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Area of Science: Chemistry Meant for at least Grade K-3 (age 5-7). This experiment is edible. An adult need not be present. |
Overview:
Oil causes the food coloring to circulate in the milk making swirls of color
Equipment:
Milk (in a glass or single serving carton with the lid cut off) Food colors vegetable oil a table to place the milk onSafety:
How to do the experiment:
Put milk in a glass or cut the lid off a carton. 2% or higher fat
content works the best. Place one drop of each color of food
coloring in each corner of the carton or near the sides of the glass.
Place a drop of vegatable oil in the middle. Be careful not to move
the glass or to shake the table. After a short time the colors
swirl and mix, it looks really cool. Try it with different fat percentages and
see how it affects the patterns or the rate of swirling.
Explanation:
This is caused because milk is mostly water and some fat. The oil is
only soluble in the fat. The oil creates a current which causes the
colors to circulate mix.
Useful References:
Further comments:
Sometimes it takes a little while for this to happen, but it will happen.