Create a swirling explosion of colors in a plate of milk! Learn how soap interacts with fats and proteins to break surface tension and create a chemical reaction.

Materials

• paper plate (1)
• whole milk (1 cup)
• dish soap (1 tablespoon)
• food coloring (4 different colors)
• cotton swabs (2)

Safety

• Adult supervision is recommended to prevent spills.
• Be careful with food coloring as it can stain clothing and surfaces.
• Adult supervision required for sharp objects.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Pour the whole milk into the paper plate until the entire bottom is covered in a thin, even layer.
2. Let the milk sit completely still for about 10 seconds to ensure there are no bubbles or movement.
3. Carefully add a few drops of different food coloring to the center of the milk. Keep the colors separated in distinct dots to make the final effect more impressive.
4. Dip one end of a cotton swab into the dish soap, ensuring it is well-coated but not dripping with large globs of soap.
5. Gently touch the soapy end of the cotton swab to the center of the milk or directly onto one of the food coloring dots.
6. Hold the swab in place and watch as the colors rapidly push away from the soap and swirl across the plate.
7. Touch different areas of the milk with the swab to see how the colors continue to react and move.