Instructions

Caution: May cause extreme mess. Use of a towel, sheet of paper, or paper towels under entire project may be necessary.
May need partner to hold bottle upright, in order that it does not tip over in the process of the experiment.
Figure 2
Image from www.sciencebob.com
  1. Pull one alka seltzer pack from the box.
  2. Choose either red, blue, yellow or green food coloring from the box. (CAUTION: It is best advised not to use yellow food coloring, as it contrasts with the yellow vegetable oil.)
  3. Grab your clean one-liter bottle and place on top of a clean towel or paper towel. (Be sure that towel is laid flat against table, so that the experiment is not interrupted. It is recommended to have a spare bottle as a backup in case of a mess up.)
  4. Choose one of the three funnel sizes to pour the water.
  5. Place funnel inside top part of bottle.
  6. Pour ¾ cups of water with your funnel into the clean one liter soda bottle.
  7. Next, using a different funnel, pour the vegetable oil into the bottle until about ¾ full. Be sure not to fill completely to the cap. As shown in figure 2. 
  8. Wait one minute to allow water and vegetable oil to separate.
  9. Choose from your red, blue or purple food coloring and add 10 drops to the vegetable/water mixture. Also shown in figure 2.
  10. Wait another minute to allow some of the food coloring to settle.
  11. Break 2 full alka seltzer tablets in half. Start placing the alka seltzers tablets in the mixture by halves, until bubbles start to develop. (CAUTION: Use two full alka seztler tablets and no more, as using more than slotted amount can cause experiment to overflow.)
    12. Image from www.sciencebob.com


  12. Watch the tablets sink to the bottom. To keep the effect going continue to add alka seltzer to the mixture.
Image from www.sciencebob.com
WARNING: When done, close lid tight to avoid leaking or spilling.


If really interested, flash a light under the bottle and it makes a great lava lamp.

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