2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
Children are, of course, little scientists. Their sentences are punctuated with “why” and “how”. So let's take advantage of this burst of curiosity to do some experiments with them featuring dishwashing detergent.
Swirls of colors
Aim of the experiment: How does soap react in milk?
Recommended age: 5 years and over
Tools
- A bowl
- Food coloring
- Milk
- Dish Soap
The approach
- Fill the bottom of a bowl with milk
- Place 3 drops of food coloring in the same spot, using each color you choose
- Leave enough space between the spots
- Place a drop of dish soap in the center of the bowl
- See, the colors run off to the edges and then the food coloring mixes into the milk in swirls of color.
Conclusion
Milk contains water and fat. Fat and coloring do not mix. When washing up liquid is added, it disturbs the surface of the milk and pushes out the dyetowards the edges. In addition, the soap binds to the fat, helping the coloring to mix more easily with the milk.
Volcanic eruption in a glass
Aim of the experiment: How is this beautiful irruption created?
Recommended age: 5 years and over
Tools
- A drink
- 2 c. baking soda
- 5 drops of red food coloring
- 1 c. dish soap
- Vinegar
The approach
- Protect the table or sit outside
- Pour the baking soda into the glass
- Add dish soap
- Add dye
- Slowly pour some vinegar over the preparation and…
- …watch!
Conclusion
What makes the beautiful moss spring up? In fact, it is created by the chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda which produces carbon dioxide. This gas builds up around the edges of the container, which increases the pressure inside. When there is too much carbon dioxide, it tends to escape from the container.
Pepper, a little coward?
Purpose of the experiment: How will pepper react in contact with dish soap?
Recommended age: 5 years and over
Tools
- A hollow plate
- Water
- Pepper
- Dish detergent
The approach
- Filling a soup plate with water
- Add black pepper (ground)
- Dip your finger in the dish soap and put it in the water
- Watch what happens…the pepper is leaking!
Variation: Try with other spices that you pepper to see if all the other herbs are equally fearful.
Conclusion
Pepper is hydrophobic, it does not mix with water, which is why it floats on the surface. Soap has hydrophobic properties and mixes on the surface partially with water. Especially on the surface. It therefore changes the arrangement of the molecules. The water molecules are still bound together and will be pushed to the edges as the soap expands, taking the pepper particles with them.
When water, oil and dish soap coexist
Purpose of the experiment: Will everything mix together?
Recommended age: 5 years and over
Tools
- A drink
- Food coloring (all colors)
- Warm water
- Vegetable oil
- Dish soap
The approach
- Put food coloring in the water
- Pour the water, then the oil
- With a stick you must try to create small swirls
- Add a few drops of dish soap
- You will see that the oil forms tiny droplets that will not come together and the mixture remainsstable
Conclusion
Water is made up of molecules that are strongly attracted to each other. Oil molecules, on the other hand, do not mix. When you add dishwashing liquid, it changes the situation. Soap molecules are indeed attracted to both water molecules and oil molecules. They will therefore position themselves so as to surround each drop of oil and separate the drops of oil from each other.
Foam Explosion
Purpose of the experiment: What does adding dish soap do?
Recommended age: 10 years and over
Tools
- Aluminum dish
- One liter plastic bottle with a small neck
- 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
- Food coloring
- Dish Soap
- Measuring cup
- Water
- Spoon
- Quick Rise Instant Yeast
- Funnel
- Protective gloves
- Safety Glasses
The approach
- In the aluminum dish, place the plastic bottle and add 200 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide using the funnel.
- Add about ten drops of food coloring.
- Pour 30ml of dish soap into the bottle and mix lightly.
- In a measuring cup, prepare a mixture containing 60 ml of very hot water and two tablespoons of instant yeast.
- Pour the yeast solution into the bottle usingthe funnel. Watch what happens!
Conclusion
Hydrogen peroxide, commonly known as hydrogen peroxide, is a chemical compound with the formula H2O2. It is a colorless liquid with powerful oxidizing properties. It is mainly used as a bleaching agent or as a disinfectant. During the experiment, the hydrogen peroxide decomposed into water and oxygen very quickly. In addition, this chemical reaction is exothermic, that is to say, it releases heat. Adding dish soap produces an impressive amount of foam: the gaseous oxygen causes the formation of soapy bubbles. Instant yeast accelerates the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide: it acts as a catalyst.
