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Adult Supervision Required*
1. DIY Lava Lamp
(Image Source: Pinterest)
What You Need:
- A clear bottle or flask
- Vegetable oil
- Water
- Food Colouring (Red, Blue, Green, Orange)
- Alka-Seltzer tablet (effervescent antacid)
Instructions:
Fill the 3/4 of the bottle with vegetable oil
Fill the rest of the bottle with water- almost to the brim
Add drops of food colouring in the bottle and let it sink to the bottom
Break the Alka-Seltzer tablet up and drop them into the bottle piece by piece
The reaction will occur and you can continue dropping in pieces of the Alka-Seltzer tablet
Why Does It Happen?
This occurs due to density and polarity.
When measuring the same amount of water and oil, you will find that water is 'heavier' than oil as the water molecules are packed more tightly, hence it has a larger mass.
This allows the water to sink to the bottom- below the oil. Polarity then prevents both the substances from mixing due to the difference in the electrical charges. Reacting with the Alka-Seltzer tablets to produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles and being less dense, the coloured water droplets floats to the top.
When they reach the surface, the gas bubbles burst and air escapes, leaving the droplets to sink to the bottom. The process carries on.
2. Sugar Glass
(Source: Pinterest)
Instead of using real glass, which is more costly and dangerous, movie sets use sugar glass to substitute glass shattering in movie stunts, etc.
What You Need:
- 1 cup granulated Sugar
- 1/3 cup Water
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- Cooking Spray
- Flat baking tray
- Baking Sheet
- Candy thermometer
- Optional: food coloring
Instructions:
Line the tray with baking sheet, covering it entirely
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, pour in the sugar, water, light corn syrup and cream of tartar gradually
Continue stirring the mixture as you use the candy thermometer to measure the temperature of 320°F (160°C)
Pour the candy mixture onto the tray and let it set and harden
It will take approximately 45 minutes and you can remove it from the tray
Sugar glass is used to replace glass due to its similar transparent appearance. It is a less costly and dangerous substitute and is mostly used to simulate shattered glass in movie stunts.
3. Rainbow Jar
(Source: Pinterest)
What You Need:
- A mason jar and other jars for mixing
- 1/2 cup blue dishwashing liquid
- 1/2 cup cooking oil
- 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- Food coloring- Red and Green
Instructions
To create a purple liquid- add a drop red and blue colouring to 1/4 cup of honey. Stir until colour turns purple.
Pour the purple liquid into the base of the jar
Add the blue dishwashing liquid into the jar
Dissolve green colouring into 1/4 cup of water. Pour the mixture into the jar.
Let the liquid set and pour the cooking oil in for the final result.
Why Does It Happen?
Density comes into play. The liquids created have different densities, hence they weight differently. The less dense liquids will float above the denser ones, allowing it to form different layers.
4. Baking Soda Volcano
(Source: Pinterest)
What You Need:
- 10 ml of dishwashing liquid
- 100 ml of cold water
- 400 ml of clear vinegar
- Food coloring of preferred colour
- Baking soda
- Empty glass or jar
Instructions
Pour the water, vinegar and dishwashing liquid into the glass
Add 2 drops of food colouring into the glass
Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda and water into a separate jar. Stir the solution thoroughly.
Pour the solution into the other glass jar and watch the reaction of the mixed chemicals erupting into a mini volcano.
Why Does It Happen?
It results from the chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar- acetic acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate and forms carbon dioxide. Which causes the gases to fizzle and bubble, causing an 'eruption'.
These experiments bring great fun to the family and is a great way to bond. Do try them at home and expand your child's creativity!