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Learners are challenged to discover the relative densities of colored liquids to create a rainbow pattern in a test tube. Five different solutions—3 mixtures of ethyl alcohol, food color and water; red colored water; and pure ethyl alcohol—are used in various combinations. Learners carefully add the solutions to test tubes and observe their relative densities to find the correct order for making a rainbow. Young learners will require adult supervision because of flammable and irritating ingredients.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 4 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- 50 6-mm culture tubes or 10-mm test tubes (The large number eliminates the need to constantly wash and replace test tubes.)
- 25 60-ml plastic dropping bottles
- 5 plastic cups for discarded mixtures of solutions
- 5 simple test tube holders
- Water
- 95% Ethanol
- Food coloring (red, blue, yellow, green)
- Rack for pipettes
- Paper towels for spills
- A container of clean water
- A safe container to dump solutions into and seal (waste container)
Subjects
-
Physical Sciences
-
Chemistry
- Solutions
-
Vibration and Waves
- Light and Optics
-
States of Matter
- Liquids
-
Structure and Properties of Matter
- Volume and Density
-
Chemistry
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
-
The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Sciencenter,
Funding Sources:
- Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.
- American Chemical Society