water colour change experiment

Magic Color Changing Water

Introduction: Magic Color Changing Water

It's Magic!

Water changing from CLEAR to BRIGHT PINK and back to CLEAR!

Well, not really magic, but chemistry; and still amazing!

This is a very visual demonstration using an indicator to identify the pH of a solution; as an acid or a base.

First the water is made to have a basic pH by adding Sodium Carbonate (Na2 CO3). Not to be confused with Sodium Bicarbonate which is Baking Soda.

Then by adding the indicating solution, Phenolphthalein Solution (C20 H14 O4), it turns the water a striking pink color indicating that the solution has a basic pH.

Finally the water is transformed back to clear by adding vinegar (Dilute Acetic Acid CH3 CO OH) to bring the solution back to a neutral pH, and the pink indicator disappears.

The color change takes place almost instantaneously - which is amazing to watch!

It's a very fun demo to perform.

This presentation has multiple uses - As a magic trick, as a purely scientific demonstration, as an object lesson, as a metaphor for damage and restoration or sin and repentance, and many others. Or just for plain fun!!!!

You can see more info on phenolphthalein on Wikipedia .

WARNING: Do NOT drink the water. Keep out of the reach of children. Follow all warnings and cautions on chemicals.

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Step 1: Materials

To perform this demonstration you will need:

Water (H2O, aka Dihydrogen Monoxide ;-)

Phenolphthalein Solution (C20 H14 O4)*

Sodium Carbonate (Na2 CO3)*

. [Sodium Carbonate. Not to be confused with Sodium Bicarbonate which is Baking Soda.]

Dilute Acetic Acid (CH3 CO OH) (White Vinegar)

Tall Large Glass Container (Cylindrical flower vase)

Bottles (2 liter, small squat 237 ml (8 fl oz), small vial ~2ml (0.07 fl oz)

*Easily purchased online.

Also, some chemistry sets do have all the chemicals needed. Years ago I purchased a 'toy' chemistry set that had 400 'experiments' that included color changing experiments and had what was noted here.

WARNING: Do NOT drink the water used in this demonstration. Keep out of the reach of children. Follow all warnings and cautions on chemicals.

Phenolphthalein Solution (C20 H14 O4) CAUTION Contains 50% Ethyl Alcohol. DO NOT INGEST. EYE IRRITANT. For eyes, wash with water. In case of accident seek professional medical attention.

Sodium Carbonate (Na2 CO3) CAUTION IRRITANT. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. Avoid contact with eyes and prolonged contact with skin. In case of eye contact flush freely with water. If swallowed, give water, see professional medical attention.

Step 2: Prepare Liquids

Add Sodium Carbonate (Na2 CO3) to the water ahead of time. About 1g (0.03 oz) to 1 liter of water (~1 quart). This gives the water a basic pH to start.

I found a 2 liter bottle half full convenient.

Place about 2 ml (<1/2 tsp) Phenolphthalein Solution (C20 H14 O4), the pH indicator, in a small vial.

Fill the small water bottle with 230 ml (~8 fl oz.) of white vinegar, which will be used to take the water back to neutral, and clear, from the basic pH.

Step 3: Make the Magic Happen

Make the Magic happen by going through the steps noted below. Be sure to embellish each step as appropriate for your application.... I'm sure there is a lot of dialog that would go along with each step if this was being used as a magic trick!

1. Fill the glass about 3/4 full with water (basic pH, from Sodium Carbonate added previously).

2. Pour the Phenolphthalein Solution from the vial into the Glass Container. The water will turn shocking pink as the Phenolphthalein Solution enters. It will look like you are pouring pink liquid into the water.

3. Stir the water to evenly distribute the pink color (indicator).

4. Admire the brilliant pink!

5. Pour the small bottle full of white vinegar into the glass (brings pH back to neutral). The water will start turning clear immediately.

6. Stir if needed.

7. Admire the Magic of a clear glass of water!

Talk up your demonstration!

Enjoy the Magic of Chemistry!

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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

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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!

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Forgetful Momma

Secular Homeschooling

Color Changing Water Science Experiment

Who knew a head of red cabbage could be so much fun? We actually did this color-changing water experiment the same day we did the pH indicator testing. One cabbage, two experiments. We love science experiments here and I hope you do too.

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

This is a very easy science experiment and super budget-friendly science. Everything you need is for this, is in your kitchen. I like experiments to be easy and accessible for everyone.

Red Cabbage Science Experiment

With this experiment, I had no idea what to expect along with my kids. I think those are the best experiments., the ones we get to experience the magic together. It was the same when we did the cabbage pH indicator.

What You Need:

• head or red cabbage
• boiling water
• baking soda

How to Make Water Change Color

The first thing to do is boil water, and pour that boiling water over ahead (or half ahead) of red cabbage cut up. The more cabbage, the more water you use, the more water you’ll have to do this experiment with.

Let it sit for about 30 minutes.

Now strain the water off your cabbage and into either clear small jars or into glasses. Your red cabbage water is going to look quite purple.

• Pour a little white vinegar into your cabbage water.

Science Experiment E-Book

• Add a little baking soda .

This color changing water science experiment doesn’t stop at one or two colors but you can add more baking soda to see more change.

You do want to make sure that you let each reaction finish before adding more baking soda or vinegar to each glass of red cabbage water. We did end up with a really big mess… think volcano .

Color Changing Water (Red Cabbage)

• clear glasses/jars

Instructions

• The first thing to do it boil water, and pour that boiling water over a head (or half a head) of red cabbage cut up. Let it sit for about 30 minutes.
• Now strain the water off your cabbage and into either clear small jars or into glasses.
• This color changing science experiment doesn't stop at one or two colors but you can add more baking soda to see more change.

You do want to make sure that you let each reaction finish before adding more baking soda or vinegar to each glass of red cabbage water. We did end up with a really big mess... think volcano .

Easy Red Cabbage pH Indicator

Self Inflating Balloon Experiment

Heart Pumping Human Body Science Experiment

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Walking Water Experiment - Color Changing Experiment For Kids

By Damjana Jakos • Last updated on Aug 6, 2022 • This post may contain affiliate links.

Walking water experiment is one of the best color changing experiments for kids - fun, easy to do, and you've already got all the supplies. Check out this easy diy version - your kids will love it!

This post includes affiliate links. Thanks for your support. If you are looking for fun kids activities, check out these too:

• No-Mess Finger Painting Activity - Fun!
• How to Make Easy Diy Paintbrushes - Quick!
• Making Bubble Snakes – Outdoors Play!
• Diy Paper Bookmarks - Made By Kids!

Walking Water Experiment

This is an interesting way to teach your child about colors and the 'walking water' effect. Mix two colors and watch them change!

Two colors will slowly come together, mix and your kid will be able to observe how a new color emerges from two basic ones. An exciting learning experience!

Materials For the Walking Water Experiment

• three empty glass jars
• two pieces of paper towel
• coloring of your choice

Steps For the Walking water Experiment For Kids:

1) Choose which two colors you'll mix.  Fill two jars with water and add the colors, one in each. (If you'd like transparent colors, use food coloring, we used simple water-soluble colors for kids from Ikea.) You will leave the third glass of the same size empty - for the third color to form in the process.

2) Take a paper towel and fold it twice to get a wide 'ribbon'. Put one end of the paper ribbon into the colored water (let it dive). The other end should be placed into the empty jar.

3) OBSERVE! The paper towel absorbs the colored water and the water slowly crawls up the paper towels into the third jar. The empty jar slowly fills with water. Because the water is colored, it's easier to see the transition of liquid from the full glass of water into the empty one.

4) With older kids, you might want to talk about the physics of capillarity - in our case the movement of water along with the fiber of paper, where the forces cause the liquid to go against gravity. (You'll surely find a better explanation on wikipedia .) The same process can be seen in plants where moisture travels from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Color Changing Experiment: Takeaway

And as to our water walking science experiment, it was pure fun! Messing with colors was equally interesting to the kid as it was to me. (OK OK I admit it might have even been a tiny bitsy more fun to the mom than to the child... but let's leave it at that 😉

Our toddler was excited and wanted to repeat the experiment, to see if the water will surely turn green again... So we did it again in the evening. 🙂

Try it out and enjoy!

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Reader Interactions

The Frugal Momma

January 25, 2015 at 4:08 am

Stopping by from Tater Tots and Jello Linky Party. This looks awesome! I think I'll do this as part of our homeschool science next week!

Damjana at AppleGreen Cottage

February 25, 2016 at 10:28 pm

Happy to hear that. I hope your kids have had a blast experimenting with colors in a fun way! Have a great day,

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Science Projects > Chemistry Projects > Color-Change Chemistry  

Color-Change Chemistry

Magic show or chemistry lab?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference!

Chemical reactions often produce spectacular color changes that appear to happen just by magic. Now is your chance to put some tricks up your sleeve and wow your friends with scientific sleight of hand.

( NOTE: Some of the chemicals used in these projects can be hazardous if misused. Use caution when working with chemicals! Read the information on the chemical label before you start, and always wear protective lab safety equipment such as goggles, gloves, and aprons. Adult supervision required. )

Check out our top-selling beginner chemistry set and home chemistry kit to perform classic experiments. See our complete introduction to chemistry kit for a full overview of chemistry concepts and experiments.

Color Change Chemical Reactions Experiments + Video

#1 – confounding color.

Can you get a liquid to change color simply by pouring it into another container?

See this experiment in action before you try it!

What You Need:

• Four 250 ml erlenmeyr flasks  or 250 ml beakers
• Universal indicator

What You Do:

1. Put 25 drops of universal indicator into the first flask, and then add 200ml of water.

2. In the second flask, put a dropper-full of vinegar.

3. Add a dropper-full of ammonia to the third flask. (Be very careful not to breathe in the strong fumes from the ammonia!)

4. Put 100ml of vinegar in the fourth flask.

5. Slowly pour the contents of the first flask into the second one, then the second into the third and the third into the fourth.

What Happened:

The secret of this magic color change is pH. Chemicals with a low pH (0-6) are acidic , while those with a high pH (8-14) are basic . (A pH of 7 is neutral: neither acidic nor basic.) Universal indicator is a chemical that changes color in the presence of acids and bases from a pH of 2 to 10. Acids turn the indicator red, pink, orange, and yellow, while bases turn it green, blue, and purple. Vinegar is an acid, so when you poured the indicator solution into the second flask, it turned red. Ammonia is a base, so when you mixed the acidic vinegar solution with ammonia, it raised the pH and the water turned blue. If you had enough vinegar in your last flask, the solution should have turned red again. (If it didn’t, try adding a little more vinegar.)

#2 – Mystery Pitcher

Can you pour red “kool-aid” out of a pitcher of water? Try it out and impress your audience – just don’t drink the finished product!

Check out our project video to see this trick in action!

>> Get our Chemistry Magic Tricks Kit to do this project and 11 more!

• Phenolphthalein solution
• Sodium carbonate experiment powder
• 5 glasses and a non-see-through pitcher of water

1. In the first glass put a little less than 1/8 teaspoon of sodium carbonate, in the second put 6 drops of phenolphthalein solution, and in the third put three droppers-full of vinegar.

2. Add a few drops of water to the first glass and stir to dissolve the sodium carbonate.

3. Fill all the glasses with water from the pitcher, then pour all of them back in the pitcher except for the glass with vinegar.

4. Refill the remaining four glasses – the water will be red!

5. Now pour all five glasses back in the pitcher. Refill the glasses one last time — the liquid will be colorless again!

Like the universal indicator, phenolphthalein is a pH indicator, but it only turns colors in reaction to bases. When you poured the four glasses back into the pitcher, the phenolphthalein reacted to the sodium carbonate, a base, and turned the solution to red “kool-aid.” To change it back to “water,” all you had to do was add the acidic vinegar, which turned the phenolphthalein colorless again.

#3 – Invisible Ink

Invisible inks are also called sympathetic inks, and can be made with many different substances. Sometimes they appear when you heat them up; other times another chemical can reveal them. Get creative and see how many kinds of invisible ink you can find.

• You need Ink type 1 –  lemon juice, grapefruit juice, vinegar, milk, onion juice
• Plus, Ink type 2 – cobalt chloride solution or cocl2
• Lastly, Ink type 3 – phenolphthalein , Windex
• Q-tips or paintbrush

1. Choose a liquid like lemon juice to use as ink. Write a message on a piece of white paper using a paintbrush or q-tip, dipping in the ink frequently. Let the message dry. Turn on the toaster and carefully hold your paper over it. The heat will make your secret writing appear!

2. Some sympathetic inks appear and disappear again based on humidity. To try one of these, make a solution of 1/8 teaspoon cobalt chloride and 1/2 cup water. After writing your message and letting it dry, heat the paper to see your message appear in blue. Now hold the paper face down over a pan of steaming water. The steam will cause the writing to disappear. If you reheat it (evaporating all the water) the writing will appear again.

3. Other sympathetic inks work because of acid-base reactions. Use phenolphthalein solution to write a message on a piece of paper and let it dry. After it is dry, spray it with some Windex. Since Windex is a base, it will turn the phenolphthalein bright pink.

What other sympathetic inks can you find? Which kind shows up best? Which kind lasts longest?

#4 – Chromatography

Inks and dyes are generally made up of a mixture of different colors. Chromatography is a process that lets you separate ink into its individual colors.

• Filter paper (paper towels or coffee filters will work too, but filter paper is best)
• Black marker or felt-tip pens, highlighters (non-primary colors)
• Food coloring pack
• Several drinking glasses
• Many pencils

1. Cut several strips of filter paper about a half-inch wide. Draw a big dot about a half-inch from the bottom of one of the strips with one of the markers or pens you want to test. Do the same thing on different strips for each pen you want to test.

2. Tape the strip to a pencil so that when the pencil rests across the cup the strip will hang down into the cup.

3. Pour water into each cup until it is just barely touching the bottom of the paper strip. Leave the strip hanging in the water until the color has traveled most of the way up the strip.

As the water creeps up the absorbent paper, it carries the color with it. Some components of the ink travel farther than others, causing the different colors to spread out so you can see them. How many colors do you see? Do the different brands of pens have different colors?

Many dyes are also made up of multiple colors. Try a chromatography experiment with some food coloring. Place a drop of food coloring in some water and hang a filter paper strip so it just barely touches the water. Does it separate into colors? Try mixing more than one color of food coloring and then see if you can separate them again with chromatography.

You can also do chromatography with permanent pens and markers; you’ll just need to use a different solvent, since those inks don’t dissolve in water. Try isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol 90% or nail polish remover.

Get our chromatography kit for all the materials you need for fun chromatography projects.

Annual Color Change Chemical Reaction Experiments

Changing Leaves

Every fall we watch amazing chemistry color changes happen all around us. Trees that were green all year suddenly become bright yellow, orange, red, or even purple! How does this happen?

There are three types of chemical color pigments in green leaves: chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins.

Chlorophyll is the dominant green pigment used throughout the summer in the production of food by photosynthesis.

Carotenoids are pigments that give yellow, orange, or brown colors and are present all summer. Anthocyanins cause reds and purples and are produced in the fall.

During the summer months, the leaves are so full of chlorophyll that green overpowers any other colors present in the leaves, such as yellow and orange. Even though carotenoids may be present in the leaves, we can’t see them because the chlorophyll is so strong.

