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This is a fun, easy and super kid friendly experiment. Now, what exactly is happening here? :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqQSlEViNpk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqQSlEViNpk
The milk food coloring and dish soap experiment involves mixing milk, food coloring, and dish soap together in a dish or bowl. When the dish soap is added to the milk, it breaks the surface tension of the milk and causes the food coloring to move and mix in interesting patterns. This happens because the dish soap molecules are attracted to the fat molecules in the milk, which causes them to spread out and create a swirling effect.
To conduct this experiment, you will need a shallow dish or bowl, whole milk, food coloring, dish soap, and a toothpick or cotton swab for stirring. You may also want to have paper towels on hand for any spills.
This experiment requires whole milk because it contains a higher percentage of fat compared to skim or low-fat milk. The dish soap molecules are attracted to the fat molecules, so they are able to break the surface tension and create the swirling effect. Skim or low-fat milk has less fat, which makes it more difficult for the dish soap to interact with the milk.
Technically, any type of soap can be used for this experiment. However, dish soap is the most commonly used because it has a higher concentration of surfactants, which are the molecules responsible for breaking the surface tension of the milk. Other types of soap may not work as effectively or may produce different results.
This experiment teaches us about the properties of surface tension, which is the force that causes the surface of a liquid to contract. It also demonstrates how different substances can interact with each other, and the importance of using whole milk for certain experiments. Additionally, it can spark curiosity and interest in science and the world around us.