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How to Make a Mini Lava Lamp

March 16, 2020 by Wifeeclectic 2 Comments

Looking for a fun, easy science lesson to do at home? Look no further, with this post you will learn how to make a mini lava lamp as well as some of the science behind it. This experiment uses basic supplies that you should be able to find at home or a local store. If you don’t have a test tube, you could always use another jar with a lid. So grab the supplies from your kitchen (and bathroom) and start your fun lesson about density!

Housewife Eclectic: How to Make a Mini Lava Lamp

How to Make a Mini Lava Lamp

You will need: 

  • a test tube with a lid
  • cooking oil (we used vegetable)
  • fizzy tub tablets (these are usually found in the kid’s bath section with bubble bath and such)
  • water


Housewife Eclectic: How to Make a Mini Lava Lamp

1. Fill your test tube halfway with oil. 

Housewife Eclectic: How to Make a Mini Lava Lamp

2. Add a tub tint to the tube. We used Sesame Street tub tints from Walmart and they were huge, so we cut the tablet in half. 

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Housewife Eclectic: How to Make a Mini Lava Lamp

3. Let the tub tint fall to the bottom of the test tube. This will be slow. 

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Housewife Eclectic: How to Make a Mini Lava Lamp

4. Add water to your test tube, make sure to leave some room at the top. 

5. Watch the fizzing and the bubbles. 

6. When the fizzing stops, you can add the cap to your test tube to enjoy your lava lamp as long as you want! 

Housewife Eclectic: How to Make a Mini Lava LampThe Science

Density- This experiment is a great lesson in density. It teaches that the water sinks to the bottom of the tube because it is denser than the oil. This a great lesson to teach that when something is denser, it doesn’t mean that it is heavier. It means that its molecules are more tightly packed. 

Solubility – The tub tablets are not soluble in the oil, so they don’t react until you add the water. This also helps explain why the oil and water stay separate as Oil is water repelling and won’t mix with water. 

Filed Under: Education, Parenting, Tutorials

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Comments

  1. Piper McLean says

    May 25, 2021 at 10:41 am

    how much water, and how much oil?

    Reply
    • Wifeeclectic says

      July 14, 2021 at 1:29 pm

      There isn’t a specific amount, you need to fill your container halfway with oil.

      Reply

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Welcome to Housewife Eclectic

Debra Hawkins - Housewife EclecticHi, I'm Debra. I am a craftaholic photographer married to a web-programming amateur chef with two sassy littles keeping it interesting. It gets crazy around here. Read More…

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