DIY Lava Lamp

This easy and fun science activity is a great way for your child to learn something new while celebrating a special birthday!

---

DIY Lava Lamp 

You Will Need:

• Vegetable Oil 
• Water 
• Food Colouring  
• Alka-Seltzer Tablets 
• A Tall Skinny Container 

 
Directions:

1.  Fill up your container with 2/3rd of oil and 1/3rd of water, leaving room at the top for the bubbles. 
2. Add 4-5 drops of food colouring to your container. 
3. Add ½ an Alka-Seltzer tablet into the container.  
4. Watch your lava lamp bubbles reach the top of the container! You can keep adding Alka-Seltzer tablets to your lava lamp. 

 
How does it happen?

• Bubbles are created because water and oil do not mix together. This is because the oil has non-molar molecules which do not dissolve or mix with the polar molecules of water.  
• These bubbles of water and food colouring are then pushed through the oil and to the surface of the container by the fizzing in the Alka-Seltzer tablets creating the lava lamp bubbles on top and below the oil!

For more information, and pictures, please visit http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/diy-lava-lamp/