Blobs in a Bottle!

On Thursday we conducted a Science experiment that not only looked at what happens when oil and water are mixed together...but then what happens when we had some food coloring (for affect) and antacid tablets (like Alka Seltzer)
The results were...our very own, home-made lava lamps!

What you need:
Water
Oil
Food Coloring
Antacid Tables
Clear Bottle with lid

First we poured the water in the bottle.   Then before we added oil we wrote hypotheses about what each of us thought would happen.  Then we poured the oil in and observed.  Everyone was shocked at how the water and oil just did NOT want to mix.  But WHY?  That IS the question.

Ask your kids...hint...oil is less dense than water...

But as cool as that was to see then we added food coloring.  We hypothesized what would happen...and we were more educated this time after watching the oil and water.  And yet...still in awe that the food coloring did not color the oil - JUST the water!

Finally we hypothesized what would happen if we added Alka Seltzer tablets (antacids) to the mix.  When we added them...we got our lava lamp!  But WHY?  Again - that IS the question.  The citric acid in the antacid tablet reacts with the water and it releases carbon dioxide gas (carbonation) which rise to the top taking the colored liquid along for the ride!

I hope the kids showed you this with their mix and tablets they took home!