Lava Lamp Simple Science Experiment

We are creating our own Lava lamp in this science experiment for kids. We only use common household ingredients that you most likely find in your kitchen. And it takes only a minute to set up.

All we need for this is: a glass, vegetable oil, water, food coloring mixed with water and a fizzy tablet or a bath tablet.

First, we fill the glass about 25 percent with water. The we carefully add vegetable oil, about 75 percent.

Then we add a few drops of food coloring. You can also add another color like blue then we can see how the colors mix.

Finally, we add a fizzy tablet into the glass and watch as the reaction between the tablet and the water causes the food coloring to move and swirl through the oil.

Why does it work?

The food coloring, which is denser than the oil moved down in the glass and mixes throughout the water. As the fizzy tablet dissolves in the water, it releases carbondioxide gas, which rises to the top of the bottle and pushes the denser oil downwards.