DIY Lava Jar

One of the simplest home experiments you can do is make a beautiful bubbling Lava Jar! A bit like a lava lamp but without the electricity, and loads of fascinating science!

What’s going on?

Oil and water do not mix together so they will separate into layers. The oil lies on top of the water because the oil is less dense! This means that 1ml of water is heavier than 1ml of oil. The food colouring is water based so it won’t mix with the oil either so it falls through the oil layer! When you add the tablets, they react with water to form CO2 gas. The gas bubbles push the water to the top and when the bubbles pop at the top the water falls back down again!

Download the instructions and a simple explanation of what’s going on here:DIY Lava Jar