DIY Lava Lamp Experiment!
Make Your Own Bubbling Lava Lamp at Home!
At Half Pint Co., we’re all about playful learning, and this DIY Lava Lamp experiment is the perfect mix of science and sensory fun! Watch as colorful bubbles swirl, pop, and dance in this mesmerizing chemical reaction.
Grab a few simple ingredients and bring the magic of science to life!
What You’ll Need:
9 oz. vegetable oil
4 or 5 oz. of water
How to Make Your Own Lava Lamp:
Step 1: Fill the Bottle
First, take a clear16 oz bottle and fill it with 9 oz of vegetable oil.
Add water until the bottle is nearly full (about 4-5 oz.) — be sure to leave some space between the oil and the top of the bottle! Ask questions to have the kids explore what is happening when you add the water. Watch how the water sinks below the oil—this is density in action!
Step 2: Add Some Color!
Then, add 4-6 drops of liquid food coloring and watch as the colorful drops sink through the oil before mixing with the water below. Ask questions to investigate what will happen when you add the coloring. Swirl the bottle gently to disperse the food coloring with the water.
Kids observing the colorful bubbling lava lamp experiment at Half Pint Co.
Step 3: Get Bubbling!
Finally, break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into a few pieces and drop them in the jar. The fizzing will create bubbling lava lamp magic!
Step 4: Keep the Fun Going!
Once the fizzing stops, add another Alka-Seltzer tablet and watch the bubbles rise again!
The Science Behind the Lava Lamp!
This experiment teaches density and chemical reactions:
Density: Water is heavier than oil, so it sinks to the bottom.
Chemical Reaction: When Alka-Seltzer mixes with water, it creates carbon dioxide gas, which forms bubbles that rise to the top!
Result: The bubbles carry the colored water upward, then pop and sink again—just like a real lava lamp!
Show Us Your Lava Lamps!
We’d love to see your bubbly creations! Share a photo and tag us @half.pint.co on Instagram or on Facebook.
More Fun with Science!
More DIY S.T.E.M. fun here.
Come to a live event!
Did you enjoy this activity? Are you in the Twin Cities area? We’d love to see you at one of our upcoming free, family-friendly events!
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