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You are here: Home / By Age / Elementary / Exploring the Density of Liquids with Salt

April 10, 2016 By Chelsey

Exploring the Density of Liquids with Salt

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This modified version of a lava lamp is definitely one of our favorite cool science experiments! It’s a super fun way for kids to explore the density of liquids using materials you have right in your kitchen.

Follow our Science for Kids Pinterest board!

 

Cool Science for Kids: Exploring the Density of Liquids~ BuggyandBuddy.com

 

We have a lot of cool science experiments for kids on Buggy and Buddy like this Baggie Burst experiment and exploring Colorful Chemical Reactions! I think this exploration of liquid density ranks right up there with our favorites!

 

With just a few household materials, children can explore the density of liquids and even practice mixing colors in a super fun way! (This post contains affiliate links.)

 

See it in action here!

 


 

Cool Science Experiments: Density of Liquids

Materials for Science Experiment

  • Clear glass
  • Water
  • Vegetable oil
  • Food coloring
  • Salt

Science Experiment Procedure

1. Fill your clear glass about 2/3 of the way with water.

 

fill your glass with water

 

2. Pour vegetable oil into your cup. (You want to create a layer that’s about 3/4-1 inch high.) What happens to the oil after you pour it in your cup? Why do you think this happens?

 

add vegetable oil

 

3. Add one drop of food coloring to the cup. What happens to the drop of food coloring? Why do you think this happens?

 

add one drop of food coloring

 

4.  Sprinkle salt into your cup and watch what happens!

 

Cool Science Experiments: Exploring the Density of Liquids

 

5. Continue adding more salt and observe. (The kids started by doing small sprinkles of salt, then progressed to adding big pinches of salt, and then spoonfuls of salt.)

 

Cool Science Experiments: Exploring the Density of Liquids

 

6. Allow time for your child to explore the setup on their own. Lucy (6 years old) wanted to add different colors of food coloring to her cup to see what would happen.

 

add more food coloring to the density experiment- such a cool way to mix colors

 

This science activity was a great sensory experiment for Theo, my 3 year old. He loved watching all the movement in the cup and would even stick his finger in the liquids to see what would happen!

 

Cool Science Experiments: Exploring the Density of Liquids

What’s Going On?

In the beginning of the experiment, the oil settles above the water because it is less dense. When you add salt to the to the cup, the salt sinks to the bottom of the cup since it is heavier than the other two liquids. The salt carries a blob of oil with it. As the salt begins to dissolve in the water, it releases the oil which floats back up to the top.

 

Cool Science Experiments: Exploring the Density of Liquids- Buggy and Buddy

Be sure to try this similar density experiment– comes with a free printable too!

Cool Science Experiment for Kids: Explore Liquid Density with Sensory Bottles

Want to go even further?

Even more activities to inspire creativity and critical thinking for various ages.

1. Try this Dancing Raisins experiment. How is it similar to the one you just did? How is it different?

2. Explore the density of objects in this simple sink and float experiment.

3. Try this Seven Layer Density Column experiment.

Cool Science for Kids: Exploring the Density of Liquids

 


STEAM Kids: 50+ STEAM STEM activities for kids

 

Filed Under: Elementary, Kindergarten, Quick & Easy, Science Tagged With: density, science experiments

« Cool Science for Kids: How to Make a Cartesian Diver
Exploring the Science of Sound with Homemade Instruments »
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Welcome to Buggy and Buddy! I'm Chelsey, a former teacher and parent living on the central coast of California. I love sharing crafts, science, STEM and STEAM activities, free printables and more! Read More…

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