How to make a lava lamp with your child
This DIY science experiment is quick, fun – and helps your child learn all about liquid density. Here’s how to do it (and explain it)...
We think this DIY lava lamp is brilliant: not only is it eye-catchingly cool, it’s also a science experiment that teaches your kids about liquid density – basically, how some liquids are heavier than others.
You don’t need any fancy ingredients – you’ve probably got most of them at home already – and it’s super-quick to make.
The science behind a homemade lava lamp
The secret behind the lava lamp is liquid density – in this case, how much matter is packed into the different liquids.
Oil and vinegar have different densities. Vinegar is more dense than oil, so this is why it sinks to the bottom of the glass.
Once it reaches the bottom, it touches the bicarbonate of soda. This causes a chemical reaction that releases bubbles of the gas carbon dioxide. The bubbles of carbon dioxide attach themselves to the vinegar and cause it to float to the surface with them.
But once the carbon dioxide bubbles reach the top, they escape into the air. So now the vinegar globules start to sink again.
Here’s how to make a lava lamp
You Will Need
- 3tsp bicarbonate of soda
- Tall glass or bottle
- Vegetable oil
- Small cup/jug
- Teaspoon (for mixing)
- White vinegar (can be any type of pale vinegar)
- Food colouring of your choice
Step 1
Put the bicarbonate of soda in your glass or bottle.
Step 2
Fill the glass or bottle about 2/3 full with the oil. Don’t mix or shake the oil and the bicarbonate of soda together.
Step 3
In your small cup or jug, mix a little vinegar with a few drops of food colouring.
Step 4
Really slowly, add drops of your coloured vinegar mix to the glass or bottle, trying not to let them run down the inside of the bottle but instead drip directly into the oil.
Step 5
Watch as your lava lamp starts to float and bubble. For full-on hippy-dippy atmosphere, you could turn the lights off, close the curtains and shine a torch behind the bottle!
Pics/video: Danielle Graph
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