iridescence
Do you know what happens when you add food coloring to ice and table salt?
Not only do you get a beautiful bowl of colored, fast melting ice; but you can experience iridescence if you use the right pigment. I’m not going to tell you which pigment causes this effect. You’ll have to try all of them to see for yourself. Of course, you can kind of tell in the pictures below, but try it and see if you are right.
you need:
ice
table salt
primary food colors
neon food colors- if you can only get one pack, get the neon
*I HIGHLY suggest using both types of food coloring, it’s the best way to discover the pigment that causes the iridescence
to do:
1. fill a bowl with ice
2. sprinkle (or pour, try different amounts) table salt onto the ice
3. add drops of food coloring onto the salt
4. you get instant results with some of the colors, no results with some, and have to be a little patient with one color
Here are some great links to explain what exactly is going on in this experiment and ways to understand what causes color:
1. SciScape
2. Causes of Color -LOVE this site! Explains color really well.
Don’t dump the ice when you are done, let the ice melt down and see what happens to the iridescence. Enjoy!
Very cute idea!
How funny! We had that exact same project during the preschool science workshop right after story time at our public library this week! The girls adored it.
As a rule, I loathe those sorts of group hands-on kinds of workshops with preschoolers. It always seems like me and the girls trucking along minding our own business, surrounded by every other parent in the universe loudly over-explaining and micromanaging their kids work. Barf.
Another project we need to try!
It’s supposed to snow tomorrow, so maybe we’ll do both snow and ice and compare!
Thanks for all the great ideas!
my son will love this, thanks! your pictures are beautiful.
Whoa… this is SO pretty! The cubes look like jewels. I love it. Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
Looks fantastic and fun. Not sure we can get that type of food coloring in Denmark. The ones I use are organic natural colors, which probably won’t work…. but I’m sure the kids would like to try anyway – playing scientist is always fun
How fun! My kids would LOVE this!!!
Suzy
Lisa!
This is really cool! What fun. We will have to try this too! Haven’t come across neon food colouring here. Will have to track some down.
I love this we will do it today and let you know how it goes
what a GREAT idea!!!! the kids would LOVE this!!! wished i would have caught this while we still had snow….it NEVER snows in our area of TN and we got a nice dumping this last weekend!
Lisa, this is so neat. My boys are sitting here looking at this with me, and are jumping up and down begging to do it. I have all the ingredients in the pantry, and we are off to try it. Thank you for sharing this, it looks like a very fun way to learn.
so cool. So, what’s the reaction?
that’s crazy! who knew? love this, and my kids will too. Thanks!
This looks irresistibly fun! Beth
So… am I behind the times that I didn’t even know they made neon food coloring? This is a great activity. Even if I didn’t have grandbabies to try it with, I’d want to give it a go. Thanks for sharing this activity and an inspirational blog. I love it
I’ll be linking on Facebook.
Coolest ever! I love all that colour!
This looks fantastic. My 8 year old boy is soooo into science experiments at the moment. We currently have crystals forming in jars on our kitchen counter ! I’ll have to go get some food coloring and give this a try ! He and his sister will LOVE it !
Oh, it looks so beautiful like colorful gems! My oldest son would love this! Thank you for sharing such wonderful activities Lisa!
Brrrrrrrrrrr; those are cool colours!!
I so want to do this!
I love coming here and seeing the coolest homeschooling activities. This looks really exciting. I need to find bigger food coloring containers. I only can find the small ones, and they go too quick!
We totally aped your project but with snow almost as soon as you posted it.
Thanks, Lisa!
ohhhh, good idea using snow!
It took a bit of time for the salt and coloring to soak into the snow but it was beautiful when it did and the kids love it.
Have I told you I think you are brilliant? I really do. And forget Isaac…my husband wants to do this. Family fun is on the way. Thank you.
Hey!
I’ve come begging your permission to list it in the science fair…
Of course you may Stephanie!
I actually saw this last night before you responded on olm, and put it in right away. Evidently I was in too much of a hurry and couldn’t stop to say ‘Thank you’! :/
So thanks, Lis!
That looks like fun! I’m adding it to the list of chemistry experiments we will do in the 2010-2011 school year. Thanks!
Is it okay if I grab a pic and link to this post in my post next for next Friday?
Sure Gina, no problem.
love this experiment- we’re doing it this weekend!
What a cool science project. My kids would love this! I’ll have to pick up some neon food coloring next time I’m at the store. Thanks!
Beautiful!!!
This makes me happy.
Love this idea! Thanks for the great links too :0)
I love these pictures Lisa!!!
This looks awesome. It reminds me of Cassi the other night shining a red light through ice. We intend to collect more ice and try different lights through it. I’ll let you know how it goes.
My four year old is fascinated with ice anyway but this idea will make her rather ecstatic I think. Thankyou!
Wow, those are so great. I must try it! Beautiful photos.
Awesome!! We’ll be doing this one for sure in our kitchen science lab at the Frog Princess’ birthday party in March. Thanks! : )