food colouring water experiment

Sciencing_Icons_Science SCIENCE

Sciencing_icons_biology biology, sciencing_icons_cells cells, sciencing_icons_molecular molecular, sciencing_icons_microorganisms microorganisms, sciencing_icons_genetics genetics, sciencing_icons_human body human body, sciencing_icons_ecology ecology, sciencing_icons_chemistry chemistry, sciencing_icons_atomic & molecular structure atomic & molecular structure, sciencing_icons_bonds bonds, sciencing_icons_reactions reactions, sciencing_icons_stoichiometry stoichiometry, sciencing_icons_solutions solutions, sciencing_icons_acids & bases acids & bases, sciencing_icons_thermodynamics thermodynamics, sciencing_icons_organic chemistry organic chemistry, sciencing_icons_physics physics, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-physics fundamentals, sciencing_icons_electronics electronics, sciencing_icons_waves waves, sciencing_icons_energy energy, sciencing_icons_fluid fluid, sciencing_icons_astronomy astronomy, sciencing_icons_geology geology, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geology fundamentals, sciencing_icons_minerals & rocks minerals & rocks, sciencing_icons_earth scructure earth structure, sciencing_icons_fossils fossils, sciencing_icons_natural disasters natural disasters, sciencing_icons_nature nature, sciencing_icons_ecosystems ecosystems, sciencing_icons_environment environment, sciencing_icons_insects insects, sciencing_icons_plants & mushrooms plants & mushrooms, sciencing_icons_animals animals, sciencing_icons_math math, sciencing_icons_arithmetic arithmetic, sciencing_icons_addition & subtraction addition & subtraction, sciencing_icons_multiplication & division multiplication & division, sciencing_icons_decimals decimals, sciencing_icons_fractions fractions, sciencing_icons_conversions conversions, sciencing_icons_algebra algebra, sciencing_icons_working with units working with units, sciencing_icons_equations & expressions equations & expressions, sciencing_icons_ratios & proportions ratios & proportions, sciencing_icons_inequalities inequalities, sciencing_icons_exponents & logarithms exponents & logarithms, sciencing_icons_factorization factorization, sciencing_icons_functions functions, sciencing_icons_linear equations linear equations, sciencing_icons_graphs graphs, sciencing_icons_quadratics quadratics, sciencing_icons_polynomials polynomials, sciencing_icons_geometry geometry, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geometry fundamentals, sciencing_icons_cartesian cartesian, sciencing_icons_circles circles, sciencing_icons_solids solids, sciencing_icons_trigonometry trigonometry, sciencing_icons_probability-statistics probability & statistics, sciencing_icons_mean-median-mode mean/median/mode, sciencing_icons_independent-dependent variables independent/dependent variables, sciencing_icons_deviation deviation, sciencing_icons_correlation correlation, sciencing_icons_sampling sampling, sciencing_icons_distributions distributions, sciencing_icons_probability probability, sciencing_icons_calculus calculus, sciencing_icons_differentiation-integration differentiation/integration, sciencing_icons_application application, sciencing_icons_projects projects, sciencing_icons_news news.

• Share Tweet Email Print
• Home ⋅
• Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students ⋅

How to Make Water Clear After Adding Food Coloring

Food Coloring Experiments

Children love to see science experiments that defy their concept of reality. A small amount of bleach delivered with an eye dropper will change the color of colored water, making the color seem to disappear before your students’ eyes. Use this opportunity to tell a story, to bring a visual to more complicated topics such as environmentalism and the effects of pesticides or to discuss dispersion in water and the properties of liquids. Whatever your reason is for bringing this experiment into your classroom, conduct this simple project and amaze your students.Just be certain to handle the bleach with appropriate care.

Clean off your desk or table, in case you spill the bleach or colored water, which could stain your paperwork, apparel and other items.

Fill one beaker with water and another with a little bit of liquid bleach. Don’t fill the bleach beaker too much, as you will only need a few drops of the bleach. If you want to try more than one color, you may want to fill more than one beaker with water.

Add food coloring drops to the beaker that contains water.

Stir with the glass stirrer or allow the food-coloring particles to disperse on their own.

Fill an eye dropper with liquid bleach and drip it into the food-coloring beaker, one drop at a time. Stir with the glass stirrer, or let the bleach disperse, and continue to drop liquid bleach until the color is completely gone.

Things You'll Need

Do not allow students to use the bleach or come in contact with the beakers with bleach. Keep towels on hand to clean up any spills before the food coloring or bleach can damage any fabric, surfaces, and other items.

Related Articles

How to make bromine water in the chemistry lab, how-to science experiments for kids with iodine and..., how to make glowing water without a black light, how to dissolve silver, how to make rubber with corn starch, water and vinegar, how to turn a glass of water with red dye back into..., potassium permanganate experiments, how to tell if a sample of water is pure or mixed, how to make slime without borax or liquid starch, how to make crystals with epsom salt, how to separate copper sulfate & sand, how to make fluorescent liquid, how to remove acetone residue, how to neutralize food coloring in water, what happens when you add vinegar to seashells, how to make a tornado in a bottle using dishwashing..., how to make potions for kids, skittles science project ideas, methods on how to determine ph in ph paper.

• The Power of Bleach
• Effect of bleach on colored water
• Do not allow students to use the bleach or come in contact with the beakers with bleach.
• Keep towels on hand to clean up any spills before the food coloring or bleach can damage any fabric, surfaces, and other items.

About the Author

Tiffany Silverberg has written grants and copy materials for over three years. She graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a degree in linguistics. Silverberg has conducted research regarding language development in deaf children and worked as the lead reporter at the Kingsville Record and Bishop News in Texas.

Find Your Next Great Science Fair Project! GO

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

• FREE Experiments
• Kitchen Science
• Climate Change
• Egg Experiments
• Fairy Tale Science
• Edible Science
• Human Health
• Inspirational Women
• Forces and Motion
• Science Fair Projects
• STEM Challenges
• Science Sparks Books
• Contact Science Sparks
• Science Resources for Home and School

Colour mixing with food colouring and water

March 29, 2017 By Emma Vanstone 4 Comments

Colour mixing is a great activity for learning about primary and secondary colours as well as fantastic fine motor control practice if children use a dropper or pipette. Once children have made secondary colours they could then experiment by mixing primary and secondary colours to make tertiary colours or try to make as many different shades of one colour as they can.

Plastic plates

Food colouring

Pipettes  or droppers

Instructions

Add a small amount of red, yellow and blue food colouring to separate beakers and then top up with a little water.

Use the pipettes or droppers to drop different colours of water onto a plastic plate and record which new colours are created.

What is a primary colour?

Primary colours cannot be created by mixing other colours together. These are:

Red, Yellow and Blue

What is a secondary colour?

Secondary colours are made by mixing primary colours.

Yellow + Blue = Green

Red + Yellow = Orange

Blue + Red = Purple

What is a tertiary colour?

Tertiary colours are made by mixing a primary colour with a secondary colour.

Questions to ask about primary colours

What do you think would happen if you used a paper plate instead of a plastic plate?

Do you think the colours would still mix if you used filter paper or kitchen roll?

Which colours do you think are warm and which cold colours?

Watch the video

More colour mixing activity ideas

Steve Spangler has a brilliant spinning wheel !

Rainy Day Mum has a great mess free colour mix activity.

How about colour mixing with lights like Teach Beside Me?

Try our easy  primary and secondary colour wheel  or how about our colour mixing water wall ?

This dropper painting activity is lovely from Imagination Tree and the kitchen towel would be great for allowing colours to mix.

Red Ted Art has some lovely colour mixing tissue hearts.

Did you know light can be split into  all the colours of the rainbow? Find out how to make a rainbow here.

Science Concepts

Primary colours

Secondary colours

Contains affiliate links

Last Updated on September 12, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

March 29, 2017 at 10:19 am

I love simple experiments like this. Thank you so much for including our mess free colour mixing experiment as well.

March 29, 2017 at 11:10 am

Such a fun post! Thanks for including my color mixing with lights activity!

April 05, 2017 at 4:34 pm

Thank you so much. Glad you benefited from the post!

April 24, 2017 at 4:22 pm

Simple and easy to understand. Share with you about Seven Layer Density and other science tricks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRYOYgGoZak

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

25 Amazing Science Experiments with Food Color

• October 24, 2020
• Science Experiments

Here is a list of Food Color Science Experiments that you can try at home with your kids.

The STEM activities, experiments and science lesson plans that will help you teach amazing science concepts to kids, even if you’ve never stepped foot in a lab.

Science Experiments with Food Color

All the experiments are simple science activities but with really great effects and good scientific concepts. Have a look!

1. Rainbow in a Jar Water Density Experiment

Water science is amazing and experimenting with water and food color using simple kitchen ingredients offers a great science experiment that teaches water density in a jar. Rainbow in a jar water density science experiment makes great play activity and an amazing science lesson too! Enjoy finding out about the basics of color mixing all the way up to the density of liquids with this one simple water density experiment.

Have a look at the colorful sugar water density activity, fun science experiments for kids: Rainbow in a Jar Water Density Experiment

2. Science Experiment with Water Oil and Food Color

We decided to make fireworks at home. Did you hear it right? Yes, you did. At home DIY explosives. But do not panic as they are as safe to make and can be played by little ones. In addition, you could teach density science to kids. Does that sound exciting? We decided to make two difference density science experiments to teach my daughters. Believe me, you will become a kid when you see the results. You will start loving to do this quite often. We did not buy any expensive things but used only the items available at home. The best part – you can do both these experiments in less than ten minutes.

Are you interested in this awesome science activity? Check out for more details here: Science Experiment with Water Oil and Food Color

3. Science Experiment with Milk and Food Color

Here is another most preferred and easiest science experiment that you can try at home using a few simple kitchen ingredients from your home. The best part is, it just takes minutes to set up the experiment table and finishes in minutes to see the amazing results. Toddlers, pre-schoolers, and even kindergarten children can work on this. Best for 5-6 year old or older children to explain the various science concepts of surface tension, chemistry, forces, and properties of matter.

Do you want try this simple and easy science activity? Here we go with the complete description of the experiment here: Science Experiment with Milk and Food Color

4. Science Experiment with Food Color and Flowers

Does flowers change color with food colors? Wondering how? You can now change the flower color at home and at any time during the year. Let’s try this natural science experiment with white roses and Let us understand the science behind this experiment. Absorption of water in flowers/plants is the scientific concept kids can learn in a fun way while investigating this super simple science experiment. This experiment can be done with  preschoolers  and they will love to make their hands colorful too.  Other kids including  Kindergarteners  and  7 – 9-year-old kids  can do this experiment, not just for fun but to learn some science as well. They can change the variables and see the changes in the results.

Check out for full details of the experiment here: Science Experiment with Food Color and Flowers

5. Science Experiment with Food Color and Fizzy Tablets

Things that fizz are always sound interesting and mysterious too for kids especially pre-schoolers. Today let’s clear the question marks on our kid’s faces when they see fizzy things with another wonderful density science experiment. This is a super fun and simple experiment to explain kids about the fizzy science and density of liquids. Density is a good concept to be explained for older kids. So the experiment would be well suited for kids of 5 to 6 year olds or older kids of aged 7+

Let’s get into the lava lamp experiment here: Science Experiment with Food Color and Fizzy Tablets

6. Science Experiment with Food Color and Baking Soda

Volcano making can be a lot of fun for a summer family project. This fizzy science experiment gives young children an exciting and learning experience as they watch and learn about incredible geological formations while experimenting volcano. This is a perfect activity for 3-4 year olds, 5-6 year olds and up. Even pre-schoolers can enjoy the activity by watching.

Find more details about this super fun and easy experiments here: Science Experiment with Food Color and Baking Soda

7. Celery with Food Coloring Science Experiment

This easy science experiment with Celery and Food Color is a fantastic fun for kids of all ages. All you need is full a celery plant, food colouring and water to explore simple biology. Super easy supplies and set up for simple biology. Explore capillary action or the process of water moving upward through thin tubes in the plant’s stem. It defies gravity! Biology is always fascinating for kids because it’s all about the living world around us. Activities like this celery osmosis science experiment show us how living cells move water. 

Let’s get started with this simple kid’s-friendly science experiment to demonstrate osmosis: Celery with Food Coloring Science Experiment

8. Cool Walking Water Science Experiment

Let your kids have a lot of fun with this summer science project! Summer is the perfect time to get the kids excited with a hands on activity! The Walking Water experiment is super easy to set up and has a big wow factor.  Kids can watch the colored water walk along paper towels and fill an empty glass. It’s very cool! This cool walking water science experiment gives young children an exciting and learning experience as they watch and learn about incredible capillary action of moving water.

Want to see how cool it is for yourself? Watch it in action! Click on Cool Walking Water Science Experiment

9. Science Experiment with Ice Salt Food Color

If the kids don’t care too much for all of that science stuff, this still makes for an interesting, non-toxic and fun activity. This is such a fun and beautiful activity that is perfect for Pre-school aged Children and above! It’s a fun ice and salt experiment that is low prep and low cost too! These ice sculptures catch the sunlight so beautifully too! 

This was such a fun activity for my kids, I hope you give it a try too! For full details of this experiment, click on: Science Experiment with Ice Salt Food Color

10. Rain Cloud Science Experiment

Here is a super simple science experiment that teaches children about clouds and rain. It’s great fun to do at home or in the classroom and this rain cloud science experiment only uses commonly found ingredients. This is a perfect activity for 3-4 year olds, 5-6 year olds and up. Even preschoolers can enjoy the activity by watching.

Super simple and using only a few commonly found ingredients, I knew we had to give it a go. It might just explain the concept of rain as a visual representation. Click on Rain Cloud Science Experiment

11. Absorbing Experiment with Food Color and Sugar Cubes

We often observe some things absorb water like sponges, underpants, etc. Through this super cool science experiment, we are trying an absorbing experiment with a twist and trying to halt the process as a way of investigating which materials absorb water and which don’t! Can you try to predict which material will stop the water spreading through the cubes the best? Want to know your predictions are correct or went wrong? Check out Absorbing Experiment with Food Color and Sugar Cubes to know and learn more details about this cool classic experiment in detail.

12. Simple Color Mixing Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Simple and a very few ingredients from your kitchen can fascinate your children amazingly while learning simple science involved. Simple color mixing science experiment helps children learn the properties of colors while making something attractive. Best suitable for pre-schoolers, kindergarten, and even toddlers.

Get the simple step-by-step ingredients required to do this experiment hasslefree: Click on Simple Color Mixing Science Experiments for Pre-schoolers

13. Does the Color of Water Affect Its Temperature?

Does the color of water affect its temperature? This simple science experiment is a fun way to learn a little more about the light spectrum. We experience light every day but we don’t often think about why we see certain colors or how these colors might affect the temperature of a liquid. In this simple experiment, kids will learn a little more about light reflection and absorption and how colors relate to thermal energy. Learn about the light spectrum and the various heat absorption levels of different colored liquids in this fun science experiment! Click on Does the Color of Water Affect Its Temperature?

14. Science Experiment: Changing Ants Colors!

Ant science experiments are loads of fun and perfect for spring and summer time!  This unique science project is totally safe for both your kiddos and the ants too! Ghost ants can be a nuisance, but outside they can also provide hours of educational opportunities. And the best part is that you already have the supplies at home!  It’s the perfect ant experiment!

Do you want have fun play with ants while learning little science? Check out: Science Experiment: Changing Ants Colors!

15. Science Experiment with Food Color to Create Water Cycle in a Bottle

Make your child’s play or free time exciting and creative with this super cool, simple and easy science activity of creating water cycle in a bottle. Easy to set-up, investigate, and easy to rinse away! This spring, make this easy  water cycle in a bottle science experiment  with your class to illustrate how the water cycle works up close and personal. Kids will love making their own water biomes in a bottle and will be fascinated to watch the water turn into a gas, turn back into a liquid, and fall back into the bottom of the bottle.

Check out for more information of the experiment in detail: Science Experiment with Food Color to Create Water Cycle in a Bottle

16. Make an Orange Volcano Science Experiment

Showing kids about chemistry science concepts is not too hard anymore! Here is the fascinating experiment that teaches kids about how exothermic chemical reactions work using a few kitchen and household items in an easy and educational way. Also it shows a great demonstration on how chemical reactions work out by creating all sorts of fun fall themed activity. Children in grades 3-4 and even older children can have a great visual witness on creating density column.

With just a few inexpensive supplies, you too can make your own orange volcanoes too. Trust us, the kids will LOVE these! And so will you! Check out Make an Orange Volcano Science Experiment

17. Hot and Cold Temperature Science Experiment with Food Color

Kids are very familiar and love to play with colored water but this time we are going to make their playful activity more fun and interesting by introducing them to cold and hot temperature waters. Kids will be fascinated to learn the science behind this amazing reaction between hot and cold temperature water. It can be used for imaginative and sensory play. This is the perfect sensory activity for 3-4 year olds and 5-6 year olds. But how can we do that super classic science experiment? Check out here for complete instructions of this cool science experiment: Hot and Cold Temperature Science Experiment with Food Color

18. Science Experiment with Plants and Food Color

Food color plus water plus plants is an awesome combination to show how plants absorb water! This is a great science activity which is pretty cool to watch colors change. In this experiment, food color and cabbage leaves are used amazingly to show the kids how plants absorb water and nutrients up through their stems. Also, this experiment is done using white flowers too to extend the experiment and make the concept easily understandable by the kids.

Get more details of the experiment by just clicking on Science Experiment with Plants and Food Color

19. Squirt Gun Volcanoes using Food Color Science Experiment

Children find playing with squirt guns and different color liquids fun and exciting! Let us make their interest of playing with these items, a science lesson or activity in order to inspire them towards learning simple science concepts by investigating this easy and simple science activity of creating volcanoes. Kindergarten, pre-schoolers, and toddlers enjoy watching revealing colors whereas older kids investigate and learn the simple science concept of chemical reactions.

Check out this fantastic simple science experiment with step-by-step instructions here: Squirt Gun Volcanoes using Food Color Science Experiment

20. Convection in Glass Science Experiment with Food Color and Glasses

Have you ever fascinated to perform a simple science activity using CD’s, glass jars, and food color? Though it is a new combination of supplies to do a science experiment but we can do an amazing science activity with these simple supplies that are easily available in our home along with some other kitchen hold items and a magical ingredient, food color. Kids get a change to extend the experiment using other types of liquid solutions. Sounds interesting and exciting right? Check out for full description of this amazing science activity here: Convection in Glass Science Experiment with Food Color and Glasses

21. Food Color Diffusion in Different Temperatures of Water

A great visual demonstration that shows and explains kids about how food colors diffuse in different temperatures of water! This is an awesome indoor and outdoor science fair project, gives young and older children an exciting and learning experience as they get an opportunity to watch and observe the outcome results while experimenting with food colors.

This experiment can be done with pre-schoolers not only to have a lot of fun in making their hands colorful but also to introduce them to the little and simple science concepts. Other kids including Kindergarteners and 7 – 9-year-old kids can do this experiment, not just for fun but to learn some science as well.

Before you start with this awesome science experiment, you need to go through the full description of this science activity here: Food Color Diffusion in Different Temperatures of Water

Want to convert your kitchen as a little science lab? If you are a home schooling parent or a teacher searching for kid-friendly and fun filled science activities and experiments, then you are at the right place. Food color either in the form of powder or liquid, it is inexpensive, nontoxic and easy to find at the grocery store making it perfect for science experiments with young and older children. When you are using food coloring for science experiments make sure that everyone is wearing old clothes and cover your work area with newspapers or plastic since food coloring can stain.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name  *

Email  *

Add Comment  *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

Cool Science Experiments Headquarters

Making Science Fun, Easy to Teach and Exciting to Learn!

Science Experiments

Color Changing Walking Water Science Experiment

Science or magic? This super quick, gravity defying experiment may surprise young scientists and work like magic, but don’t worry! The color changing walking water experiment is science through and through and fun for all ages.

Based on the very popular Walking Water Science Experiment using two glasses, you can observe the water walking AND changing color with only a few supplies you probably already have in your kitchen. This article includes a video to show you just how easy it is with detailed step-by-step instructions and the scientific explanations you need to understand how it works!

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works

Supplies Needed

• 3 Glasses of Equal Height
• Paper Towels
• Food Coloring (Blue & Yellow)

Color Changing Walking Water Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Color Changing Walking Water Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to  make science easy for teachers and fun for students  — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

Color Changing Walking Water Science Experiment Instructions

Step 1 –  Prepare two strips of paper towel between 1 and 2 inches wide. Tip: We used one section of paper towel and folded it in half and then in half again until it was the correct width. Set the paper towel strips aside and gather the rest of the supplies

Step 2 – Next, Position your three empty glasses about 2-3 inches apart. Pour water into the two outside glasses until they are halfway full. Leave the middle glass empty.

Step 3 – Add a few drops of food coloring to the water. Add blue food coloring to one glass and yellow food coloring to the other glass. Stir the water until the food coloring is fully combined.

Helpful Tip: If you don’t have blue & yellow food coloring, you can use red & yellow or red & blue. 

Step 4 – Take one of the strips of paper towel that you prepared in step 1. Place one end of the paper towel into the glass with the blue water. Then place the other end into the glass that is empty.

Step 5 –  Take the other strip of paper towel that you prepared in step 1. Place one end of the paper towel into the glass with the yellow water. Then place the other end into the glass that is empty.

Take a moment to make some observations. What happened to the paper towel that was placed in the water? Do you think it is possible for the water in the first glass to move to the empty glass? What do you think will happen if the water moves to the middle glass? Write down your hypothesis (prediction) and then leave the glasses to sit and come back to check on them in about an hour.

Step 6 – Return to the glasses and observe what has happened. What happened during the hour you were waiting? What do you think will happen if you wait a little longer. Do you think all the water in the outside glasses will move to the middle glass? Why or why not? Write down your hypothesis (prediction) and then leave the glasses to sit and come back to check on them in two hours.

Color Changing Walking water Science Experiment Video Tutorial

How Does the Experiment Work?

Why Does the Water Move Between Glasses? The water appears to defy gravity, but in reality, it moves because of a process called capillary action . Water is able to move against the force of gravity because water molecules stick to each other AND they stick to the fibers of the paper towel. As water molecules are attracted to the fibers of the paper towel, they pull other water molecules with them. The adhesive forces between the water and the fibers of the paper towel are stronger than the cohesive forces between the water molecules. This allows water to travel from one cup to another.

Capillary action is the combined force of attraction among water molecules and with the molecules of surrounding materials.

Why Does Water Change Color? Did you know that three basic colors can combine together to make any other color? These three basic colors are red, blue and yellow. They are referred to as primary colors. When two primary colors combine in equal amounts, they produce a secondary color. In this experiment, we chose blue and yellow (two primary colors) for the outside glasses. When the blue and yellow water mixed in the middle glass it turned green (a secondary color).

More Science Fun

Eventually, the water will stop moving over once both cups are filled with the same amount of water. Expand on the experiment, by estimating how long it will take for the water to move to the second jar. Then set a timer and find out how close your estimate was.

You can also try this experiment with other colors!

Red + Yellow = Orange Red + Blue = Purple

In addition, you can also try these other fun experiments that contain mixing colors:

• Coloring Changing Water Science Experiment – Science or magic? Try this experiment at home with your kids and watch their eyes light up as you pour the liquid into the bowl and “create” a new color.
• Discover How Colors are Made   – This is a simple experiment that demonstrates how different colors are made.

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

Instructions

• Prepare two strips of paper towel between 1 and 2 inches wide. Tip: We used one section of paper towel and folded it in half and then in half again until it was the correct width.
• Once you have your two paper towel strips ready, set them aside.
• Next, Position your three empty glasses about 2-3 inches apart.
• Pour water into the two outside glasses until they are halfway full. Leave the middle glass empty.
• Add a few drops of food coloring into the water. Stir the food coloring until the water is all one color. Tip: Use blue food coloring in one glass and yellow in the other.
• Take one of the strips of paper towel that you prepared in step 1. Place one end of the paper towel into the glass with the blue water. Then place the other end into the glass that is empty.
• Take the other strip of paper towel that you prepared in step 1. Place one end of the paper towel into the glass with the yellow water. Then place the other end into the glass that is empty.
• Observe the experiment right away. Do you notice that the water is “walking” up the paper towel? Now, leave the glasses alone and come back to check on them in an hour or two.
• Return to the glasses and observe what has happened.Tip: The longer you wait to check on the glasses, the more water will have moved to the middle glass. The water will stop moving over when all of the cups are filled with the same amount of water.

Reader Interactions

December 26, 2016 at 5:57 am

I want many science experiments for my kids.Thanks for your sharing.

December 10, 2019 at 7:33 pm

Thank you because I really needed something to do for my science fair and now i’m good to go

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Privacy Policy
• Disclosure Policy

Copyright © 2024 · Cool Science Experiments HQ

Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →

Celery Food Coloring Experiment

Capillary action, the fascinating phenomenon of liquids moving through narrow spaces without external forces, can be easily demonstrated using celery and food coloring. In this simple science experiment , we observe how water, dyed with food coloring, travels up the tiny vessels in the celery stalks!

By immersing celery in colored water, we can witness firsthand how this natural process drives fluids against gravity! Get started below and see for yourself. Explore biology easily at home or in the classroom with our science experiments for kids .

More Easy Experiments That Demonstrate Capillary Action

• Color Changing Flowers
• Walking Water
• Leaf Veins Experiment
• Broken Toothpick Experiment
• Grow A Rainbow

Celery and Food Coloring Experiment

Explore the process of water moving upward through the plant’s stem and into the leaves. It defies gravity!

• Celery Stalks (choose as many as you like to color and one extra if you choose to set up a science experiment. too) with leaves
• Food Coloring

Instructions:

STEP 1. Start with nice crisp celery. Cut the bottoms off the celery so you have a fresh cut.

Don’t have celery? You could try our color changing carnations experiment !

STEP 2. Fill the containers at least halfway with water and add food coloring. The more food color, the sooner you’ll see results. 15-20 drops, at least.

STEP 3. Add the celery sticks to the water.

STEP 4. Wait 2 to 24 hours. Make sure to observe the process at regular intervals to note the progress. Older kids can make drawings and journal their observations throughout the experiment.

Notice how the food coloring moves through the celery’s leaves! Water is making its way through the cells of the celery, as indicated by the color.

Note the red food coloring is a bit tougher to see!

How Does It Work?

How does water travel through a plant? By the process of capillary action! We can see this in action with the celery.

The cut celery stalks take up colored water through their stem, and the colored water moves from the stems to the leaves. Water travels up tiny tubes in the plant via the process of capillary action .

What is capillary action? Capillary action is the ability of a liquid (our colored water) to flow in narrow spaces (thin tubes in the celery) without the help of an outside force, like gravity. Plants and trees couldn’t survive without capillary action.

As water evaporates from a plant (called transpiration), it pulls more water up to replace what has been lost. This happens due to adhesion forces (water molecules are attracted and stick to other substances), cohesion (water molecules like to stay close together), and  surface tension .

What is the difference between capillary action and osmosis?

The process of osmosis also involves the movement of water. However, capillary action is driven by surface tension and the interactions between the liquid and solid surfaces, while osmosis is driven by differences in solute concentration across a semi-permeable membrane.

Capillary action is often observed in the movement of liquids in narrow tubes or capillaries. At the same time, osmosis is a process commonly observed in biological systems involving water movement across cell membranes.

Capillary action can occur in both upward and downward directions, depending on the specific conditions, while osmosis generally occurs from an area of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.

Check out fun ways to explore osmosis here.

How To Apply The Scientific Method

Extend this celery and food coloring experiment by applying the scientific method for older kids ready to delve deeper into the scientific realm. This structured approach to inquiry involves formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments, collecting data, and drawing conclusions.

Start by encouraging students to ask questions such as “What factors could influence the movement of water through the celery?” Some examples are the concentration of food coloring, the amount of time the celery is immersed, or the temperature of the water.

Ask kids to make predictions about how changing the variables might affect the results. For instance, they can predict what will happen if they use more food coloring, leave the celery in the colored water longer, or change the water temperature.

Have them develop a hypothesis based on their initial observations and then design an experiment to test it.

Older kids can better understand the scientific principles by altering variables, recording measurements, and analyzing results. This extension challenges them to think critically and apply analytical thinking.

Learn more about applying the scientific method with examples and how to choose variables.

Free Printable Science Process Pack

Extend the learning opportunity by creating a science journal with our free science process pack for kids!

Helpful Science Resources

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• Science Supplies List
• Science Tools for Kids

Why Is Science Important For Kids?

Kids are curious and always looking to explore, discover, test, and experiment to find out why things do what they do, move like they move, or change like they change! Indoors or outdoors , science is definitely amazing!

We are always eager to explore chemistry experiments , physics experiments , and biology experiments ! Biology is fascinating for kids because it’s all about the living world around us. Activities like this celery experiment show us how water moves through living cells.

Explore how water travels through a plant with a simple demonstration you can do in your own kitchen with just a few items! We love kitchen science that is not only easy to set up but frugal too! Learn about capillary action with a couple stalks of celery and food dye.

More Fun Science Experiments To Try

Explore plant experiments , water science experiments and more.

• Potato Osmosis Lab
• Walking Water Experiment
• Drops of Water On A Penny
• How Do Plants Breathe
• Growing Gummy Bears Experiment

Printable Science Projects Pack

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

One Comment

• Pingback: Water Science Activities for Kids STEM

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide

~ projects to try now ~.

Walking Water Rainbow Science Experiment

Let’s make a walking water rainbow! There’s no better way for little scientists to learn about capillary action and color mixing than by making water walk (yes – walk!) in this colorful rainbow science experiment. This science experiment is a favorite of ours because it’s so easy to set up and the results are almost immediate.

Check out the simple step-by-step below and then gra b 30 more jaw-dropping (but easy prep!) science experiments kids will love from our shop!

Getting Ready

To prep, I gathered our supplies:

• 6 wide-mouth glasses or jars
• Paper towels (use the kind where you can select a size)
• Food dye or liquid water colors (red, yellow, and blue)

I grabbed the six small glasses first .  We’ve had success using wide-mouth drinking cups and canning jars, too.  Even though they all worked, just remember that bigger glasses will need more food coloring.

I ripped off six sheets of paper towel and folded each sheet in thirds, lengthwise.

We were using pretty small glasses, so I cut a few inches off the folded paper towel so it would fit in the glasses.

It’s a good idea to test your paper towel strip to make sure they fit properly in your glasses.  They should be able to go from the bottom of one jar to the next without sticking up in the air too much. The paper towel on the left shows the just-right height.  It’s important to set up this rainbow science experiment for success!

Making a Rainbow

This colorful rainbow science experiment is so simple and quick, it’s perfect for even the youngest little scientists.  My 3 year old, Q, couldn’t wait to get started.

First, I had him line up the glasses and fill the first one with a good squirt of red watercolor , the third with yellow, and the fifth glass with blue.  We left the other glasses empty.

Next, I helped Q add water to the glasses with color until the colored water almost reached the top.

We moved the glasses into a circle and added the paper towels .  Starting with the red, we added one end of the paper towel and then put the other end in the empty glass next to it.

We continued around until the last paper towel was placed into the red glass.

We saw the color wick up the paper towel right away.  This rainbow science experiment doesn’t take long to get going!

After another several minutes, the colored water had almost travelled the whole length of each paper towel.

Five minutes later, the water had traveled all the way up and then down the paper towel and was dripping into the empty glass.

The yellow and red water dripped into the empty cup to make orange!  It made for a good lesson on color mixing.

After another five minutes, we could see the water level had dropped in the red, yellow, and blue glasses and rose in the once empty glasses as the water continued to travel from the more full glasses to the less full glasses.

We grabbed a snack and watched our beautiful rainbow science experiment during the next 20 minutes. The water continued to walk from the primary colored glasses to fill the secondary-colored glasses until all the jars were filled equally.

Not Working?

If you aren’t seeing much movement within a few minutes, it may be that you need to add more water to your colored water glasses.  It really needs to be almost at the top for the water to walk quickly.  So try topping off those glasses and seeing if that gets things moving.

If you see the water moving up the paper towel but it seems like it’s taking forever , it may be the type of paper towel you are using.  You want a paper towel that will really hold a lot of water.  We have used Bounty Select-a-Size and Target’s Up and Up Brand Select-a-Size with success.

It really is worth the extra effort of trying different cups and paper towels to get this activity to work.  And once you have had success, don’t throw out those beautifully-colored paper towels or the colored water!  We gently squeezed out our paper towels and let them dry in a heap on a baking sheet.  We ended up with gorgeous tie-dyed looking paper towels to use for crafts and we used the leftover water as watercolors for painting with later.

The Science Behind It

This rainbow science experiment is as magic as the science behind it.  The colored water travels up the paper towel by a process called capillary action . Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow upward, against gravity, in narrow spaces.  This is the same thing that helps water climb from a plant’s roots to the leaves in the tree tops.

Paper towels, and all paper products, are made from fibers found in plants called cellulose .  In this demonstration, the water flowed upwards through the tiny gaps between the cellulose fibers.  The gaps in the towel acted like capillary tubes, pulling the water upwards.

The water is able to defy gravity as it travels upward due to the attractive forces between the water and the cellulose fibers.

The water molecules tend to cling to the cellulose fibers in the paper towel.  This is called adhesion .

The water molecules are also attracted to each other and stick close together, a process called cohesion .  So, as the water slowly moves up the tiny gaps in the paper towel fibers, the cohesive forces help to draw more water upwards.

At some point, the adhesive forces between the water and cellulose and the cohesive forces between the water molecules will be overcome by the gravitational forces on the weight of the water in the paper towel.  

When that happens, the water will not travel up the paper towel anymore. That is why it helps to shorten the length that colored water has to travel by making sure your paper towel isn’t too tall and making sure you fill your colored liquid to the top of the glass.

Rainbow Science Activity Extensions

Turn this demonstration into a true experiment by varying the water level (volume) you start with and seeing how long it takes the water to reach the empty glass.

Or start with the same volume of colored water and change the brand, type (single vs double ply, quilted vs not) or length of paper towel to see how long it takes for the water to “walk” to the empty glass.

You could even use the same volume of water, same length and brand of paper towel but vary the height of the filled glass , by raising them up on books, to see how that affects the speed of the water as it “walks” to the empty glass.

Have you had enough fun with the paper towels?  Try using other paper products to see how the type of paper effects the results.  Try toilet paper, printer paper, newspaper or a page from a glossy magazine.  What do you predict will happen?

Grab a Record Sheet

Help kids keep track of their results by grabbing our free record sheet! Then grab 30 more jaw-dropping (but easy prep!) science experiments kids will love from our shop!

Similar Posts

Very Hungry Caterpillar Clip Cards

Mammal Sort

Popsicle Addition Match

Gumballs Number Mats

Pot of Gold Base 10 Blocks

Christmas Teen Number Puzzles

11 comments.

• Pingback: Ice Color Mixing - The Stem Laboratory
• Pingback: Color Matching Fish - Teach Me Mommy
• Pingback: EXPLODING PAINT ROCKETS STEAM ACTIVITY
• Pingback: FREE Rainbow Train Preschool Counting Game - Stay At Home Educator
• Pingback: Coloring Sheets - Playdough To Plato
• Pingback: Matching Colors and Numbers 1-6 | Liz's Early Learning Spot
• Pingback: Color Hunt Around the Room - Mrs. Jones' Creation Station
• Pingback: Colors Sorting Mats Game
• Pingback: Ultimate Boredom Buster: 101 Things To Do When Kids Are Bored
• Pingback: 15 Color Activities | Happy Days in First Grade
• Pingback: 5 Easy Science Experiments for Kids [With Video] – Baba Blast!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rainbow Walking Water Science Experiment for Kids

This walking water science experiment is so much fun and super easy to do! My kids absolutely loved it! It even comes with free printable recording sheets for kids as young as preschool! Check out the video to see how easy this walking water experiment really is. This rainbow activity is perfect for spring science!

Walking Water Science Experiment

Ok, this might just be our favorite science experiment! The whole family (adults included) were completely mesmerized with process. We all couldn’t believe how quickly the water traveled up the paper towel and neat it was to watch the colors mix together.

We have wanted to try it out for a long time now and I am kicking myself for waiting so long. I don’t know why, but I thought it might be difficult to do or take a long time. I was way wrong. It was very easy and we started seeing results right away!

Related: Simple Spring Science and STEAM Activities

The walking water science experiment is great at any time of the year, but it is especially perfect for spring. I love doing rainbow activities in the spring, so this was a great addition to our rainbow theme activities.

If you are looking for simple science to do with the kids and something that will really WOW them, this is definitely one to try.

You only need a few simple supplies that you probably already have around the house.

Setting Up the Rainbow Science Experiment

Supplies Needed:

• Printable walking water recording sheets (button to download at the bottom of the post)
• Small plastic cups or glasses
• Paper towels (*read my tips below for picking the right ones)
• Food coloring in primary colors

* The pick-a-size paper towels are best because then you just use half sheets for each cup. If you only have full sheets, then cut them in half. I’ve also heard that more absorbent paper towels work better too. I buy the cheap store brand ones, and our water moved pretty quickly from cup to cup, so I am not sure how important that is. It may have went quicker with something more absorbent though.

1. Print out the recording sheets and make copies, if needed.

2. Place 7 cups in a row and pour water in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th cup. My cups were about 3/4 full. I have since heard that fuller is better.

3. Add 5 drops of red food coloring to the 1st cup and the 7th cup.

4. Add 5 drops of yellow food coloring to the 3rd cup.

5. Add 5 drops of blue food coloring to the 5th cup.

Doing the Walking Water Experiment

You want to try to use the same amount of food coloring in each cup. When I did this with my kids they did drop an extra one or two in since they can’t control it well, but I just added a drop or two more to the others to even it out.

6. Take a half sheet of paper towel and fold it in half lengthwise and in half again lengthwise.

7. Trim off some of the length so that there isn’t too much excess paper towel that will stick up in the air between each cup. This will make the water walk more quickly.

8. Place one half of a rolled paper towel in the 1st cup and place the other half in the cup next to it. Then another paper towel from 2nd cup and into the 3rd cup. This continues until you have placed the last paper towel that drapes over from the 6th cup to the 7th cup.

9. Stare at the cups and watch what starts happening. You should quickly be able to see the colored water begin to crawl up the paper towel.

10. Don’t forget to do the first part of the recording sheet. Students will predict what they think will happen.

This walking water experiment is AWESOME!

