Chemists are scientists who learn about the composition of different substances and solutions!
Be a chemist today and create your own rainbow density column!
Materials:
A cup or jar, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup dish soap, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup nail polish remover, food coloring, stirring stick or spoon.
Time Estimated:
15-20 minutes
Directions:
Add one drop of green food coloring into the water and stir until the color is evenly distributed.
Add one drop of red food coloring into the nail polish remover and stir.
Add the dish soap into the bottom of your jar or cup.
Gently pour your two colored liquids along with the oil into your jar or cup in the following order:
Water (green)
Oil (yellow— no food coloring)
Nail polish remover (red)
Pro-tip: Pour in the liquids slowly along the side of the cup to prevent the solution from mixing!
Admire your rainbow jar!
Think Like a Scientist:
What liquid fell to the bottom of the mixture? Why do you think it did so?
What liquid stayed at the top of the mixture? Why do you think it did so?
If you shake everything up and give it enough time, do you think the liquid layers will settle in the same order? Why or why not? Try it out and let us know what happened in the comments below!
How It Works:
Notice how the different ingredients don’t mix with each other? This is because they all have different densities!
Density describes how heavy and compact a substance is:
Less dense (lighter) substances tend to stay on top.
More dense (heavier) substances tend to sink to the bottom.
Can you guess which one of your ingredients is the most dense and which is the least dense?
That is right! The most dense ingredient is the blue soap, and the least dense is the red nail polish remover!
Looking for more fun at home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities!
