Baking Soda and Vinegar Lava Lamp

This is a super easy craft for children older than five. Maybe if you have a really mature four year old you'll be fine, I don't know. You probably have all the supplies already. It's a quick craft that's fun to watch. And the best part? Clean-up is minimal! There is a little bit of optional food coloring that can stain, so be mindful of that.

You'll need:

-A clear container with a screw-top lid

-4 tbsp baking soda

-1/4 cup vinegar

-8 oz vegetable oil

-Food coloring

-A small bowl

-Spoon

Gently spoon in your baking soda. Rotate the jar so that the baking soda is one flat layer. You want the baking soda layer to be as level as possible.

Very carefully pour the vegetable oil into your container. Do your best to not disturb the baking soda layer. It's very important that the baking soda doesn't float throughout the oil. This step may best be performed by an adult.

This step isn't entirely necessary but it definitely makes the end product look way cooler! Using your small bowl, add a drop of food dye to the vinegar and stir using your spoon.

Gently pour the vinegar on top of the oil. Immediately, you will see the vinegar begin to react with the baking soda at the bottom of the jar.

Finally, put the lid on the container. Step back and watch as acidic vinegar particles slowly react with the baking soda at the bottom of the container. The vinegar particles will combine with the baking soda and fizz and shoot all over the container.

The reaction doesn't last forever but it is fun to watch!

You can throw away the liquid in the container once you've finished. A better and less wasteful use of your remaining liquid is to use it to prepare a recipe. I wouldn't recommend using the oil for cooking, but it could be used for baking. The vinegar and baking soda neutralize each other. I recommend using it in an oil based cookie recipe like this one.