🌊Ocean 🌋Volcano 💦HydroGels Lava Lamp powered by 💥Alka Seltzer (Science 🔬⚗️⚖️ 101 🎥Series 🎇)

Today, we are experimenting with the concept of density of liquids, the properties of carbon dioxide gas and its reaction with hydrogels. So, how about making a water beads lava lamp powered by Alka-Seltzer?

What you will need: 

🔹colored water (we are using blue food coloring to simulate the ocean),

🔹vegetable oil,

🔹blue hydrogel beads (buy here),

🔹Alka Seltzer (or any other fast dissolving tablet).

When you add💧water to the oil: what happens to the two liquids? Oil and water are immiscible, meaning that they will not mix together since the force of attraction between the molecules of the same liquid is greater than the force of attraction between the two different liquids. So, you end up with beautiful dancing bubbles in a home-made lava lamp!

Now, what will happen when you add Alka Seltzer to our "lava lamp"?

Science mystery💡revealed: Alka-Seltzer tablet reacts with water to make carbon dioxide gas. These bubbles attach themselves to the water molecules (and hydrogels), causing them to float upwards. When the bubbles pop, the water droplets sink back to the bottom, creating an "ocean volcano!"

The oil and water do not mix, but rather the oil breaks up into small little drops, which float on the surface because water is heavier and denser than the oil. So, while the water is sinking to the bottom, the oil is rising to the top, bringing the hydrogels along, creating a beautiful display of bubbles and gel-beads going up and down. 
 🔹Subject: early Chemistry;

🔹Skills a child is developing: mathematics, observation, and visual skills;

🔹Concept: density, immiscibility.

Unfortunately, this lamp does not last long, unless you keep adding Alka Seltzer.

See here a similar science experiment "Lava Lamp: Oil vs 🌈 💧Water Density Immiscibility ⚗️Experiment with 💥Alka Seltzer (Science 🔬⚗️⚖️ 101 🎥Series 🎇)."

For more on 💧hydrogel beads, read here "💉 Inside of the BODY Anatomy Unit Study."

For more on the property of water, see here "Pour 💦it in! Liquid Illusion (Science🔬⚗️⚖️ 101 🎥Series 🎇)."

For more on science experiments:

• See here a video-post "Float or Sink❓Tangerine 🍊 Science Experiment (Science 🔬 💡⚖️ 101 🎥 Series 🎇)." Also, see here "Walnut Shell ⛵Sailboats 💦Water Science Experiment (Science 🔬 💡⚖️ 101 🎥 Series 🎇). "
• For baking soda experiments: see here "Magic Balloon (Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction) Science🔬⚗️⚖️ 101 🎥Series 🎇," and here a video-post "🌋 Erupting Volcano Science Experiment 🔬 💡⚖️ 101 🎥 Series 🎇."
• Also check out here  "💛💙❤️Primary Colors, 💦Water & Paper Capillary Action ⌛️Timelapse ⚗️ Kids Science Experiment (🌈 Rainbow Walking Water)."
• For more on color-mixing, please see here " 👔 Father's Day🎈Balloon Color-mixing DIY Craft (Sensorial 🖐️👀👂👅👃 Activities 101 🎥 Series 🎇).