Explosions of Color

This fun "experiment" is really cool to watch and easy with items that you already have in your house.  Your kids will have fun watching the colors "explode."


What you need:

• A flat tray (like a cookie baking tray) or a shallow dish
• Food coloring (at least 3 different colors)
• Whole milk - low fat milk will not work for this experiment (we only buy 2% milk...it worked fine)
• Liquid soap used for washing dishes

What to do: 

Carefully pour the milk into the tray or dish so that it just covers the bottom.

Add about 6-8 drops of different colored food coloring onto the milk in different spots.

Add about 5 drops of the liquid soap onto the drops of food coloring and watch the show!

 

 

To clean up, simply pour the colored milk down the drain. (don't drink it!)

Here's the science behind the fun:

So you know where the color comes from, but why milk and liquid soap?  The main job of dish soap it to go after fat and break it down.  Usually the fat is on dishes from the food we eat, but fat is also in whole milk.  When you drop the liquid soap onto the tray, it tried to break down the fat in the milk.  While it was doing that, it caused the colors to scatter and mix creating a very colorful display. 
  
Science experiment courtesy of Science Bob.

How could you use this demonstration in your home or classroom?  Have you tried this before? 


Alexis