Make Your Own Lava Lamp

October 03, 2024 / DIY / STEM Activities / Chemistry / Ages 6 - 8 / Homemade Lava Lamp

Two clear glasses showcase vibrant homemade lava lamps, their contents a captivating blend of colours. A layer of white sits at the base of each glass, topped by a layer of blue, then a dominant layer of yellow speckled with tiny red and green droplets. The effect is visually striking, resembling a miniature, colourful, bubbling lava flow. The word lava lamp is superimposed on the image in a bold, orange font. The background is a soft, pale yellow, complementing the bright colours of the lava lamps. The overall impression is one of a fun, successful science experiment.

This lava lamp experiment is super cool! Watch vibrant colours dance in your homemade lava lamp, bringing brilliance to your space. Adding baking soda or effervescent tablets will make this science activity even more exciting! You can also install a small LED light at the bottom to experience the magic and beauty of science in a dark environment.

Age: 6-8
Time: Less than 30 minutes
Mess Level: A bit messy

Materials Needed:

Oil
Cup
Food colouring
Spoon
Baking soda
Vinegar
Dropper

Against a pale blue background, various items are neatly arranged for a science experiment, likely to create a homemade lava lamp. These include a small glass jug containing a yellowish liquid (likely oil), a tall clear glass, a small bottle of blue liquid (likely food colouring), a small measuring spoon, a small empty glass bowl, and a pipette. A small container of white powder (possibly salt or baking soda) is also present. The items are spaced evenly, creating a visually appealing and organised presentation, ready for the experiment to begin.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Add baking soda to the cup, letting it settle evenly at the bottom. The baking soda should occupy about a quarter of the cup.

A person's hands are shown adding a white powder, likely baking soda, to a clear glass using a small black measuring spoon. A small plastic measuring cup containing more of the white powder is held in the other hand. In the background, a small glass jug of yellowish liquid (oil) and a small bottle of blue liquid (food colouring) are visible, along with a small empty beaker. The scene is set against a light blue surface. The image depicts a step in the process of making a homemade lava lamp, focusing on the addition of a key ingredient.

Slowly pour oil along the side of the cup, being careful not to disturb the baking soda layer.

Two hands carefully pour a yellowish liquid, likely oil, from a small measuring jug into a tall, clear glass. A layer of white substance is already visible at the bottom of the glass. Other items are visible in the background, including a small container of white powder (possibly baking soda), a small bottle of blue liquid (food colouring), and a small black spatula. The scene is set against a light blue surface. The image depicts a step in the process of making a homemade lava lamp, showing the addition of oil to the base.

Colour the vinegar by adding 3-4 drops of food colouring and mix well.

A hand is carefully adding blue food colouring from a small bottle into a clear glass bowl. A small amount of blue liquid is already present in the bowl. The background is a plain, light blue surface. The image shows a step in the process of preparing ingredients for a homemade lava lamp, focusing on the addition of colour to one of the liquids. The overall style is clean and instructional.

Use a dropper to draw up the coloured vinegar and drop it into the cup. Observe the reaction of the food colouring.

A tall, clear glass contains a layer of yellowish liquid (oil) on top of a layer of white (water and baking soda). A blue liquid (coloured water) is in a smaller beaker to the left. A pipette, containing a small amount of blue liquid, rests in the tall glass. A small measuring beaker containing white powder (baking soda) and a small black spatula are visible in the background. The entire setup rests on a pale blue surface. The image shows a step in the process of creating a homemade lava lamp, illustrating the layering of liquids and the addition of coloured water using a pipette.

Continue adding vinegar until the bubbles stop reacting. If the dropper is long enough, you can insert it into the baking soda layer to trigger a massive reaction.

A tall, clear glass, standing on a pale blue surface against a pale pink background, contains a homemade lava lamp. The glass shows distinct layers: a base of white liquid, topped by a layer of yellow oil, within which are several small, green droplets. A blue pipette is inserted into the mixture, suggesting the process of adding the coloured liquid. The image focuses on the layered effect and the process of creating the lava lamp, highlighting the contrast between the colours and the immiscibility of the liquids.

Try adding multiple colours to create the effect you want.

The Science Behind It:

The stunning lava lamp involves multiple scientific principles, including density and acid-base chemical reactions. Let's break it down:

1. Density Principle: In the lava lamp, we have two liquids, vinegar and oil. They have different densities, so when we pour them into the glass container, vinegar, being heavier than oil, sinks to the bottom. Oil, being lighter, floats on top.

2. Acid-Base Chemical Reaction: When baking soda (an alkaline compound) combines with vinegar (an acidic compound), a chemical reaction occurs, producing carbon dioxide gas. The gas has a lower density than water, so bubbles carry the coloured water upwards. When the bubbles reach the surface, the gas is released, the water in the bubbles becomes heavier, and sinks back down.

3. Liquid Interactions: Vinegar and oil don't mix because vinegar is polar while oil is non-polar, meaning their molecules interact differently. Polar and non-polar molecules repel each other, so the vinegar droplets don't mix with the oil, creating the colourful lava lamp style.

Make Your Own Lava Lamp

Materials Needed:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

The Science Behind It:

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