Are you ready for an oil and water experiment for kids? This oil and water experiment will teach kids about density and how different molecules react with one another. The fun part about this oil and water science experiment is kids will also be able to explore colors! It’s a lot of fun and educational. You can do this oil and water experiment at home or in the classroom.

science experiment with oil and water- red oil in a bowl of water with a whisk and a jar of yellow oil- kids activities blog — Let’s try out this fun oil and water science experiment.

Oil And Water Science Experiment

Science is awesome! Simple science experiments that are mesmerizing are even better! We have played with oil and water tons of times over the years with our kids. Just recently however we discovered the joy of emulsion agents! If you haven’t played with oil and emulsions – try it.

You’ll need some kids, this science experiment is a favorite! Had my kids playing all day.

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Related: Download and print our scientific method steps for kids with these science printable worksheets.

Oil and Water Science Experiment Ingredient List:

Water
Food Coloring
Vegetable Oil
Whisk
Egg Yolk
Spoon

Video: How To Mix Oil and Water Science Experiment

How To Do This SImple Oil And Water Science Experiment

Step 1

Pour oil into a plate enough to completely cover the bottom of the dish.

Step 2

Mix up the water and the food coloring.

Step 3

Then pour your dyed water into the oil. So cool to watch the globs moving in the dish.

Step 4

Have your kids stir the oil and water, trying to mix them. Then sit and watch as the water separates from the oil again.

Step 5

Next, stir up your egg yolk and drop a couple of spoonful of yolk into the oil and water.

Step 6

Mix the water and oil again. When you stir it the liquid will become creamy looking as the two liquids mix. Chemistry!

Why Won’t The Oil and Water Mix?

Because water and oil are immiscible. Water is a polar molecule that has a positive charge on one end and a negative charge on the other. Water molecules can stick to each other because the positive end of a water molecule will stick to the negative side of another.

Oil molecules are non polar. It has an evenly balanced charge. So this will allow oil molecules to attract to other oil molecules.

Because of this, water and oil will never mix.

Why Does The Oil Mix With Water When You Add Egg Yolk?

This is exactly why so many recipes you make require eggs. Egg yolk has something called lethicin in it that helps oil and water to connect both to each other and to the other ingredients in your recipe.

What Does This Oil and Water Experiment Have To Do With Density?

Density is the measurement that determines the amount of space taken up by an object or substance. There is an equation, and we won’t go into that. What we need to know about density is that if you have a dense liquid and mix it with a less dense liquid, the less dense liquid will stay at the top.

Like oil and water.

Oil is less dense than water so it will always float to the top. Now, if you added corn syrup to the oil and water experiment mixture, you would see that the corn syrup will fall to the bottom.

Simple Oil and Water Science Experiment For Kids

Let's learn about density and molecules with this simple, but fun and colorful oil and water science experiment.

Materials

Water
Food Coloring
Vegetable Oil
Whisk
Egg Yolk
Spoon

Instructions

Pour oil into a plate enough to completely cover the bottom of the dish.
Mix up the water and the food coloring.
Then pour your dyed water into the oil. So cool to watch the globs moving in the dish.
Have your kids stir the oil and water, trying to mix them.
Then sit and watch as the water separates from the oil again.
Next, stir up your egg yolk and drop a couple of spoonful of yolk into the oil and water.
Mix the water and oil again. When you stir it the liquid will become creamy looking as the two liquids mix. Chemistry!