Erupting Weird Color Flow

Erupting Weird Color Flow is a science project for kids that creates a spectrum of colors with chemicals.

Safety
Wear goggles, rubber gloves, and an apron throughout the entire activity. Do this demonstration in a well-ventilated area. Do not let ammonia touch skin; if it does, wash with plenty of water. Keep ammonia away from eyes.



Be sure to wear rubber gloves and goggles during this science project.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.
Be sure to wear rubber gloves and goggles during this science project.

Caution: Working with dry ice can be dangerous. Parents should do this activity with their children. Never touch dry ice. Avoid contact with all body parts and with clothes. Wear rubber gloves, and hold the ice with thick, folded paper.

Put dry ice in the glass and watch the smoke with your kids.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.
Put dry ice in the glass and watch the smoke with your kids.

­ What You'll Need :
  • Goggles
  • Rubber gloves
  • Apron
  • Cabbage juice indicator (see steps one through five of Racing Weird Color Changes)
  • Measuring cup
  • Water
  • 2 tall glasses
  • Ammonia
  • Pipette (or eyedropper)
  • Plastic bowl
  • Small piece of dry ice
  • Newspaper

Step 1: Put on the goggles, rubber gloves, and apron.­

Dilute the cabbage juice indicator by adding 1/4 cup cabbage juice to 2 cups water in a glass.

Step 2: Slowly and carefully add 1 drop ammonia. This should be sufficient to turn the solution slightly green. If not, add another drop. Don't add too much ammonia or you won't see a color change.

Step 3: Fill the other glass 1/3 full with diluted green cabbage juice. Put the glass inside the plastic bowl.

Step 4: Use a thick, folded sheet of newspaper to put the small piece of dry ice into the glass. Stand back, and observe what happens.

What Happened?
 When the dry ice is added to the water, it releases carbon dioxide gas. This process is called sublimation -- a solid becoming a gas. This causes the white smoke. The carbon dioxide gas dissolves in the water, making carbonic acid. This acid changes the pH of the solution, and a color change occurs.

Looking for more science projects to do with your kids? Try:

ABOUT THE PROJECT DESIGNERS

Racing Weird Color Changes by Peter Rillero
Erupting Weird Color Flow by Peter Rillero

Peter Rillero, Ph.D. is the Department Chair of Secondary Education and associate professor of science education at Arizona State University in Phoenix. He is the author of Time for Learning: Science; Time for Learning: The Human Body, and Totally Creepy Bugs, and the co-author of the best selling high school biology textbook in the United States. Rillero has conducted two program evaluations of the world's largest science fair, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. His website is http://www.west.asu.edu/rillero.

Computer Illustration by: Rémy Simard

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