Lava Lamp
(leader)Lizzy-Fanny-
Emanuel-Elias-Any
GROUP I
The lava lamp experiment is a simple and
fascinating demonstration of how different
substances interact with each other due to
their physical properties. Using a glass
container, Alka-Seltzer tablets, food coloring,
water, and oil, this experiment allows us to
visualize how density and solubility affect the
behavior of liquids. The main objective is to
recreate the visual effect of a lava lamp and
understand the principles behind this.
The experiment that we will present
today is "lava lamp". The materials
are: 2 glass containers, oil, food
coloring of different colors, water
and Alka-Seltzer. We fill the
container with oil and water, add a
few drops of food coloring and
proceed to introduce the Alka-Seltzer
to the container and observe the
chemical reaction which is between
the acid and the sodium bicarbonate
in the tablet, which produces carbon
dioxide upon contact with water. The
gas bubbles that form are those that
can be observed. We did 2 versions of
this experiment. In one we poured
more water than oil and in the other
we poured more oil than water. To
the first we added two blue aAlka-
Seltzer whose components are:
sodium and aspartame and to the
second we added a blue and black
one. The components of the black
Alka-Seltzer are: acetylsalicylic acid
500 mg plus caffeine 65 mg. The two
had different results, one was denser
therefore it did not allow the Alka-
Seltzer to flow as much, while the
other had a greater amount of water
and its fluidity was greater.
In conclusion, the experiment visually
demonstrates how different liquids
with distinct properties do not mix
due to differences in density and
polarity. The oil remains separate
from the water, and only the food
coloring dissolves in the water,
creating a clear phase separation.
The addition of the Alka-Seltzer not
only generates the movement of
droplets but also explains how simple
chemical reactions, such as gas
production, can create striking visual
effects.
