Some things just don't get along well with each other. We often think of cats and dogs or brothers and sisters. This is not always true, but can you think of other things that don't always get along?
In science, some chemicals do not get along. An example is oil and water. You can mix them together and shake as hard as you like - but what happens? Do they come together to be "friends" and mix or do they stay apart?
Remember to have your Science Buddy help collect the materials you need for these experiments. Remember to record your experiements on a Mission Report that has been printed or copied for in your explorer notebook.
There are a few different things you can do for this experiment:
1. You can discover what happens when oil and water mix. (You may already know, but it is so fun to see in an experiment. Take this fun experiment a step further and find out how bringing oil and water together can help you do your dishes.
2. You can make beautiful art with oil and water
Experiment 1: Water and Oil - Mix?
What you'll need:
What to do:
Bottle One
Bottle Two
What's happening?
While water often mixes with other liquids to form solutions, oil and water does not. Water molecules are strongly attracted to each other, this is the same for oil, because they are more attracted to their own molecules they just don't mix together. They separate and the oil floats above the water because it has a lower density.
Try Something New:
If you really think oil and water belong together then try adding some dish washing liquid or detergent. What happens??
What's Happening?
Detergent is attracted to both water and oil helping them all join together and form something called an emulsion. This is extra handy when washing those greasy dishes, the detergent takes the oil and grime off the plates and into the water, yay!
Experiment 2: Marblized Paper
Make beautiful special marblized paper using oil and water!
What you'll need:
What to do:
WOW!! Another experiement you can try is by Steve Spanger: Oil and Water.
(adapted from Science Experiments for Kids and TinkerLab)
In science, some chemicals do not get along. An example is oil and water. You can mix them together and shake as hard as you like - but what happens? Do they come together to be "friends" and mix or do they stay apart?
Remember to have your Science Buddy help collect the materials you need for these experiments. Remember to record your experiements on a Mission Report that has been printed or copied for in your explorer notebook.
There are a few different things you can do for this experiment:
1. You can discover what happens when oil and water mix. (You may already know, but it is so fun to see in an experiment. Take this fun experiment a step further and find out how bringing oil and water together can help you do your dishes.
2. You can make beautiful art with oil and water
Experiment 1: Water and Oil - Mix?
What you'll need:
- 2 Small plastic water or soft drink bottle. The smallest size works great. If possible, try to find one with straight sides. It will work better.
- Water
- Food coloring
- a tablespoon measuring spoon (if you can use two, it would be best to keep the water and oil ones separate)
- 4 tablespoons of water
- 4 tablespoons of cooking oil (You should be able to use any type. It would be interesting to try more than one type of oil to see if they all react in the same way.)
- Dish washing liquid
What to do:
Bottle One
- Add four tablespoons of water to the small plastic bottle.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the water. See what happens when you mix two colors. Only add a few drops!
- Add 4 tablespoons of cooking oil into the small soft drink bottle. Where does it go in the bottle? Above or below the water?
- Screw the lid on tight and shake the bottle as hard as you can.
- Record what happens in bottle 1.
Bottle Two
- Add four tablespoons of oil to the small plastic bottle.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the oil. See what happens when you mix two colors. Only add a few drops!
- Add 4 tablespoons of water into the small soft drink bottle. Where does it go in the bottle? Above or below the oil?
- Screw the lid on tight and shake the bottle as hard as you can.
- Record what happens in bottle 2.
What's happening?
While water often mixes with other liquids to form solutions, oil and water does not. Water molecules are strongly attracted to each other, this is the same for oil, because they are more attracted to their own molecules they just don't mix together. They separate and the oil floats above the water because it has a lower density.
Try Something New:
If you really think oil and water belong together then try adding some dish washing liquid or detergent. What happens??
What's Happening?
Detergent is attracted to both water and oil helping them all join together and form something called an emulsion. This is extra handy when washing those greasy dishes, the detergent takes the oil and grime off the plates and into the water, yay!
Experiment 2: Marblized Paper
Make beautiful special marblized paper using oil and water!
What you'll need:
- Pan An old cake pan or aluminium baking pan will work great as long as it is not too shallow
- Small bowls or cups for mixing the "paint"
- Paper, cut to fit inside the pan. The paper should be thicker than printer paper. Try to use art paper like watercolor or other painting paper. The stiffer and thicker the paper, the more the paper can support.
- Pipettes or eye droppers.
- Forks or Popsicle sticks (or something similar) to stir the paint
- Liquid watercolors or food coloring
- Vegetable oil
- Have a newspaper-covered table ready to absorb these oil and give a space for the papers to dry.
What to do:
- Mix 1/2 tsp. of oil with 1 tsp. liquid watercolor in each bowl. Whisk them up really well until the paint and oil appear to be one.
- Fill the bottom of the pan with about 1/2 inch of water. Not too much or your papers will sink to the bottom. Squeeze some paint into the droppers and drop dots of paint into the pan.
- Place a piece paper on top of the water, and then fish it out once it’s picked up some color. Experiment. Try out different color combinations.
- Remove the paper and place it on the newspaper covered table. Let them dry for a full day.
WOW!! Another experiement you can try is by Steve Spanger: Oil and Water.
(adapted from Science Experiments for Kids and TinkerLab)