Fireworks in a Jar

Create Fireworks in Your Own Bottle!

Want to make a mesmerizing “fireworks” show right at home? With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a colorful display in a bottle! This experiment is easy to set up and a great way to explore density, solubility, and the interaction between liquids.

Materials You’ll Need

• Clear bottle or tall glass (1 per experiment)

• Water – about 3/4 of the bottle

• Cooking oil – about 1/4 cup

• Food coloring (water-based) – a few drops of each color you’d like to use

• Small bowl (for mixing)

Step-by-Step Tutorial

1. Prepare the Water Base: Fill your bottle or glass about 3/4 full with water.

2. Mix Oil and Food Coloring: In a small bowl, pour about 1/4 cup of cooking oil and add several drops of food coloring. The food coloring drops will stay suspended in the oil, creating colorful droplets.

3. Pour the Oil Mixture into the Water: Pour the oil and food coloring mixture into the bottle with water. Watch as the oil floats above the water, then the food coloring drops sink through the oil and burst into the water, creating a stunning “fireworks” display!

   
   

The Science Behind It

This experiment is a fantastic way to learn about density, solubility, and the interactions between oil, water, and food coloring:

1. Oil and Water Don’t Mix: Oil and water don’t mix because they have different molecular structures. Water molecules are polar (have a positive and negative end), while oil molecules are nonpolar. This difference causes the oil to float on top of the water.

2. Food Coloring in Oil: Food coloring is water-based, so it doesn’t dissolve in the oil. Instead, the drops stay suspended in the oil layer until they sink.

3. Colorful “Fireworks” as Drops Sink: Food coloring is denser than oil, so it slowly sinks through the oil layer. When the food coloring drops reach the water, they burst and spread out, creating the beautiful “fireworks” effect as they dissolve.

   
   

This experiment is a wonderful way to observe density differences and molecular interactions, all while enjoying a beautiful display. Enjoy the colorful science!