🌋 Lava Lamps

Make a bubbling lamp to take home. Draft: not yet checked

How it works

Oil and water don't mix. Oil is less dense than water, which means it is lighter for the same amount, so it floats on top. The fizzy tablet makes bubbles of gas that grab some colored water and carry it up. When the bubble pops at the top, the water sinks back down.

What you will do

1. Add 2 or 3 drops of color.
2. Drop in a quarter tablet.
3. Watch the lava.
4. Wait for the fizzing to stop. Cap it.

Try it at home

Ask a grown-up to help.

What you need:

A clear bottle, vegetable oil, water, food coloring, a fizzy tablet.

Safety at home:

Do not drink it. Antacid tablets such as Alka-Seltzer contain aspirin: keep them away from small children and do not eat them. Wipe up oil, which is slippery.

Watch how it is done:

• Show and Tell – DIY Lava Lamp With Alka-Seltzer (opens another site)
• TKOR – Oil, Food Coloring, Alka-Seltzer (opens another site)