Keep checking back every couple of minutes. Soon you will be able to see that the water has crawled all the way up the paper towel and is beginning to walk back down into the empty cup next to it.

Since the cup on either side of an empty cup has colored water in it, the two colors begin to mix in the empty cup. So cool!

Keep coming back throughout the two hours or soon and observe what is happening.

Question to Ask

What do you think will happen to the water?

What is happening now?

Why do you think the colors are changing?

Why might the water be able to move up against gravity like that?

How this Science Experiment Works

The water moves up the paper towels through a process called capillary action. The paper towel is made from fibers and the water is able to travel through the gaps in the fibers. The gaps in the paper towel act like capillary tubes and pull the water upward. This is what helps water climb from a plant’s roots to the leaves at the top of the plant or tree.

The water is able to move upward against gravity because of the attractive forces between the water and the fibers in the paper towel.

I even removed one of the red cups and made a color wheel so I could introduce the kids to that as well.

I hope your kids have a great time with this super cool walking water science experiment!

Other Cool Science Experiments for Kids

This rainbow  Walking Water Science Experiment  is one of our most popular science activities!

Try this super simple  Oobleck recipe  that only requires two household ingredients!

This  rainbow skittles experiment  is sure to WOW the kids!

You can also make a rainbow of flowers with this super cool  color changing flowers experiment !

This pepper and soap experiment is very simple to do, but always engages the kids!

Did you know you can put paper under water and it will stay dry? Give it a try with this keep paper dry under water experiment . The kids love this cool trick!

Explore Newton’s color wheel while making colors disappear with this totally awesome science activity!

Explore chromatogography with this super fun STEAM activity that combines science and art!

This  rain cloud jar science experiment  give children a chance to explore clouds and rain in a hands-on and engaging way

The kids will get a kick out of this super cool  dancing raisins science experiment !

Check out these other science experiments and activities for kids.

This lava lamp science experiment is always a hit with the kids!

If you haven’t tried this magic milk science activity , you have to! It is so awesome and super easy to do.

This leak proof bag science experiment will make your kids jaw drop! It’s hard to believe, but it works.

Science at Home for Kids

Easy and fun science experiments using household items! Follow us on Instagram @scienceathomekids for more cool science!

Colorful Water Mixing

This is the perfect, easy experiment for any day! If you’re busy, you can quickly set up the experiment and come back an hour later to see the astonishing results. If you want an entertaining experiment, you can set up the experiment and watch in amazement as the colors mix and produce beautiful results. In any case, this is a fun, easy experiment that requires only a few, household items!

What you need:

• seven clear plastic or glass cups
• red, yellow, and blue food coloring
• two paper towels
• plastic spoon
• Place the seven cups in a row
• Fill the first, third, fifth, and seventh cups with water (the more filled the cups are, the better this experiment works)

• Put four drops of red food coloring in the first and seventh cups

• Put four drops of yellow food coloring in the third cup

• Put four drops of blue food coloring in the fifth cup

• Mix each cup to ensure the food coloring is evenly dispersed throughout the water (make sure to wipe the spoon between cups so the colors do not mix)

• Take a paper towel and cut it into four thick, short strips
• Fold each strip in half
• Place the strips in between each of the cups, forming a bridge between the cups

• Watch as the colors mix and form a rainbow (you will see some results immediately, but it may take up to an hour for the colors to fully mix)

• You can also remove a red cup and put the rest of the cups in a circle to see the color wheel

How do the colors mix?

The water moves up the paper towels through a process called capillary action. Capillary action occurs when the forces of adhesion, or the attractive forces between a water molecule and another substance, are greater than cohesion, or the attractive forces between multiple water molecules. The paper towel is made from fibers to which the water is attracted, and the water is able to travel up through the gaps in the fibers. This process is also what helps water climb from a tree’s roots to the leaves at the top of the tree. When the water travels through the paper towel, it is released on the other side of the paper towel into the empty cup. The colors mix to form new colors: red and yellow create orange, yellow and blue create green, and blue and red create purple.

Thanks for the fun science idea! I’m sure my kids will love this. The pictures are also very pretty.

Thank you so much!

I love this! Does gel food coloring also work?

Thank you! As long as you make sure to mix it into the water until it is evenly dispersed, it will work fine.

Joanne Cathrey

Nice post, as always!

Thank you for your support!

I just discovered your website. I love it! So many great ideas for me and my children to do.

Thank you (:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Science Fun

Water Fireworks

• Food Coloring (Any color of your choosing)
• 16 oz clear glass
• Another 16 oz clear glass

Instructions:

• Fill the tall glass almost to the top with room-temperature water.
• Pour 2 tablespoons of oil into the other glass.
• Add 2 drops of food coloring to the glass with the oil.
• Stir the oil into the food coloring using a fork. Stop once you break the food coloring into smaller drops.
• Pour the oil and coloring mixture into the tall glass.
• Now watch! The food coloring will slowly sink in the glass, with each droplet expanding outwards as it falls. Looks like fireworks! Right?

VIDEO COMING SOON BUT YOU CAN STILL ENJOY THESE AWESOME EXPERIMENTS!

How it Works:

Food coloring dissolves in water, but not in oil. So when you pour in your food coloring/oil mixture the oil will float at the top of the water because it is less dense, and the food coloring will begin to dissolve once they sink through the oil and into the water.

Extra Experiments:

• Try using red and blue as you food coloring, and do one drop of blue and one drop of red when you start to mix the oil and food coloring together.
• Try doing it without the oil and observe and record how the results are different.
• Try using a larger glass, does it change the results?

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO!

previous experiment

Next experiment.