Science Smarts: Fireworks in the kitchen
By PATTY ROOKS on July 10, 2021.
I do not know about you, but I am really enjoying the summer. One highlight for me each and every year are the magnificent fireworks displays. As I look up into the sky, I am always amazed at the beauty bursting with each and every firework that goes off right before my eyes! I know we cannot experiment with fireworks (yikes!) but this week, I thought we could try recreating a safe version to do at home so we can continue to enjoy this magnificent wonder. Let’s get started! Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment Materials • Water • Oil (vegetable or canola) • Several different colours of food colouring • Tall clear glass or jar • Spoon • Measuring spoons • Measuring cups Procedure • Using room temperature water, fill a tall clear glass about ¾ full. • Place on a sturdy flat surface so the water can settle and remain still. • Measure and pour ¼ cup (60 mL) of oil in the glass on top of the water. • Observe. • What is happening? • Carefully add several drops of food colouring evenly spaced out on top of the oil. (Note: I used one drop of three different colours). • Using the spoon, gently swirl the oil and food colouring layer. You are trying to make the food colouring break into very small droplets, not mix it up completely. Be very gentle. • Be patient and watch what happens now. What is going on? First of all, you should have observed that oil and water do not mix. The oil should have sat in a nice layer on top of the water in the glass because oil is less dense than water. When you added the food colouring it sat in the oil for a short time and once it broke into smaller pieces, it slowly slid through the oil and into the water below exploding into a variety of colours; just like fireworks do! The food colouring exploded into the water and not the oil because it does not dissolve in the oil, just the water because it is water soluble. Now you can enjoy your very own fireworks safely any time of the year. Do not forget to get your applications in for the APAR Initiative STEM and Leadership Cohort for 2021-2022. Praxis only has a few spots left and the deadline is fast approaching for this great opportunity for females in Grades 6-9. Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Visit us at: #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca. 26-25
