Station 7: Lava Lamp Lab --- only one bottle per group

Materials:

Clear beverage bottle

150 ml of water
150 ml of oil
several drops of food coloring
beaker for measuring
funnel

Procedure:

1. Measure 150 ml of tap water.

2. Using the funnel, add the tap water to the bottle
3. Measure 150 ml of oil
4. Using the funnel, add the oil to the bottle (tip the bottle slightly and aim the funnel toward
the side of the bottle)
5. Record your observations
6. Add several drops of food coloring to the bottle
7. Record your observations
8. Break up an Alka Seltzer tablet in pieces that will fit through the opening of the bottle.
9. Drop in the Alka Seltzer (do not put the cap on the bottle).
10. Record your observations

Questions

1. What did the lava lamp look like before you added the food coloring? Can you see two different
layers? Draw a picture of you lava lamp and label the layers!

2. What was colored by the food coloring: the oil, the water, or both? Why do you think this
happened? Draw a picture of the lava lamp after you added the food coloring!

3. What did the lava lamp look like after the bubbles were created? Draw a picture of it!

4. Is oil soluble or insoluble in water? Explain your reasoning with observations from the lab.