Multi Coloured Volcano Lamp Instructions

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Multi Coloured Volcano Lamp Instructions

This is a simple science experiment that the children will love trying.

You will need:
small empty water bottles including the top
water
food colouring
glitter
olive oil
salt
a torch

Instructions:

This is a very simple experiment that works quickly and provides a spectacular light show.

Fill the water bottle three-quarters full of water.

Put in just a few drops of food colouring until you make the colour you want.

Add some glitter.

Top up the bottle with the olive oil and let the mixture separate.

Pour salt into the bottle until you see the mixture start to react thus giving a multi coloured light show.

After the bubbles stop forming, add some more salt and watch it react again. .

Place a torch behind the bottle to make the effect even more spectacular!

The reason this works is that oil is lighter than water, so it rises to the surface. Salt is heavier than water, so it sinks to the bottom of the bottle. When you add the salt, globules of oil attach to the grains of salt and sink. Then the salt dissolves, and the oil returns to the top again.