Rainbow Jars

Method

Rainbows are everywhere at the moment to say a huge thank you to our amazing healthcare workers. This clever science experiment makes a lovely rainbow jar that you can place in your window for everyone to see!

The Science:

You can create different layers within your rainbow jar by using liquids that have different weights, or densities. This depends on how many molecules there are within the liquid – the more molecules, the heavier the liquid. We’ll be using the heaviest first to fill the bottom of the jar. Then, each liquid will be slightly lighter than the last!

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  1. Add the honey into your mason jar. Pour straight into the middle, making sure it doesn’t touch either side.
  2. In a separate container, add a few drops of food colouring to the golden syrup and then drizzle on top of the honey, again making sure not to touch the sides.
  3. Add the washing up liquid on top of the golden syrup. Follow the same process as above, being careful not to touch the sides.
  4. In a separate container, add a few drops of food colouring to the water. Make sure to choose a colour that you’ve not used yet. Mix well and then add into your mason jar, being careful to pour straight into the middle.
  5. Add the olive oil into your jar without touching the sides.
  6. In a separate container, add a few drops of food colouring to the surgical spirit – make sure to use a different colour from before. Stir well. Use your syringe to drizzle the mixture around the sides of your mason jar. This should then sit nicely on top of the olive oil.
  7. Carefully pop the lid back onto the mason jar and admire your beautiful rainbow!

Ingredients

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: N/A

Serves: 0

  • 80ml honey

  • 80ml olive oil

  • 80ml water

  • 80ml golden syrup

  • 80ml washing up liquid (bold colours work best)

  • 80ml surgical spirit

  • 80ml washing up liquid (bold colours work best)

  • 500ml mason jar

  • Syringe