DIY Fizzy Lava Lamp

Create a colorful, bubbling lava lamp using household items. You will learn about liquid density and how chemical reactions create gas bubbles to move colored water through oil.

Materials

• clear container with lid (1)
• vegetable oil (enough to fill 1/3 of the container)
• water (enough to fill the remaining 2/3 of the container)
• food coloring (8-10 drops)
• Alka-Seltzer tablets (2-3 tablets)

Safety

• Do not eat or drink any materials used in this project.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Remove the lid from your clear container.
2. Fill the container about one-third of the way with vegetable oil.
3. Fill the rest of the container with water, leaving a small gap of air at the top to prevent the bubbles from overflowing.
4. Wait a few minutes for the oil and water to completely separate into two distinct layers.
5. Add 8 to 10 drops of food coloring into the container; the drops will sink through the oil and mix with the water.
6. Break the Alka-Seltzer tablets into several small pieces.
7. Drop the tablet pieces into the container one by one and watch the colorful bubbles rise and fall like a lava lamp.