My kids love doing simple science experiments and this Tie-dye milk experiment is so simple to set up and will keep kids entertained and learning.
Video of Tie-Dye Milk Experiment
Check out the below video to see the boys doing this experiment and then read on to learn how to do it yourself:
Materials Needed:
- Plate
- Whole milk
- Liquid food coloring
- Cotton swap
- Small bowl
- Dishwashing soap
What to do:
- Start with a plate of milk. (Whole milk works best and we warmed it for 30 seconds in the microwave since it came straight from the fridge.)
- Then add several drops of food coloring to the plate of milk.
- Finally dip a q-tip in some dishwashing soap and add a drop of soap to the milk.
- Watch the colors swirl and mix!
So amazing and it you’ll notice the colors swirl for quite a while! When the colors do stop moving add another drop of soap and watch them start swirling again!Start with a plate of milk.
Why it Happens:
The fat molecules that are in the whole milk are very attractive to some of the soap molecules. When the dishwashing soap is added to the milk, the soap molecules race around the milk trying to join up with the fat molecules and in the meantime they cause the food coloring to move and swirl around them, creating this fun effect!
More Science Experiments
Looking for more fun, simple, science experiments? Check out our other science experiments here or some of our favorites below: