Purpose to observe the magical disappearance of a colour.
Things Required:
Red food colouring
Bleach
Eyedropper
Small baby food jar
Warning: An adult’s supervision will be needed in handling bleach. If the bleach spills, clean the area immediately with water.
Directions:
Fill the jar one-half full with water. Add two drops of food colouring to the water and stir. Use the eye-dropper to add one drop of bleach to the coloured water. Add drops of bleach until the red solution turns clear. Now, add a drop of red food colouring to the clear liquid.
This Is What Happens:
The red water solution turns clear as the bleach moves down through it. Adding the red colouring to the clear solution containing bleach produces an interesting magical effect in respect that the red dye disappears when it hits the liquid.
Science Behind It:
Bleach contains a chemical called sodium hypochlorite. This chemical contains oxygen that is easily released. Oxygen combines with the chemicals in dyes to form a colourless compound. The bleach decolours the red water as it moves downward. The red drop disappears because it is surrounded by bleach which decolours the red dye.
