I have been wanting to do this experiment for a while now, but I have been waiting till we got closer to St. Patrick's day since it kind of fits that theme. However this experiment is just as cool anytime of year, but if you are looking for something to do for the holiday this would be perfect!
I must admit that I really wanted to do this experiment and was probably more excited than my kids on this one. I just could not believe that the colors would not mix, and I am totally shocked that several days later they still were separate. They did eventually mix together but it took several days before they did. I just think this is so cool!
What is happening with this experiment? The more sugar you add to the water, the more sugar molecules will take over the space, making the water more dense. The cup containing the 5 tablespoons of sugar will be the most dense, the cup with 1 tablespoons will be least dense. That is why we layer them with the most dense liquid at the bottom and the least dense at the top. NOTE: Since this is a sugar water test, if you mix up the solution the sugar will disperse evenly and the colors will mix. Unlike the water & oil tests like this where the oil will separate from the water again.
Supplies
15 TBS Sugar
15 TBS Water
Red, Yellow, Green, & Blue Food Color
6 Cups
Directions
Using 5 of your cups start adding sugar to each. The first one gets 1TBS, the 2nd gets gets 2TBS and so on till the last one gets 5TBS (NOTE: Keep the cups in order).
Add Three TBS of water to each Cup
Stir the cups to dissolve the sugar into the water (NOTE: not all the sugar will dissolve and that is okay).
Add a different food color to each then stir (NOTE: make sure the cups say in order from the 1TBS of sugar to the 5TBS of sugar).
Starting with the 5TBS cup add some liquid to your 6th cup. I found it was easier to not disturb the bottom layer by using a syringe (the kind you get at the pharmacy for meds) and a spoon.
Add the same amount of liquid from each cup, going backwards starting with the 5TBS liquid to the 1 TBS liquid. (NOTE: We added 3 syringes full of each liquid)
Notice your rainbow of liquid you have in the cup. Check out how each layer of color says separate!
How fascinating for the kids, and how perfect top use a rainbow at this time of year... :)
ReplyDeletehugs x
Crystelle
http://www.crystelleboutique.com
Thanks Crystelle! The perfect St.Patty's Day science experiment!
DeleteCoolest thing ever!!! For sure doing this tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI know, I just thought this was so neat! Very excited you are going to try it out!
DeleteThe kids will love this............Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
Thanks for hosting Kathy! And you are right, my kids just loved it!
DeleteHi! Found you on Made in a Day link up. This is so cool, I love it. My daughter is only 15 months old, so this experiment would not work well with her, but I will be following your blog because I love trying crafty things (not very crafty though) and as a SAHM hope to craft with my daughter as she gets older. Following via GFC and FB.
ReplyDeleteJackie
www.thenonmarthamomma.com
My little one just turned 2 so an assure you your little one will be ready for lots of fun stuff soon. If you want check out some of the sensory stuff we have, I did a bunch of that stuff with my little one when she was around that age!
DeleteThis looks like a blast!! I have been looking for fun science experiments for homeschooling lately, this is perfect!!
ReplyDeleteJust posted on Craft Gossip!!
http://lessonplans.craftgossip.com/?p=7738
Thanks! And thanks so much for sharing on Craft Gossip, I am glad you like this one. It really was fun!
DeleteOooh what a very PRETTY experiment too! Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
Thanks for hosting Maggy!
DeleteThat is really cool. I love it. I can see myself getting more excited than the kids on this one too. I will have to try this when they are a little bigger. That is amazing that the colors stayed separate after several days.
ReplyDeleteI know right! I cold not believe that they stayed separate for so long. I just thought this was the coolest.
DeleteThat is cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat did turn out to be a neat experiment, and your girls are so cute adorable precious pretty!
ReplyDeleteVery cool. Pinning this!
ReplyDeleteAngela @ A Typical English Home
Really cool
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to try something like this with my kids and I love how you set it up. We're going to have to give it a go! Visiting from TGIF!
ReplyDeleteKelly at Little Wonders' Days
What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteWe made something similar but with different liquids. I didn't know it could be made with only sugar! How cool, is THAT? And very easy on the eyes.
ReplyDeleteValerie at Sorting Sprinkles
LOVE this experiment with the kids! I'm going to pin this now so I can try it out soon with my little guy. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fun experiment for the kids! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteTracey, thanks for sharing this idea at A New Creation party. My son's class did this at school and I've been wanting to replicate at home. So glad you spelled it out for us!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to my party! I wanted to let you know I picked your link to feature this week! See my post and grab my feature button here http://toastiestudio.blogspot.nl/2013/03/create-and-inspire-59-picks.html
ReplyDeletethis is so fun..my guys would have LOVED this when they were little. A fun way to learn about science and density! Thanks for sharing at March Madness
ReplyDeleteThis is SOOOO Cool! i'd would love if you would come link this to our #kidsinthekitchen series http://lookwhatmomfound.com/2013/03/notes-in-the-lunchbox-kidsinthekitchen.html
ReplyDeleteI'm bookmarking your site now :)
That is so neat!! We are definitely going to try that. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
ReplyDeleteJust pinned this and am waiting for my kids to come home from school so we can try it. Thanks for the great idea.
ReplyDeletemaybe i'm overlooking something but 5 cups to add 4 colors too? should i double up on a color? make orange or purple?
ReplyDeleteYes, if you look we did a purple by mixing the blue and red food color.
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