of an Alka Seltzer tablet to the cup of oil and water. You can experiment with adding one piece and then a few pieces at a time. *DO NOT let the kids put the tablet in their mouth at any time.

Here are some questions to ask the kids:

• What did you notice?
• What happened when you put the Alka-Seltzer in oil and water?
• Why do you think that happened?
• Why do you think it stopped moving around after a period of time?
• What else did you observe?

How this Christmas 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 Christmas lava lamp science experiment is an exciting way to add science to your Christmas celebrations and lesson plans this holiday season. I hope your kids have a blast!

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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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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Lava Lamp Experiment: DIY Science Project Ideas for Kids

Lava lamps are very fascinating, the colorful blobs moving up and down in a never-ending dance make it appear almost magical. You can recreate this magic in your kitchen with the Lava Lamp Alka Seltzer experiment using just a few simple ingredients. Additionally, the lava lamp experiment will help your child understand the lessons on density and acid-base reactions. Performing science experiment for kids will help them develop analytical thinking skills for better learning outcomes.

Step-by-Step Instructions on Lava Lamp Experiment for Kids

Performing experiments for kids help them understand their science lessons easily. One such experiment is the lava lamp experiment! So, jazz up a lazy afternoon and wow your kids with this Alka seltzer experiment. 

What You’ll Need?

You don’t need a lot of things to perform the lava lamp experiment at home. All the things you need are inexpensive and easily available at home.

Here is a list of things you’ll need to perform this experiment:

• Vegetable oil
• Orange food coloring (or any food coloring of your choice)
• 2 clear glass tumblers or jars 
• Alka Seltzer tablets, and
• A small cup

How to Perform Lava Lamp Experiment?

This is an easy experiment. However, it does need adult supervision. Here is a step-by-step guide to performing the experiment.

• Step 1: Add ½ cup of water to the glass jar or tumbler. Add some orange food coloring to the glass of water and mix with a spoon till you have an orange liquid.
• Step 2: Break the Alka-Seltzer tablets into two or three pieces and place them in a small cup.
• Step 3: Fill the second glass tumbler or jar with vegetable oil till the glass is 3/4 full.
• Step 4: Now, pour the colored water into this container with the oil until the container is almost full. But be sure to leave at least 1-2 inches of space at the top, so that it doesn’t overflow.
• Step 5: Add the Alka Seltzer tablet to this mixture of colored water and vegetable oil. You’ll notice that orange-colored bubbles float up and down in the jar like a lava lamp!

Note: Don’t overfill the container as it can overflow and get messy. And make sure that your child DOES NOT put the Alka-Seltzer in their mouth at any time.

What You’ll See?

What are those bubbling blobs in the lava lamp experiment.

They are blobs of colored water.

Water and oil do not mix. This is because they both have different densities.  Oil is lighter than water, which is why it floats on top and doesn’t mix. 

The food coloring is water-soluble, so only the water changes color and the oil does not. 

When Alka-Seltzer tablets are added to the vegetable oil and water mixture, the tablets react with the water and forms carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is released in the form of bubbles. The bubbles attach themselves to the blobs of colored water and moves to the top of the glass. When the bubbles pop at the surface, the blob of colored waterfalls to the bottom of the glass. This continues until the Alka-Seltzer is completely used up.

Why doesn’t the oil mix with the water?

Oil and water don’t mix because they have different polarities. Oil is made up of long chains of carbon, which are hydrophobic (afraid of water) and do not carry a charge. So, oil is nonpolar. Water, on the other hand, is made up of highly charged compounds that are hydrophilic (love water), so water is polar. Since oil is nonpolar, the oil molecules are not attracted to water molecules, which is why oil and water don’t mix.

Why does the Alka Seltzer form bubbles when it’s added to the liquid?

Alka Seltzer is made up of sodium bicarbonate (base) and citric acid. So it is both an acid and a base. So, when it is added to water the acid and the base react to form a gas called, carbon dioxide. This gas is released in the form of bubbles.

Why doesn’t the Alka Seltzer lava lamp last long like a real lava lamp?

A real lava lamp uses polar and nonpolar liquids just like our experiment, but it’s powered by light. The density of the liquids are much closer than water and oil. As the denser liquid sinks to the bottom, the heat from the light expands it and makes it rise again. This happens because temperature affects the density of a liquid. As the blobs of the liquid move to the top, they cool down and sink to the bottom, where it gets heated again. So, the colorful blobs move up and down in a continuous dance. The lava lamp lasts as long as it is powered by light.

Unfortunately, the Alka Seltzer-powered lava lamp created in this experiment is temporary. It lasts only as long as the chemical reaction between Alka Seltzer and water lasts, so it doesn’t last as long as a real lava lamp. 

Why Should You Try The Lava Lamp Experiment?

Kids are curious creatures, they learn better when they can explore things on their own. So it is essential to let children experiment with things around them to develop an early interest in science. Does your kid love lava lamps and find them magical? You can create the magic right in front of their eyes with a simple Alka seltzer experiment. The lava lamp experiment is a fun and easy way to understand the chemical reaction between acids and bases. Additionally, it also helps kids understand the density of different substances. 

Download Lava Lamp Experiment Printable

Interactive Session for Kids about the Lava Lamp Experiment

You can make the lava lamp experiment more interesting by conducting a round of question and answer sessions with your child. This session helps your child understand the science behind the lava lamp experiment.

Here are some questions to get you started:

• What did you observe from the lava lamp experiment?
• What do you think happened to the oil and colored water mixture after the Alka-Seltzer tablets were added to them?
• Did you learn anything new from the lava lamp experiment?
• What happens when you add more Alka-Seltzer tablets after all the bubbling action stops?

Frequently Asked Questions on Lava Lamp Experiment

How to set up lava lamp experiment.

To set up the lave lamp experiment firstly, you need to add half cup water to a glass tumbler and add some food coloring to the glass. Next, fill the tumbler with vegetable oil and then pour the colored solution with the vegetable oil till the jar is full. Finally, add Alka seltzer tablet to this solution and you can notice the colored bubbles floating.

What are the materials used for Lava Lamp Experiment?

Some of the materials used for the Lava Lamp Experiment are water, a small jar, vegetable oil, Alka seltzer tablets, clear glass jars, and any color of your choice.

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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.

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