Lava In a Bottle

Perform a fun science experiment that creates a miniature lava lamp in a plastic beaker using water, oil, and chemical reactions!

This fun science experiment works because of three different scientific principles.  First, it works because water and oil do not mix.  The molecules in water are strongly attracted to each other, and the same is true of oil.  Because of this, the molecules of each do not mix with those of the other, so oil and water separate.  Oil floats above the water because it has a lower density than water.

A chemical reaction occurs when the tablets are added to the water, creating the 'lava lamp' effect.  The molecules of the water combine with the molecules on the surface of the tablet to creat gas bubbles and change the color of the water.  Since this reaction only happens in the water and not in the oil, the bubbles cause the water to float through the oil, which causes the water to look like lava.  When the bubbles reach the top of the oil they burst and the water falls back throgh the oil to the bottom of thge beaker.

Features:

• Create your own mini lava lamp effect in a plastic beaker
• Uses oil, water, and chemical reactions from fizz tablets
• Fizz tablets comes in red, blue, and yellow, and can be combined to yield different colors
• Demonstrates three different scientific principles