Ms. Garden Plum - The Secret Garden

The secret of the Lava Lamp! Below we share with you the secret of how a lava lamp works, and how to make your own mini version!

Secret Index

More secrets are out!

secret treasures

INGREDIENTS:

Salt
Water
Vegetable Oil
A Tall Glass Jar
Food Coloring (you don't need this if you don't have it!)

DIRECTIONS
1. Fill your glass container about 2/3rds of the way full.
2. Add 1/3 cup Vegetable oil. Watch how it behaves!
3. Now is the time to add the Food Coloring - a few drops is all it takes. (optional)
4. Carefully shake 1/2 tablespoon salt into the mixture.

The salt is the ingredient that makes the lava move. Salt is heavier than water, so when it is poured on the oil, it grabs the oil and carries it to the bottom. As the salt dissolves in the water, it lets go of the oil, hence the oil floats back up to the top.

A real lava lamp utililzes heat, instead of salt, to mobilize the oil. A lamp base heats the bottom of the solution, and as the oil warms up, it expands, and begins to rise to the top. Once it is at the top, it is away from the heat source, begins to cool, and floats down to the bottom again! Its a never ending cirulation of heating and cooling.