Build Your Own Lava Lamp

Try some funky science with our lava lamp experiment.

Build your own lava lamp.

Fill the bottle two thirds full of oil. Chemistry gets a disco twist in this fun experiment using every day kitchen ingredients. The key to how the lava lamp works is the fact that oil and water don t mix. Make your own lava lamp.

Make your own lava lamp instructions. Did everyone enjoy mother s day weekend. Make an alka seltzer powered lava lamp from science buddies make your own lava lamp from science buddies create underwater fireworks with chemistry from scientific american. Oil and water just do not mix.

Density is the measurement of how compact a substance is how much of it fits in a certain amount of space. Leaving it in longer will give a darker color but will also increase the tendency to bleed into the brine. Our weekend was filled with long days in the sun four wheeler rides family meals bike riding and bubbles. The oil floats on the surface because the water is heavier has a higher density than oil.

How to make the lava lamp. As the reaction slows down simply add more alka seltzer. Then add water until there s around an inch remaining at the top. Then add some salt to the bottle or an effervescent tablet so the mixture starts fizzing.

Make your own lava lamp. A lava lamp works because of two different scientific principles density and polarity. To make a lava lamp with household ingredients start by pouring vegetable oil water and food coloring into a plastic bottle. A few minutes is usually a good time to leave the inked felt in the alcohol.

Fizzy tablet alka seltzer vitamin tablet or similar food colouring colour of your choice. I know i ve been complaining about the weather the past couple months but this weekend was absolutely beautiful. Break open an oil soluble marker or pen and place the inked felt into a container of benzyl alcohol. Watch what happens to the water with your kids.

Fill the rest with water leaving a little of space at the top. It will sink slowly beneath the oil layer creating lots of bubbles. First fill the empty water bottle about 2 3 full with vegetable oil. Notice that the water sinks below the vegetable oil.