hypothesis for magic milk experiment

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How to Write a Hypothesis of Magic Milk for 5th Grade

Food Coloring & Science Projects

The “magic milk” experiment is a great way to introduce children to scientific experimentation, and also writing hypotheses. According to Steve Spangler’s “Color Changing Milk,” milk is a mixture of protein, fat and nutrients suspended in a mostly water solution. Food coloring, which dissipates in water, is held in place by the fat and protein in the milk. The fat and protein react to disruptions in the milk. The dish soap disrupts the chemical bonds that hold them in solution because it forms a bond with the fat. “The molecules of fat bend, roll, twist, and contort in all directions as the soap molecules race around to join up with the fat molecules.” This activity pushes the colors around. Students should write a hypothesis about what the soap will do to the food coloring in the milk before they perform the experiment.

Instruct students that a hypothesis is a statement that can be tested. According to Access Excellence, it should guess at “how two variables might be related,” in a testable way.

Define the variables in the experiment. Hypotheses are often formed from observations. It is helpful for students to observe how food coloring acts in water, milk and oil before they attempt to write a hypothesis. Teach them that soap bonds with oil and fat. This is how it cleans dirty dishes. The variables in this experiment are the soap and the food coloring.

Identify which variable is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable. Access Excellence defines these as, “the independent variable is the one you, the ‘scientist’ control and the dependent variable is the one that you observe and/or measure the results.” In this case, the soap is the independent variable and the food coloring is the dependent variable.

Using the two variables, form an “if, then” statement. If I add soap to the milk, then the food coloring will mix with the milk. Students should make their best guess; hypotheses don’t have to be correct, just testable.

Perform the experiment as indicated in Steve Spangler’s “Color Changing Milk,” but only dip the cotton swab in the milk once or twice.

Revise the hypothesis if you wish to give the experiment more depth. A more formal hypothesis thinks in terms of how the variables are related to each other. If soap can make food coloring mix with milk, then adding more soap to the milk in different places will cause the food coloring to mix with the milk faster.

Repeat the experiment using a fresh batch of milk and food coloring. Use multiple cotton swabs and stick them in different places.

Things You'll Need

This experiment can be furthered by expanding the medium being used. Try it with buttermilk or nonfat milk. Try using pepper instead of food coloring. Try it using a clean cotton swab or toothpick. Talk about surface tension.

Students should be warned that although food coloring is not toxic, dish soap can be. Do not drink milk that has soap in it.

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• “Color Changing Milk” Steve Spangler

About the Author

A resident of New Mexico, Deborah Brenna has been writing since 2003. She is an expert in gardening, home improvement, cooking, science, medicine and the outdoors. Brenna has a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in English from the University of New Mexico.

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Magic Milk Science Experiment – Amazing Explosion of Color!

Did you know that it is easy to turn ordinary milk into a rainbow of crazy colors? With only four common kitchen items, kids are thrilled by the color explosion created by the hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules in our magic ingredient!

Watch our demonstration video, then print out a materials list and instructions to plan for this simple and fun science experiment. Easy to understand explanation of how it works is included below.

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

Supplies Needed

• Milk (Must be either Whole or 2%)
• Food Coloring. The more colors the better
• Shallow Dish or Bowl

Magic Milk Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Magic Milk 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!

Magic Milk Experiment Instructions

Step 1 – Pour some milk into a shallow dish or bowl until the milk covers the bottom.

Step 2 – Add some drops of food coloring on the milk. You can use a variety of colors, just be sure to add 3-4 drops of each color.

Step 3 – Add a drop of dish soap into the center of the milk.

Step 4 – Watch in amazement as the colors dances across the surface of the milk. Do you know what caused the colors to move around in the milk? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.

Video Tutorial

Detailed Magic Rainbow Milk Science Experiment Step by Step Instructions

How Does the Science Experiment Work

The key to the dancing colors in this experiment is soap! Soap molecules consist of a hydrophilic (“water-loving”) end and a hydrophobic (“water-fearing”) end. Water molecules are polar molecules that can dissolve other polar molecules. Fat (and oil) molecules are nonpolar molecules, so they cannot dissolve in water.

Milk is a mixture of water, fat, vitamins and minerals. When soap is added to the milk, it helps to separate the water and fat in the milk. When soap is mixed in with the fat and water, the hydrophobic end of the soap molecule breaks up the nonpolar fat molecules, and the hydrophilic end of the soap molecule links up with the polar water molecules. Now that the soap is connecting the fat and water, the nonpolar fat molecules can be carried by the polar water molecules.

As the soap molecules connect to the fat molecules, the molecules of the food coloring get pushed around everywhere resulting in an explosion of color! As the majority of soap molecules attach to the fat molecules and the soap spreads throughout the milk, the color explosion will slow and eventually stop. Add more soap and see if there are more fat molecules that haven’t attached to soap – if there are unattached fat molecules still, the color explosion will begin again.

This experiment works best with 2% and whole milk because they contain more fat.

Other Ideas to Try

Try this experiment again using milk with different fat percentages. Try it with skim milk, 1% milk, 2% milk, whole milk, half and half, and cream. Consider even trying evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. See how the amount of fat affects the explosion of color!

I hope you enjoyed the experiment as much as we did. Here are some printable instructions:

Magic Rainbow Milk Science Experiment

Instructions.

• Pour some milk into a shallow dish or bowl until the milk covers the bottom. Tip: Be sure to use either Whole or 2% Milk
• Add some drops of food coloring on the milk. You can use a variety of colors, just be sure to add 3-4 drops of each color.
• Add a drop of dish soap into the center of the milk
• Watch in amazement as the colors dances across the surface of the milk

Reader Interactions

November 11, 2019 at 6:47 pm

I did this in my science class and it worked really well! I looked at a lot of science experiments but couldn’t find one I liked and then I found this at the last minute and it was really good so thank you for sharing:)

April 12, 2023 at 9:03 pm

I agree, Emma. It has worked every time and was fun to watch! This explanation of the experiment is very informative. I have done this experiment a lot when I was younger. ☺️

August 19, 2020 at 11:48 am

It was pretty cool

October 19, 2021 at 8:33 pm

This was a really fun activity!

November 19, 2021 at 8:26 am

Because of this experiment I got to the finals of my Sci Expo

February 13, 2022 at 8:11 pm

It was actually pretty cool. I did this for my science project. Also, the colors came out really nice! i will definitely try again.

April 2, 2022 at 5:27 am

Thanks a million for these fantastic ideas and explanations!

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Magic Milk Science Experiment

How do you make magic milk or color changing rainbow milk? Let us show you how easy and fun simple science experiments can be! The chemical reaction in this magic milk experiment is fun to watch and makes for great hands-on learning. The perfect kitchen science as you already have all the items for it in your kitchen. Setting up science experiments at home is easier than you think.

WHAT IS MAGIC MILK?

We love super simple science experiments that you can pull out on a rainy afternoon (or in any weather). This magic milk experiment has to be one of our favorites and definitely for science experiments with milk!

Kids are naturally curious, and sharing fun, simple science activities at home or in the classroom is just another way to get kids to learn. We love to keep our science playful too! No two magic milk experiments will ever be the same!

Click here to get your free printable science guide!

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If you want to make this truly a science experiment or even a milk science fair project using the scientific method , you need to change one variable . You could repeat the experiment with different types of milk, such as skim milk, and observe the changes. Learn more about the scientific method for kids here .

• Full Fat Milk
• Liquid Food Coloring
• Dawn Dish Soap
• Cotton Swabs

NOTE: There are so many fat percentages available that the milk used is a fantastic variable to consider! Low-Fat Milk, Skim Milk, 1%, 2%, Half and Half, Cream, Heavy Whipping Cream…

MAGIC MILK INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: Start pouring your whole milk into a shallow dish or flat bottom surface. You don’t need a lot of milk, just enough to cover the bottom and then some.

If you have leftover milk, try our milk and vinegar plastic experim ent !

STEP 2: Next, you want to fill the top of the milk with drops of food coloring! Use as many different colors as you like.

TIP: Use a variety of colors or give your magic milk experiment a theme for the season or holiday!

STEP 3: Pour a small amount of dish soap into a separate bowl, and touch your cotton swab tip to the dish soap to coat it. Bring it over to your milk dish and gently touch the surface of the milk with the soapy cotton swab!

TIP: Try a cotton swab without dish soap first and see what happens. Talk about what is observed, then try the dish soap-soaked cotton swab and check out the difference. This is a great way to add more scientific thinking to the activity.

What happens? Make sure to read about how the magic milk experiment works below!

Remember, each time you try this magic milk experiment, it will look slightly different. It’s a fun fireworks science activity for the 4th of July or New Year!

Also, check out: Fireworks In A Jar Experiment

HOW DOES THE MAGIC MILK EXPERIMENT WORK?

Milk is made up of minerals, proteins, and fats. Proteins and fats are susceptible to changes. When dish soap is added to the milk, the soap molecules run around and try to attach to the fat molecules in the milk.

However, you wouldn’t see this change happen without the food coloring! The food coloring looks like fireworks because it’s getting bumped around , a color explosion.

The soap lowers the surface tension of the milk. When the soap molecules head for the fats, they form spherical micelles. This causes movement and creates cool bursts and swirls of color. After all the fat molecules have been found and equilibrium has been reached, there is no more movement. Are there any more hiding?

Try another cotton swab dipped in soap! 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• What did you notice before and after?
• What happened when you put the cotton swab in the milk?
• Why do you think that happened?
• Why do you think the colors stopped moving?
• What else did you observe?

MORE FUN COLOR-CHANGING MILK EXPERIMENTS

Magic milk experiments are super easy to create themes with for different holidays! Kids love mixing in a favorite holiday with science. I know this from experience!

• Lucky Magic Milk
• Cupid’s Magic Milk
• Frosty’s Magic Milk
• Santa’s Magic Milk

MORE FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS TO TRY

Love seeing chemical reactions? Check out our list of chemistry experiments for kids .

• Skittles Experiment
• Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
• Lava Lamp Experiment
• Growing Borax Crystals
• Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment
• Pop Rocks and Soda
• Magic Milk Experiment
• Egg In Vinegar Experiment

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17 Comments

This activity is a staple in my house! 🙂 I wanted to say that, even though you say it’s great for little kids, my older kids (6 and ELEVEN) still love this, too!!! I’m not kidding- my eleven year old son asked to do magic milk last month. 🙂 Great fun!

This looks like a terrific idea to do with my kindergarten class! However, is there a possible substitute I can use for the milk?

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Interesting and funny experiments. I like fireworks activity. A ton of value in cheap science activities and experiments.

My son suggested swapping out the soap for sanitizer and it is awesome. The color just explodes!

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The experiment was fun. We read the explanation about the soap attaching to the fat molecules. We tried it with fat free milk and the same result occurred. Why?

I things with my 4 year old grandson, and this was amazing, we did over and over and when his mom came home from work, he had to show her. Thank you so much for sharing, as on a limited income your free things help me help him learn. Sincerely, it was fun looking forward to the next experiment.

Awesome! So glad to hear he loved it that much!

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Magic Milk Experiment: How-To Plus Free Worksheet

This classic experiment teaches kids about basic chemistry and physics.

This fun experiment is a classic for a reason! In the magic milk experiment, kids learn about simple chemical reactions and physical properties using only a few ingredients. Read on to see how to do the experiment, and fill out the form on this page to grab your free recording sheet.

How does the magic milk experiment work?

In this experiment, you pour some milk into a shallow dish. You then add drops of food coloring to the surface of the milk. Using a cotton swab dipped into dish soap, you lightly brush the surface of the milk. The dish soap breaks the surface tension of the milk, and the soap molecules try to attach to the fat molecules in the milk. This causes swirls and bursts of fun rainbow colors.

What does the magic milk experiment teach?

This experiment teaches us about the science of molecules and how substances interact. The soap breaks down the fat molecules and makes them move apart, showing us a simple but fascinating example of chemistry in action!

Is there a magic milk video?

This video shows two different ways to do the magic milk science experiment, using very similar ingredients.

Materials Needed

To do the magic milk experiment, you will need:

• Shallow bowl or plate
• Milk, blue dish soap
• Cotton swabs
• Food coloring (inexpensive works better than gel coloring)

Our free recording sheet is also helpful— fill out the form on this page to get it.

Magic milk experiment steps:

1. pour milk into a shallow dish or bowl, just enough to cover the bottom..

2. Add drops of food coloring all over the surface of the milk.

3. Dip the end of a cotton swab into a separate dish of blue soap.

4. Lightly brush the top of the milk with the cotton swab, and watch what happens!

Grab our free magic milk experiment worksheet!

Fill out the form on this page to get your worksheet. The worksheet asks kids to guess the correct order of the steps in the experiment. Next, kids must make a prediction about what they think will happen. They can use the provided spaces to draw what happens before and after they add the dish soap. Did their predictions come true?

Additional Reflection Questions

• What happened when we added the soap to the milk?
• Why do you think the colors appeared on the milk’s surface?
• What do you think would happen if we added more soap to the milk?
• What do you think would happen if we used a different liquid instead of milk?

Can the magic milk experiment be done for a science fair?

Yes! If you want to do the magic milk experiment for a science fair, we recommend switching up some of the variables. For example: Does the fat content of the milk matter? Does the type of dish soap matter? Form a hypothesis about how changing the variables will impact the experiment. Good luck!

Looking for more experiment ideas? Check out our big list of experiment ideas here.

Plus, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters for more articles like this., you might also like.

72 Easy Science Experiments Using Materials You Already Have On Hand

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Color Explosion Magic Milk Experiment and Science Fair Project

Want an extremely fun, easy, inexpensive experiment with serious WOW factor? You’ve got it with this Color Explosion Magic Milk Experiment that let’s kids explore a fireworks explosion of rainbow colours that appear to move and change like magic! It’s not magic though, it’s science. This easy science experiment is a must do for all ages. Today we have taken things even deeper by developing an entire Science Fair Project around Magic Milk.

Magic Milk Science Experiment

What you will discover in this article!

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With all the crazy experiments we have done around here, from launching baking soda and vinegar rockets, to building light up circuit bugs, to magic colour changing oobleck, sometimes it’s the simple experiments that surprise us the most! This Magic Milk experiment did exactly that.

With a very simple set up, and items from the kitchen, we ended up spending an entire afternoon experimenting, testing and learning. All with lots of mesmerized faces, quietly watching in awe what was happening in front of them.

Here’s the thing with Magic Milk experiments, they are extremely calming and relaxing to watch. It’s like a scientific calm down dish, instead of a calm down bottle. If you need an activity to keep the kids calmly entertained as they learn, this is it!

EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENT – MAGIC MILK

The quick and easy way to do Magic Milk is to take your milk, whatever you have in your fridge should work (as we proved with our science fair project below), then you just need a pie plate or shallow dish, dish soap and food coloring.

Fill the dish with milk

Pour milk into the dish, we made ours about 2cm deep. We used a variety of milks in our science fair project below. You should be able to use whatever you have in the fridge. Let it settle for a moment, this will take more time the higher the fat content.

Add drops of food coloring

Scatter some drops of food coloring in the milk.

Add dish soap

Use a Q-tip or pipette to add a drop of dish soap to the center of the plate and watch what happens!

MAGIC MILK SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

The joy of having kids that have been raised to be creative, imaginative thinkers, who embrace the Scientific Method, is that they have so many amazing questions. Very quickly our Magic Milk Experiment became a Magic Milk Science Fair Project.

HOW DOES THE FAT CONTENT OF THE MILK AFFECT THE MAGIC MILK EXPERIMENT RESULTS?

That was the big question for our science fair project. We wanted to know if the fireworks of colors created by the dish soap in milk would change at all based on the type of milk or cream we used. Specifically we look at fat content.

RESEARCH INTO MAGIC MILK

Our research actually led us to some conflicting and confusing information about what exactly was happening during the Magic Milk experiment. Finally we found some concrete answers that made sense, especially once we did our experiments. Turns out the whole things is based on surface tension and the polarity of molecules. More on the science in a moment!

Resources on Magic Milk include Scientific American and American Chemical Society .

HYPOTHESIS: Higher Fat Content EQUALS SLOWER COLOR MOVEMENT

After doing our research, I pulled out the milks we had available. We were going to test 2% fat (milk), 18% fat (coffee cream) and 33% fat (whipping cream). I asked the kids to come up with their predictions and best educated guesses for what might happen. Their hypothesis was that the higher the milk fat content, the slower the colors would move through the milk.

HOW TO DO THE MAGIC MILK EXPERIMENT

Next we set up our experiments. Our constant variables were our Dawn dish soap applied in the middle of the plate with a Q-tip, milk 2 cm deep in a pie dish so the amount of milk was consistent, a consistent number of food coloring drops scattered in a similar pattern each time.

Our independent variable, the one thing we changed each time, was the fat content of our milk. We used 2%, 18% and 33%.

For our dependent variable we studied how the colors exploded and moved after the dish soap was added. We watched for changes in how fast colors exploded across the milk and if there were different patterns in how the colors moved. We also timed how long the colors continued to move.

Check out our Magic Milk Color Explosion Video!

Results of magic milk science fair experiment.

Our results were striking! The 2% milk rapidly exploded with colors that flew around the plate. In a short amount of time the colors started blending together and the dish soap, which stays as a little bubble, started floating around pushing reactions around the plate. The colors moved and blended about, constantly moving and changing. There was a lot of action with the rainbow of colors.

The 18% moved more slowly, the colors tended to stay together for a very long time without mixing. It also took a lot longer for the dish soap bubble to start moving around the plate.

Once it did start moving, slowly, it did start forcing more mixing of the colors. We found the colors pushed to the edges of the plate in a multi-colored ring.

This color blocking is very similar to what we saw in the Skittles Science Experiment . This made us wonder about the possibility of water stratification and concentration gradient playing a role in our results as well.

33% gave us the most astonishing and amazing results. The colors spread in fractals. Branching out in short little bursts. Like leafless branches, that never mixed into the milk. The soap bubble did not move, staying anchored in the middle of the plate where we had placed it. Very minimal mixing of the colors occurred, only happening when two fractals accidentally crossed paths.

With all three we stopped our stop watch at 15 minutes as the reactions and movement were still ongoing and, although they had slowed, they didn’t seem to be ending any time soon.

I mentioned earlier that when we were doing our research we came across from conflicting and even confusing information on the possible science behind magic milk. Our experiment allowed us to study how the fat content affected the movement of colours, allowing us to draw solid conclusions, informed by our research, into what exactly is happening.

Our hypothesis was correct, but our results lead to even more fascinating findings!

Conclusion – The Science Behind Magic Milk and Fat Content

With our Magic Milk Science Fair Project we were able to study the effect fat content had on the movement of colour when dish soap is added. Our results tell us that fat content plays a large role, but the reason may be surprising.

Liquids have something called surface tension. Water, milk, and cream are made up of molecules that have positive and negative charges on their surface. Just like magnets these charges allow them to attract and repel other molecules. When milk or cream is by itself, it’s molecules are surrounded by the same type of molecules, creating a nicely balanced push and pull. The exception is the top which is exposed to air which pushes down on the liquid, creating surface tension on the top of the liquid.

There is a substance that affects a liquid’s surface tension, it’s called a surfactant. Dish soap is mostly comprised of surfactants. It has a hydrophilic part that is attracted to the water and a hydrophobic part that wants to interact with the fat molecules and repels water.

It’s all about surface tension

The pushing and pulling of the fat and water molecules in the milk separates them, resulting in a decrease of the surface tension.

We see a big difference between our various fat content milks due to the different ratios of fat to water in the liquids. The higher fat content milk is much thicker. We can see this before adding the dish soap if we just look at the food colouring drops. The food colouring spreads significantly in 2%, spreads a little in 18% and doesn’t move at all in 33%.

This means, in our 33% milk, there is less water for the hydrophilic part to attract, and way too much fat for the hydrophobic part to ineract with. The surfactant (dish soap), has very limited effect on the surface tension, which remains quite a viscous, stable liquid. This leads to the fractal style, very limited spread of colour we see in the high fat milk.

In the 2% milk we have lots of water and some fat, allowing the surface tension to be affected easily. This results in a dramatic dance of color.

FURTHER STUDIES IN MAGIC MILK

Already the kids have identified more testing we can do in the future. This includes testing different surfactants. They wonder how shampoo or soaps may affect our results. They also wondered if there would be a difference if we used a oil or gel color instead of liquid food coloring (which is mostly water).

The kids also want to test lower percentage milks like skim and 1%, plus other types of milk like soy, coconut, goat milk, etc. to see how the different types of milk react.

MORE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT IDEAS

Magic Milk Experiment

Explore the magical and explosive colourful experiment that involves a reaction between milk and dish soap.

• 1/2 – 1 cup milk experiment with different percentage fat milks and creams to see how it affects the results
• 1 tsp dish soap
• bottles food colouring in a variety of colours

Instructions

Pour milk into the shallow dish until it is about 1 to 2 cm deep. The amount of milk required will vary based on the size of your dish.

Add drops of food colouring to the milk.

Take the Q-Tip and dip it into the dish soap, then place the q-tip into the middle of the prepared milk and watch the reaction. You can remove the q-tip after a few seconds and the reaction will continue. The pattern of the reaction and duration will vary based on the fat content of your milk or cream. Experiment with a variety to see how your results change.

5 Days of Smart STEM Ideas for Kids

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Easy Magic Milk Rainbow Science Experiment for Color-Loving Kids

Categories Science Experiments

Preschoolers will love this amazing science demonstration on surface tension! This magic milk rainbow science experiment is perfect for little scientists.

We’ve done the milk surface tension science experiment before, but I’ve never done it with Bo. She absolutely loved this magic milk rainbow science experiment!

She wanted to keep trying it over and over again until we ran out of milk (and almost ran out of food coloring).

This science demonstration and St. Patrick’s Day STEM activity is a hit with kids of all ages, but preschoolers will especially love it.

Rainbow Milk Science Experiment for Kids

This quick science experiment is the perfect easy science experiment for kids, especially for younger kids, like preschoolers!

If you love working with preschool science, try these preschool science experiments! And don’t forget to check out the full list of rainbow science experiments and preschool STEM activities.

Magic Milk Experiment Hypothesis

My kids thought that the colors would sink right into the milk and start mixing right away.

They thought that the soap wouldn’t do anything when we put it in the milk.

Even though their hypothesis was wrong (the food coloring didn’t mix into the milk and the soap helped mix the colors), they still loved doing this surface tension science experiment!

We do this quick science experiment with our kids every now and then when we have milk that’s about to go bad, even though my girls are much older now!

Milk Rainbow Experiment Explanation

The results of this science experiment are so dramatic due to the effects of the oil in the milk (the fat) and the soap. Milk is a non-polar molecule and won’t dissolve in water. When soap is added to the milk, it allows the fat to be carried through the water (which is why we use soap to clean dishes).

When the soap is dropped into the milk, the soap and fat molecules combine, which causes the food coloring to move rapidly through the milk, creating pretty, swirling patterns.

You could even use this experiment to learn about color mixing if you choose colors that mix well together!

What you’ll need to make magic milk rainbows:

• Milk (whole milk works best)
• Food coloring ( the pure liquid , not the gel)
• Shallow container

How to Do the Magic Milk Experiment

First, cover the bottom of your container with about 1/2 an inch of milk. You don’t need tons of milk to get this to work. We used about a cup total.

Next, drop a few drops of food coloring in a rainbow pattern on the milk. The color will spread a little, but not much.

Instruct your preschooler to drop a tiny bit of dish soap onto each spot of color.

The results are immediate and spectacular. Suddenly, the color flies all over the place!

When you’ve completed the experiment, take a look at the bottom. You’ll see some really cool colors!

If you want to try the experiment again, just rinse out your container and fill it up with more milk. You can get results in a shallow container, but we also liked how the rainbow spread through a jar!

More Rainbow Science Experiments for Kids

How to Make an Instant Ice Rainbow

Flip a Rainbow Light Refraction Experiment

Super Fun Fizzing Rainbow Experiment for Little Scientists

Rainbow Mentos and Coke Experiment

Share this project with a friend!

Magic Milk Science Experiment: Unveiling the Chemistry of Colors

The Magic Milk science experiment is a captivating activity that combines art and science , making it an engaging experience for children and adults alike.

It’s a simple and colorful way to explore the reactions between everyday household materials such as milk, food coloring, and dish soap.

This experiment not only demonstrates a visually stunning composition of swirling colors but also provides a hands-on opportunity to observe chemical reactions and the properties of milk.

While the setup for the experiment is minimal, requiring only basic supplies, the learning opportunities are significant. It offers a chance to discuss scientific concepts such as chemical bonds, the nature of fats and proteins in milk, and the role of surfactants in reducing surface tension.

The easy-to-follow procedure also makes it ideal for explaining complex ideas in an accessible manner. As the dish soap mixes with the milk, it causes the fat and water molecules to separate, creating a burst of motion and color that serves as a practical illustration of these scientific principles.

Key Takeaways

• The experiment is a visually appealing way to learn about chemical reactions.
• Simple household items are used to demonstrate scientific concepts.
• An effective method to teach about properties of milk and surface tension.

The Science of Magic Milk

The magic milk science experiment demonstrates a fascinating chemical reaction between milk’s components and dish soap, resulting in a burst of colors as the surface tension is disrupted.

Chemistry Behind the Colors

When dish soap is added to milk, a rapid interaction occurs as the soap’s molecules race to join with the fat molecules in the milk. This soap and fat bonding causes the visible turmoil that is the foundation of the magic milk experiment . Milk is a suspension of fat micelles , which are clusters of fat molecules encased in a shell of protein and water molecules . Normally, these micelles are in a state of equilibrium , but the introduction of dish soap disturbs this balance. The soap molecules have two distinct ends: one hydrophilic (water-attracting) and one hydrophobic (water-repelling), which also attracts fats. When the dish soap is added, the hydrophobic ends latch onto the fat molecules , reducing the surface tension that keeps the water-soluble components and fats separated.

Table: Components in Magic Milk Experiment

The result is a flurry of moving colors as the fat and water molecules are shuffled around in the new absence of balanced forces, creating an explosion of color throughout the milk.

Role of Milk in the Experiment

Milk plays a pivotal role in the magic milk science experiment due to its fat content . The varying fat percentages in different types of milk can influence how the colors move and swirl during the experiment; whole milk, with a higher fat content, tends to produce more vibrant and dynamic color motions compared to skim milk or lower-fat alternatives. The proteins in milk, such as casein, form a protective ring around the fat molecules , which are disrupted by the dish soap, contributing to the churning motion observed. This illustrates the delicate balance of fats and water within the milk and demonstrates the principle of non-polar (oil-like) molecules interacting with polar substances.

Preparing for the Experiment

Before beginning the Magic Milk science experiment, it’s essential to gather all necessary materials and create an appropriate workspace. This ensures the experiment runs smoothly and allows observers to clearly witness the color explosion reaction.

List of Materials Needed

For this experiment, you will need the following supplies:

• Whole milk or 2% milk: These types of milk yield the best results due to their fat content. Skim milk and 1% milk are less effective.
• Liquid food coloring: A variety of colors for a more dramatic effect.
• Dish soap: Any brand will do, as it is the critical agent causing the reaction.
• Cotton swab or Q-tips: Used for adding dish soap to the milk.
• Shallow dish or bowl: Large enough to hold the milk in a thin layer.
• Water: A clean supply to rinse off the cotton swabs if reusing.

Solid preparation ensures the successful demonstration of the scientific principles at play and the underlying chemical reactions occurring between the dish soap and the fats in the milk.

Setting Up the Experiment Space

Choose a clear, flat surface such as a kitchen counter or a dinner plate placed on a table. Position the shallow dish or bowl centrally, where it can be easily seen and accessed. It’s advisable to have a towel or paper towels handy for any spills. Since the experiment can be messy, especially with children, protective clothing or aprons could be useful.

Ensure there is enough room around the experiment space for all observers to view the ‘magic’ as it happens. This visual spectacle, often inspired by professionals like Steve Spangler, is excellent for capturing the audience’s attention and highlighting the reactions. Proper setup not only makes the experiment more enjoyable but also helps in explaining the science behind the color explosion effectively.

Conducting the Magic Milk Experiment

The Magic Milk experiment is a fascinating visual display of chemical reactions involving colors and movement. It demonstrates how soap interacts with fat molecules in milk, resulting in a mesmerizing “color explosion.”

Steps to Create Magic Milk

• Pour the Milk : Begin by filling a shallow dish with enough whole milk to cover the bottom.
• Add Color : Carefully add several drops of food coloring to the milk. Use a variety of colors to enhance the visual effect.
• Introduce Soap : Place a drop of liquid dish soap onto a cotton swab. Gently touch the soap-laden swab to the center of the milk’s surface.

Observing the Reaction

Upon introducing the soap to the milk, one will observe the immediate movement of color. This is due to the soap’s hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (fat-attracting) properties causing a disruption in the fat molecules within the milk. The result is a dynamic color dance where vivid patterns and swirls are created as the soap molecules spread through the milk, showing the hydrophilic and hydrophobic reactions at play. The Magic Milk experiment not only results in a stunning color explosion , but it’s also a simple, hands-on learning activity that illustrates some basic principles of chemistry and physics.

Explaining the Concepts to Kids

When introducing the magic milk science experiment to children, it’s crucial to simplify complex scientific principles and engage their curiosity through hands-on learning. This experiment is a perfect blend of fun and education, suitable for a STEM activity or a science fair project.

Simple Explanations for Complex Science

The magic milk experiment is a wonderful way for preschoolers and older children to witness a chemical reaction in a safe environment. Adults can explain that milk is made of water, fat, and proteins, which react in an interesting way when dish soap is added. As the soap mixes with the milk, these molecules move around, causing the colors to swirl. One can explain that dish soap reduces the milk’s surface tension and reacts with the fat. To put it in simple terms for kids:

• Milk is like a party where fat, water, and proteins hang out together.
• Food coloring drops are like balloons that add color to the party.
• Dish soap is like a bubble blower that stirs things up and makes fat move around, carrying the balloons with it.

The activity not only demonstrates principles of chemistry experiments but also teaches about the scientific method , as children can make a hypothesis or prediction about what will happen when soap touches the food coloring in the milk.

Engaging Young Minds with Science

To keep young minds engaged, adults can turn the magic milk experiment into a science investigation by encouraging kids to ask questions and make predictions. Before starting, an adult might ask:

• What do you think will happen when we add soap to the milk?
• How do you think the colors will change?

This encourages kids to be scientists, developing a hypothesis . After conducting the fun science experiment , they can observe the results and see if their predictions were correct. This process promotes critical thinking and an understanding of the scientific method .

Furthermore, conducting this experiment is a safe and fun science experiment that provides adult-supervised playful learning, especially for preschoolers . As a STEM activity , it sparks interest in science through a visually stimulating show of colors.

By making science exciting and accessible, children are more likely to foster a long-term interest in the subject. This simple yet effective demonstration paves the way for engaging in more complex STEM activities in the future.

Extension Activities and Further Exploration

Once the magic milk science experiment has been successfully completed at home, there are several ways one can expand the learning experience for kids. These extension activities can help solidify understanding of chemistry principles and offer a deeper dive into the science of reactions between different substances.

Creating a Science Fair Project

A detailed approach to converting the magic milk experiment into a science fair project involves several steps. Initially, children should research the chemistry behind the reaction and present their findings. The materials needed should be listed neatly in a chart or table, including whole milk, food coloring, dish soap, and optional additions like vinegar or baking soda. A recording sheet or worksheet is essential to track results, and a video can capture the process, documenting the experiment for review. This project can be presented at the science fair, showcasing the understanding of the reaction between milk’s minerals and the soap.

Experiment Variations and Tests

Experimentation can continue by varying the materials needed , such as using different types of milk to observe the effect of different vitamins and minerals on the reaction. For example, testing skim milk versus whole milk can reveal the role of fat in the experiment. Adding substances like vinegar and baking soda introduces an acid-base reaction, which can offer even more insights into the underlying chemistry . Encourage kids to predict the outcomes, use a recording sheet to document the changes, and if possible, have a parent assist in creating a more structured experiment. These variations help children understand scientific testing and encourage curiosity about how everyday household items can create striking chemical reactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

This section covers some of the most common inquiries regarding the execution and understanding of the magic milk experiment, providing insightful answers that enhance comprehension of the experiment’s principles and variables.

How does the type of milk affect the outcome of the magic milk experiment?

The type of milk used in the magic milk experiment influences the reaction because the fat content affects the spreading of food coloring. Whole milk, with its higher fat content, tends to produce more vibrant and pronounced reactions compared to low-fat or skim milk.

What is the role of dish soap in the magic milk science experiment?

Dish soap is crucial in the magic milk science experiment as it reduces the surface tension of milk, allowing the food coloring to spread rapidly. The soap reacts with the milk’s fat molecules, creating the burst of color movement observed during the experiment.

Can the magic milk experiment be performed with non-dairy milks, and if so, how do the results compare?

Performing the experiment with non-dairy milks is possible, and while the reactions can still occur due to the presence of surfactants in the soap, the results may vary because these milk alternatives generally have different fat compositions, which affects the reaction dynamics and visual effects.

What is the chemical reaction that occurs during the magic milk science experiment?

During the magic milk experiment , the dish soap disrupts the milk’s fat molecules and reduces surface tension, causing movement in the food coloring. Although commonly referred to as a chemical reaction, it is actually a physical reaction involving the rearrangement of molecules.

How do different food colorings affect the results of the magic milk experiment?

Different food colorings can be used to vividly assess the reaction dynamics in the magic milk experiment. The variety in colors does not impact the underlying reaction but enables a more visually engaging way to observe the effects of surface tension changes on the liquid’s movement patterns.

What observations can lead to a scientific hypothesis in the context of the magic milk experiment?

Observers can hypothesize about the relationship between milk’s fat content and reaction vividness, or how the concentration and type of dish soap influence the speed and extent of color movement. These hypotheses can be tested by altering variables and noting changes in the experiment’s results .

Looking For Toddler Activities Locally?

Rainbow Magic Milk Science Experiment

Science or magic? This rainbow dancing Magic Milk Science Experiment is a fun way to explore the chemistry of surface tension.

This is one very cool experiment. To kids, it can appear more than a little magical but the effect is all science – no magic here. It’s a chemical reaction with surface tension in action! Check the explanation below the experiment procedure for more information about how and why the magic milk experiment works.

You will need:

• 1 Tablespoon dish soap/dishwashing liquid in a small container
• 1 1/2 cups of whole/full fat milk
• 10 drops of each of your chosen colours of liquid food colouring
• Dinner plate
• Cotton swab

1. Pour about one tablespoon of dish soap into a small container. Set aside.

2. Carefully pour milk onto a dinner plate. It’s okay if you see bubbles in the milk. Let the milk sit for a minute so that it stops moving in the dish, becoming completely still.

3. Drop food colouring into the milk in the middle of the dish. Keep the colours separate. The food colouring may spread out slightly as you can see pictured in our photos. You can get creative with where you place the drops and space them out how you wish.

We used neon food colouring for this activity, which looks really cool but you can stick with a classic colour palette or experiment with using just warm colours or cool colours.

4. Dip a cotton swab into the dish soap.

5. Place the dipped cotton swab in the middle of a colour and observe the magical reaction! You should see the colours start to spread out towards the sides of the plate. They will continue to move and change over time.

You can repeat this step a few times, placing the cotton swab in different areas of the milk/colouring mix.

Tip: Kids can also take their dipped cotton swab and “draw” or “swirl” in the food colouring. Eventually the colours will mix together until the milk becomes one color.

If you allow the milk to sit a while before all colours are mixed completely together, you will see the milk continue to move and change in really neat ways, as you can see in the photos.

Watch over time how different things look!

6. When complete, dispose of milk in the sink.

The Science Behind the Magic Milk Experiment:

Milk as a liquid is composed primarily of water, with much smaller percentages of carbohydrate, fat, protein and vitamins/minerals. Milk composition does vary according to the species and breed of animal, the animal’s feed and the stage of lactation of the cow.

Because of its web of hydrogen bonds, water molecules are highly attracted to each other, resulting in a high surface tension.

When the dish soap is added to the milk the soap acts as a surfactant , reducing the surface tension of the milk so that the food colouring can spread out.

Surfactant (definition): substance such as a detergent that, when added to a liquid, reduces its surface tension, thereby increasing its spreading and wetting properties. (source: britannica.com)

At the same time, the phosphates in the dish soap are reacting with the fat and protein content of the milk – the soap is trying to grab the globules of fat out of the milk to break them down, just like dish soap breaks down the grease when washing up. This interaction causes the fat particles to move around, creating the resulting swirls of moving colour.

For more STEM fun involving magic and colour, be sure to check out our cool eResource – Rainbows & Kaleidoscopes: 25 STEAM Activities Exploring Colour (and Color!) .

For fun, watch the magic milk experiment in action on a HUGE scale;

Christie Burnett is a teacher, author and mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to find engaging, high quality learning ideas.

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If you add food coloring to milk, not a whole lot happens, but it only takes one simple ingredient to turn the milk into a swirling color wheel. Here is what you do.

Magic Milk Materials

• 2% or whole milk
• food coloring
• dishwashing liquid
• cotton swab

Magic Milk Instructions

• Pour enough milk onto a plate to cover the bottom.
• Drop food coloring into the milk.
• Dip a cotton swab in dishwashing detergent liquid.
• Touch the coated swab to the milk in the center of the plate.
• Don't stir the milk; it isn't necessary. The colors will swirl on their own as soon as the detergent contacts the liquid.

How the Color Wheel Works

Milk consists of a lot of different types of molecules, including fat, protein, sugars, vitamins, and minerals. If you had just touched a clean cotton swab to the milk (try it!), not much would have happened. The cotton is absorbent, so you would have created a current in the milk, but you wouldn't have seen anything especially dramatic happen.

When you introduce detergent to the milk, several things happen at once. The detergent lowers the surface tension of the liquid so that the food coloring is free to flow throughout the milk. The detergent reacts with the protein in the milk, altering the shape of those molecules and setting them in motion. The reaction between the detergent and the fat forms micelles, which is how detergent helps to lift grease off of dirty dishes. As the micelles form, the pigments in the food coloring get pushed around. Eventually, equilibrium is reached, but the swirling of the colors continues for quite a while before stopping.

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A Dab of Glue Will Do

Little Learners, Big Ideas

PS PK K 1 2

Magic Milk Science Experiment

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This magic milk science experiment is a classic for kids of all ages. Using common, nontoxic kitchen supplies, the kids will create vibrant art while learning about the science behind the swirling colors that truly makes this experiment magical.

Get Ready for the Magic Milk Science Experiment:

This science experiment only requires a few common kitchen supplies:

• Milk (we used whole milk)
• Casserole dish, baking pan, or plate
• Food coloring
• Liquid dish soap (make sure it is NOT antibacterial)
• Magic Milk Printable

Print out a couple of copies of the free printable worksheet available below so the kids could keep track of their results.

Once we gathered our supplies, we sat at the kitchen table to do our science experiment. Pour a thin layer of milk into the dish and then the kids chose a few colors they wanted to use.

The kids then squeezed a couple of drops of food coloring into the milk in their dish .

Then, carefully, they dripped one drop of dish soap right into the middle of the colored milk .

Oh my, were there squeals of delight and surprise as they watched the colors scatter like fireworks!

The milk continued to move and mix and scatter the colors as if by magic. It continued for several seconds before coming to rest.

The kids tried to drip more dish soap into the milk, but guess what? Nothing happened the second time around. Why not?

The Science Behind Magic Milk

There are a couple of things going on that explain what is happening behind the magic of magic milk.

First, all liquids have this effect called surface tension . It basically means that the molecules on the surface of the liquid bead together in a little dome because of their molecular bonds. If you have ever filled a cup of water past the rim of the glass you may have noticed how the water forms a dome on top and somehow stays suspended a little above the rim. This is because of surface tension.

In this magic milk experiment the milk and food coloring form a little dome .

However, when dish soap is poured over the surface, the surface tension is broken because the dish soap breaks those bonds . This causes the colored milk to spread out like a flood over the surface of the milk.

The second effect at work here has to do with the interaction between the fat molecules in the milk and the soap molecules .

Soap is made up of two sides:

• one side loves water (it is hydrophilic)
• the other side loves fat and oil (it is hydrophobic).

Soap works by grabbing oils by its hydrophobic side and bonding with water by its hydrophilic side. When the soap is washed away with water, it takes the oils and fats along with it.

When dish soap is dropped into milk, there is a swirl of activity of soap molecules finding and bonding with fat molecules in the milk. With millions of molecules swirling around looking for mates, the colors in the milk get all mixed up! It looks like the milk is erupting for several seconds.

You may notice if you try this magic milk experiment once with whole milk and once with skim that the whole milk swirls for much longer because of the higher fat content in the milk .

If the kids want to repeat this artistic science experiment (they will) be sure to wash the dish out well with warm water and then pour in fresh milk to do it again. Once the milk is contaminated with soap it loses its “magic”.

More Science Activities and Ideas

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BEARDED SCIENCE GUY

How to make magic milk.

YouTube Video

Watch How to Make Magic Milk

Magic milk experiment supply list.

Styrofoam plate(s)

Dish soap (we used Palmolive and Mrs. Meyer’s soap )

Food coloring

Don't forget your safety gear!

Safety goggles

Follow the Bearded Science Guy:

Babble Dabble Do

See Exploding Colors in the Magic Milk Experiment

February 25, 2022 by Ana Dziengel 24 Comments

See exploding bursts of color in the amazing magic milk experiment! We’ll show you some two ways to do the experiment and an extension idea for the project as well.

When you add a little bit of dish soap to milk and food coloring, the colors swirl around to form what I would deem very artistic and abstract paintings! For the science behind it scroll to the end of this post.

The magic milk science experiment is a simple science experiment you can do with everyday materials. I love showing kids how to do chemistry experiments using simple household supplies. In fact I would argue that some of the best at-home science experiments use kitchen ingredient s !

We did this project in our after school classes and when our students asked to “take it home” I told them they could easily recreate it in their own kitchen.

Video Overview

Detailed instructions for the magic milk experiment:, how to do the magic milk experiment, magic milk experiment materials.

• Almond Milk or Cow’s Milk
• Q-tips (Cotton Swab)
• Cotton Balls
• Food coloring
• Shallow plate or wide bowls

Magic Milk Instructions: Method #1

• Fill a plate or bowl with milk.
• Drop in at least 2 drops of each of four colors of food coloring. The more variety of colors the cooler the painting.
• Generously dip the end of a q-tip in dish soap.
• Now dip the q-tip (cotton swab) into the milk next to a drop of color.
• The first thing that will happen is the color will burst as soon as the dish soap hits it. It’s a great effect but very short lived. Once there is a little dishsoap in the milk it no longer “bursts”.
• Gently swirl the q-tip through the different colors and you’ll see little rivers of color start to form.
• Continue until the colors begin to mix and become brown. Empty your plate/bowl and repeat.

Magic Milk Experiment Instructions: Method # 2

Time needed:  10 minutes.

This version of the magic milk experiment lasts a long time, provided kids can restrain themselves from moving the cotton ball!

Pour a thin layer of milk in a plate or bowl.

Add a few drops each of food coloring on the center of the plate.

Soak a cotton ball in dish soap.

Carefully place the cotton ball in the center. The colors will explode out of the center!

Let the reaction continue until the colors begin to mix and become brown.

Tips & More

• You don’t need that much milk! I vastly overestimated how much we would need. For a class of 25 kids we used 1 1/2 gallons of milk.
• This is a great use of expired milk products. Put that small amount of whipping cream at the back of your refrigerator to use.
• Kids love the magic aspect of this project. We called the cotton swabs “magic wands.”
• Too much swishing and swirling and you’ll end up with brown muck fast. Of course kids don’t seem to care!

A word about food insecurity

We try to be respectful of the challenges children and families face including food insecurity. As an educator, I try to avoid using food in projects when possible. I make exceptions for projects that may have a lot to teach kids and where I feel we won’t be wasteful. That said, please think carefully about the population of students and families you serve before doing this project. Consider whether they would find this wasteful or offensive before proceeding. Also consider vegan families who may not want their children working with animal products; see some of the alternatives we suggest below.

Magic Milk Variations

• Try Different Milk Types  We have used almond and cow’s milk for this experiment and both worked well. The higher the fat content of the milk the more pronounced the “explosions” should be. A fun experiment would be to compare the results with different types of milk: almond, cow, rice, coconut. You can also experiment with cream, whole milk, and skim milk to see if there is a difference.
• Premix the soap and milk For a variation we premixed the milk and dish soap. You won’t have the color burst effect but it does seem to keep the colors separate a little longer.

The Science Behind the Magic Milk Experiment:

The dish soap molecules are attracted to the fat molecules in the milk. As soon as you introduce the soap to the milk/coloring mixture the molecules race around trying to bond. The food coloring gets pushed around in the process and appears to burst. Eventually the molecules all bond and the reaction stops.

This is a good example of how detergents work, their molecules have two ends: one end is attracted to oils and the other to water. One end of detergent molecules attracts oils and dirt from clothes, dishes etc., and as they stick together they break the oil and dirt down into smaller, easy to remove pieces.

How to Do the Magic Milk Experiment in the Classroom

If you would like to the magic milk experiment with a class full of kids here are step-by step instructions.

Per student Materials:

• (1) Small Plate or other shallow dish (make sure these are waterproof)
• (1) Large Plate or other shallow dish
• Tray to put underneath

NOTE: You may also use a divided plate as pictured above.

T eacher’s Materials:

• Milk 1.5 gallons per class of 25 students
• Tubs to collect dishes in afterwards

Sh ared Materials:

• Small bowl of dish soap
• Q-tips (Cotton swabs)
• Small bottles of liquid food coloring

Experiment #1 Procedure:

• Pass out per student materials. Ask students to place the small plate in the center of the table. It will be used for the second experiment. Ask students to place the large plate in the center of their tray.
• Explain the experiment first. Tell students they will be making colorful explosions using milk and food coloring and a “magic ingredient.” Tell students to use only a few drops of food coloring once it is available. Demonstrate how to carefully squeeze drops out of the food coloring bottles.
• Teacher(s) pour a thin layer of milk in each plate.
• Pass out the shared materials to each group of students.
• Ask students to carefully drop several drops of food coloring in the milk around their plate. Remind them not to disturb the color.
• When everyone has added color tell students to grab a “magic wand” AKA a Q-tip. Ask them to dip the wand into the magic ingredient (soap) but hold it to the side of the plate until everyone is ready. You can ask them if they know what the magic ingredient is.
• Do a countdown and on the count of 3 student should dip their q-tip into one of the drops of color. Instruct students to continue dipping the q-tip into the other drops. Listen for the oohs and aahs!
• When done the teacher should place the plates and milk in tubs to clean.

Experiment #2 Procedure:

• Ask students to place the small plate in the center of their tray.
• Teacher(s) pour a thin layer of milk in each small plate.
• Ask students to carefully drop a good squeeze of three colors of food coloring near the center of their plate. Remind them not to disturb the color.
• When everyone has added color tell students to dip a cotton ball in the soap.
• Instruct students to place the cotton ball in the center of the plate and not move it. See video below. This is an exercise in restraint!
• Watch as the color explodes out of the center of the plate/cotton ball.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ana from Babble Dabble Do (@babbledabbledo)

Turn the magic milk experiment into colorful paper!

Did you know you can expand on this experiment by making Marbled Milk Paper ?

Go HERE   for instructions: 

More Favorite Science Projects to Try:

Michelle - Little Paper Dog says

January 29, 2013 at 7:17 pm

So cool! I can’t wait to try this out with my little guy. 🙂

Ana Dziengel says

January 30, 2013 at 2:28 pm

Thanks Michelle! So simple and fun! BTW your blog is lovely! I particularly love that you have fast and easy projects; I’m trying to do something similar on my blog: quick, easy, simple projects using stuff you already have on hand.

Amanda Preiser says

April 18, 2013 at 5:06 am

This is awesome my daughter and I are going to do this today!

April 18, 2013 at 5:33 am

Thanks for stopping in Amanda! It’s a super fun and simple project. Enjoy!

August 21, 2014 at 11:08 am

Thanks! I’m an art teacher. There’s so many meet ideas I got from your blog. Thanks!

September 4, 2014 at 3:49 am

Linda, I’m thrilled to hear it! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

Denise says

August 23, 2014 at 1:45 pm

what type of paper did you use for the milk painting project?

September 4, 2014 at 3:51 am

Hi Denise, I used watercolor paper 🙂

Virginia says

January 3, 2015 at 12:34 pm

Did I miss something? I didn’t see directions for a little paper dog. I love this site. GREAT ideas Sorry if ? is dum! I can hardly wait to make the crystals. You know, Epsom salts have done ‘miracles’ ever since I knew of them! They were up front and most important in the “medicine cabinet” of my parents who had fifteen children, therefore many opportunities to use the salts for ‘injuries, localized infections and sore spots.’ Now I see they can add enormously to the decorations in my life as well as do almost magical “healing” Wish my Dad could see those! “What a Wonderful World!” Thank-you!

January 5, 2015 at 5:30 am

Thanks Virginia!

Rachel Holland says

February 7, 2015 at 9:57 am

I have tried this experiment out with my children today. I was really excited about it after seeing the lovely photo’s etc, however it was a bit of a flop. Tried it with Almond milk as suggested and semi skimmed cows milk, but when we put in the washing up liquid not much really happened. We changed the washing up liquid and got much better colour spread. However when it did the colours almost pretty much disappeared and trying to get paintings from them was so wishy washy. Are food colourings in the US very different to those in the UK, or do I just need to buy better colourings? I assumed that the liquid colourings from my local supermarket would be fine. I have also tried with gel colouring (which is the only thing that most stores stock) but this wasn’t particularly good either. I really want to make some lovely backings for Mother’s day cards etc but I am drawing a blank! Any help you could give would be great.

February 19, 2015 at 4:14 am

Hi Rachel, I’m sorry to hear this! Gel food coloring will not work. Regular food coloring should work fine. You will need to make the prints right away, if you wait until the colors are mixed you will get muddy results. And make sure you are using watercolor paper. I tried the project using cardstock and regular paper and they just didn’t absorb the color well. I hope this helps and please keep me posted!

J lewis says

February 19, 2017 at 10:09 am

Hello there, We used paste food colouring from cake shop, used to colour roll out icing, much better than the supermarket colours, which are useless for most things now as they have changed the formulas. Mix the colour paste with a little water to make a strong coloured liquid, we use this for colouring pasta too and play dough.

February 22, 2017 at 5:19 am

Thanks for the tip!

August 19, 2015 at 9:18 am

Was looking for the science explanation (chemical reactions) to share with the students while doing this? I like teaching the science of a science based experiment.

Neera Talukder says

October 25, 2015 at 6:56 am

can the whole milk be used as a substitute for almond milk ?

November 9, 2015 at 9:12 am

Absolutely!

Peggy Ashbrook says

November 30, 2015 at 4:27 am

I love it when you add the science concepts involved, both at an adult level to refresh our memories or learn new, and at a level appropriate for young children. Exploring the properties of art materials engages children in art and science!

August 16, 2016 at 5:13 am

Thanks so much Peggy!

Lisa Lewis says

January 21, 2016 at 8:07 am

I have tried the milk art 3 times with my grandchildren. We were very excited to watch the action of the colors in the milk but no much happened. I used whole milk, food colors, and Dawn dish soap. But once I put the drops of soap in the colors spread a little and then nothing else happened, I have read the posts and people talk about all the movement of the colors but we didn’t get that result. Am I doing something wrong?

August 16, 2016 at 4:51 am

Once the soap and fat molecules combine the reaction does stop. We like to swirl the milk using Q-tips after and watch the colors swirl.

Milton Garcia says

August 7, 2016 at 7:01 am

Messy. But I think my kids would love this activity.

August 15, 2016 at 8:06 am

They will love it!

Morgan says

August 23, 2016 at 12:22 pm

This looks like so much, and I love how it turns out. This would be a great project to take on with my four-year-old! Thanks so much for the idea!

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The Connecticut Science Center is currently CLOSED to the public due to public health concerns about COVID-19. For more information about COVID-19 and FAQs, please follow this link. Learn More

• Hartford, Connecticut
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Science At Play: Magic Milk

• Caroline Bogue
• August 19, 2020

Have you ever wanted to do a science experiment using colorful dye and sparkles? This milk experiment allows you to do just that! Prepare to be amazed as a chemical reaction occurs right in front of you in seconds and then learn more about the science behind it. 

MATERIAL LIST:

• Whole Milk 
• Food coloring
• Glitter (optional)
• Shiny confetti (optional)
• Cotton swabs 

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Pour your milk into a medium bowl or dish – you want to make sure there is about one inch of liquid. 
• Slowly add in food coloring. We encourage you to get creative and mix in multiple colors! If you have any, now is a good time to pour in your glitter or confetti.
• Next, pour some dish soap into the milk.
• Cover part of the cotton swab with dish soap and dab it against the surface of the milk.
• Look out for a chemical reaction!

WHAT IS THE SCIENCE:

Milk is made up of fats, water, and minerals. It is a liquid, which has surface tension, so its molecules produce positive and negative charges that keep the liquid in a steady state. Those same charges repel and attract other molecules, like the dish soap we added. 

Dish soap is a special kind of substance called a surfactant, which is able to affect a liquid’s surface tension with both hydrophilic (“water-loving”) and hydrophobic (“water-hating”) parts. The hydrophilic parts attached to the water molecules in the milk, and the hydrophobic parts attached to the fats, causing the milk to start to separate. We normally wouldn’t be able to see this reaction taking place, but the food coloring and glitter help us do that!   

Watch this video if you are interested in learning a little more about the science behind this  Magic Milk Experiment !

CHEMISTRY CAREERS:

https://www.mendeley.com/careers/article/top-10-chemistry-jobs/

There are a broad range of possible chemistry careers, ranging from teachers to chemists. Teachers can work in middle schools, high schools, community colleges, and universities. At a research university, professors are able to collaborate with students to conduct research that helps find life-saving treatments, make discoveries about the environment and the world around us, build useful chemical compounds that help with manufacturing, and more. A forensic chemist works at crime scenes and searches for and examines remains in a lab–they might be looking at toxicology or reactions that took place in the human body to help law enforcement officials solve crimes. 

To learn more, the American Chemical Society has a comprehensive list of options. We encourage you to check it out! 

CHALLENGES:

• Try using 2% milk – what do you notice about the reaction. Why do you think this happens?
• Then try using fat free milk. Compare the chemical reaction against the reactions you noticed for the whole and 2% milks.

ASK YOUR YOUNG STUDENTS:

• Why don’t you think we’re normally able to see this reaction?

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/surfactant-science-make-a-milk-rainbow/

This week is Family STEM Week at the Connecticut Science Center. Check out CTScienceCenter.org to learn all the ways you can interact with us both online and in person. 

Caroline Bogue is a senior at Bates College. She is studying psychology with an Archaeology and Material Culture concentration. This summer, she is working as a Public Programs Intern at the Connecticut Science Center to assist with virtual programming and remote learning activities. She is passionate about animal care and wildlife. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and being outdoors, and she has experience playing soccer and basketball at the collegiate level.

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Magic Milk Science Experiment for Kids

Categories Science , STEM

This Magic Milk Experiment is a fantastic science investigation that is always lots of fun. With just a few simple ingredients you can learn all about soap and how it affects different kinds of milk.

You can do this experiment with young children, like preschoolers, to get them excited about learning. Or older kids can make their own magic milk science fair project.

Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times.

Table of Contents

• More STEM activities to try
• Materials needed
• Watch the video

Instructions

• What is the science you’re learning
• Why is this important
• Turning it into an experiment
• Free printable recording sheet

More STEM Activities to try

Kids of all ages love a classic science activity. If you want another fun way to teach your kids STEM, then check out these other fun activities.

• Make a Book – STEM Invitation to Play
• How to Make A Pom Pom Shooter
• Floating City – STEM activity for Kids
• What Melts In The Sun Science Experiment
• Pine Cone Science Experiment

For more ideas, take a look at these 42 STEM Activities for Kids .

Materials Needed

• 1 Cup of whole milk
• Food coloring
• Cotton bud (optional)

Watch the Video

​How to do the Magic Milk Experiment

1. pour a glass of milk onto a plate..

You’ll need a wide, shallow dish for this simple science experiment. A plate, which allows for a thin layer of milk is perfect for watching the color explosion that is about to happen.

2. Add drops of food coloring.

I added a variety of colors to my milk. Just placing drops all throughout the surface of the milk. 

You can add your drops wherever you like. If you are doing this with a curious preschooler who will want to try it more than once, you can even experiment to see what happens when you only place dots near the center of the plate versus what happens when you only place them around the edge.

I definitely added too much food coloring to my milk, feel free to just add a few drops because the experiment will still work.

​3. Place a drop of dish soap in the middle

Place a little dish soap (you’ll only need a drop) in the middle of the plate. 

I just poured mine straight out of the bottle. However, it may be easier for young kids to scoop up a few drops of soap using a cotton swab and then placing the swab in the middle of the milk.

4. Watch the reaction.

The colors in the milk will instantly move to the outer edges of the plate. But if you keep watching then you’ll see the constant movement of colour as the colors swirl around all by themselves. This is best to see in the video , which shows a sped up version of 10 minutes of the reaction happening.

The Science Behind the Magic

What is actually happening to make this milk magic?

Milk consists of a variety of different molecules including proteins, nutrients, fats and water. In this experiment we are going to be focusing on the fat molecules (which are non-polar) and water molecules (which are polar). 

These two molecules do not mix. When they are in milk, they are floating around separately.

Soap is both polar and nonpolar, which means it will be attracted to and bond with both fat and water. The hydrophobic part will bond with fat and the hydrophilic part will bond with the water. This means that soap acts like a bridge or a magnet between these two different types of molecules.

Since soap is like a magnet for both fat and water, this means that when you add soap into milk these different types of molecules are going to be attracted to the soap. This movement of molecules is what you see in the experiment. Initially the movement you observe is of the separate fat and water molecules being attracted to the soap molecules, and then the whole soap/fat/water molecule as a whole goes flying around the plate.

Without food coloring, we wouldn’t be able to see this movement. By adding in some color, we can see how the molecules in the milk move around, causing tiny little currents for the food coloring to follow.

When all of the fat has been bonded by the soap then the reaction will stop and your experiment is complete. This is why milk with higher fat content will react for longer than skim milk, because it has more fat available to be reacted with.

Why is this important?

Knowing how soap works explains why it’s important to wash our hands to prevent the spread of diseases.

Bacteria are organisms, some of which (not all) can cause diseases.

The cell membrane of the bacteria (which is kind of like the skin of the cell) is made up of fats (otherwise known as a phospholipid bilayer). When we rub soap over our hands it bonds to the fat in the bacterias cell membrane (just like it bonded to the fat in the milk experiment).

Then when we place our hands under running water, the other part of the soap bonds with the flowing water. Since the water is flowing, it takes the bacteria it has already bonded to with it down the drain.

Turning it into an Experiment

The easiest way to turn this chemical reaction into an actual experiment is to try milks with different ratios of fat. You can try the same experiment with different types of milk (or water) and then time how long it takes for the reaction to slow down or stop.

Different types of liquids to try include:

• Water (0% fat)
• Skim or low fat milk (0.5 – 1% fat)
• Whole / high fat milk (3.25% fat)
• Whipping cream (30% fat)

This is a wonderful way to teach children about the scientific method. You can explain the basic principles of this easy science experiment and then get them to write down a hypothesis before timing how long the food colouring spreads.

You can also download and print the following recording sheet to use at home or in your classroom. Just click the large blue button below to get your copy.

Are you going to try the Magic Milk Experiment with your kids? Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.

Magic milk is a fun science activity for kids.

Use it to show children how soap works and why washing your hands is important.

Or just use it as a fun activity to get kids excited about learning. No matter which way you go, your kids will love it.

• Pour a glass of milk into a small plate
• Add drops of food coloring to the milk
• Place a drop of dish soap in the middle of the plate (you can also use a q-tip dipped in soap to do this step).
• Watch the reaction. The colors will now spread and mix all by themselves.

The higher the fat content the milk has, the longer the reaction will take to stop.

If you want to turn this into a proper experiment, where kids have to make thier own hypothesis and record their results, try milks with different fat contents as see what happens.

More Play Based Learning for Kids

STEM Experiments for Toddlers

Water STEM Activities for kids

Walking Water STEM Activity for Kids

Water Cycle Science Experiment

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• For Teachers

• Everyday Activities
• Experiments

What makes food coloring dance in milk?

• A Little Messy

When food coloring and soap are added to whole milk, strange things happen.

Will the same thing happen with kinds of milk that have different fat contents?

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zCzIKej2rXc

You Will Need

Different varieties of cow’s milk - Whole Milk, 2% Milk, 1% Milk, Skim Milk, Half and Half, heavy whipping cream

Pie plate, Baking Dish, paper plate or other containers with a flat bottom and raised sides

Toothpicks or Cotton Swabs

Food Coloring

Materials & Directions PDF

Do not drink the milk once it is used for this activity! Soapy milk is not delicious or good for you.

It is helpful to have multiple plates with milk ready to go. For example, start with a 2% milk plate and have a whole milk plate prepared and nearby to do next.

When you first do the experiment, try to keep the toothpick or cotton swab as still as possible to see the full effects. You can move it around later and see what changes!

• Pour some milk into the bottom of your container. You do not need a lot of milk, just enough to cover the bottom, plus a little extra.
• Drop different food coloring colors into the milk, as much or as little as you want.

• Pour dish soap into your small bowl. Dip your toothpick or cotton swab into the dish soap to coat it. Bring it over to the milk dish, and put the tip into the milk. Try to hold the toothpick or cotton swab still. You can move it later. Observe and discuss what happens.
• Try the experiment again using different types of milk. Observe and discuss what happens!

Experiment Extensions

• Once you try the experiment with whole milk, try it with another kind of milk or other liquids. Observe and talk about what happens! Heavy cream has the highest fat content, but because it is so thick the reaction is slow!
• You needed to keep the toothpick or cotton swab very still for the initial part of the experiment. Now try moving it around and see what happens!

Discovery Questions

Beginning the experiment, during the experiment, after the experiment, how it works.

You are observing chemistry in action! There is a reaction happening between the soap and the milk fat. Milk is made up of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats. Soap is really good at breaking down fats - think about how it helps get cooking grease off of dishes!

When soap is introduced to milk, the soap molecules chase down the fat molecules and surround them, forming little balls called micelles.

This movement breaks the surface tension of the milk and causes movement, which mixes the colors.

The higher the fat content of the milk, the more fat molecules the soap have to find. You should see more movement in higher fat versions of milk.