In the fall the days start to get shorter and the temperature drops, signaling to the tree that it is time to go into storage mode for the winter. The chlorophyll starts to break down, causing the green in the leaves to disappear, and allowing us to see the colors of the carotenoids, which were present all along. Most of the sugars and starches produced by the chlorophyll in the leaves are brought back into the tree, but when excess sugar is left in the leaves, anthocyanins are produced. (Bright light also helps to form these red pigments.)

Eventually a separation layer of cells builds up where the leaf is connected to the branch of the tree, blocking the transport of sugars from the leaf to the tree. When this layer is complete, the wind or the weight of the leaves themselves will cause the leaves to fall from the tree. Beneath the tree the layer of fallen leaves decomposes throughout the winter, returning nutrients back to the soil, which makes the topsoil fertile for more plants to grow in the next year.

Explore the pigments inside a green leaf by doing a leaf chromatography experiment ! The setup is similar to the chromatography project above, but this time you use rubbing alcohol to help break down the chlorophyll.

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Color Change Chemistry Experiments

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Color change chemistry experiments are interesting, visually appealing, and illustrate a wide range of chemical processes. These chemical reactions are visible examples of chemical changes in matter. For example, color change experiments can show oxidation-reduction , pH changes, temperatures changes, exothermic and endothermic reactions, stoichiometry , and other important concepts. Colors associated with holidays are popular, such as red-green for Christmas, and orange-black for Halloween. There's a colorful reaction for just about any occasion.

Here is a list of color change chemistry experiments, in all the colors of the rainbow.

Try the Briggs-Rauscher Oscillating Clock Reaction

The Oscillating Clock or Briggs-Rauscher reaction changes color from clear to amber to blue. The reaction cycles between colors for a few minutes, eventually turning blue-black.

Try the Briggs-Rauscher Color Change Reaction

Fun Water into Blood or Wine Demonstration

pH indicators are extremely useful for color change chemical reactions. For example, you can use phenolphthalein indicator to make water appear to turn into blood or wine and back to water (clear - red - clear).

This simple color change demonstration is perfect for Halloween or Easter.

Turn Water into Blood or Wine

Cool Olympic Rings Color Chemistry

Transition metal complexes produce brightly-colored chemical solutions. One nice demonstration of the effect is called the Olympic Rings. Clear solutions change color to make the symbolic colors of the Olympic Games.

Make Olympic Rings with Chemistry

Turn Water Into Gold With Chemistry

Alchemists try to turn elements and other substances into gold. Modern scientists have achieved this feat using particle accelerators and nuclear reactions, but the best you can manage in a typical chemistry lab is to make a chemical  appear  to turn into gold. It's a fascinating color change reaction.

Turn Water into "Liquid Gold"

Water - Wine - Milk - Beer Color Change Reaction

Here's a fun color change project in which a solution is poured from a water glass into a wine glass, tumbler, and beer glass. Pre-treating the glassware causes the solution to change to appear to go from water to wine to milk to beer. This set of reactions is perfect for a magic show as well as a chemistry demonstration.

Try the Water - Wine - Milk - Beer Chem Demo

Easy To Make Red Cabbage Juice pH Indicator

 You can use household ingredients to observe color change chemistry. For example, red cabbage juice changes color in response to pH changes when it is mixed with other chemicals. No dangerous chemicals are needed, plus you can use the juice to make homemade pH paper, which will change color when used to test home or lab chemicals.

• Make Red Cabbage pH Indicator
• Make Homemade pH Paper
• Use Cabbage Juice to Make Green Eggs

Blue Bottle Color Change (Other Colors Too)

The classic 'blue bottle' color change reaction uses methylene blue in a reaction that changes color from clear to blue and back to blue. Other indicators work, too, so you can change colors from red to clear to red (resazurin) or from green to red/yellow to green (indigo carmine).

Try the Blue Bottle Color Change Demonstration

Magic Rainbow Wand Chemical Reaction - 2 Ways

You can use a pH indicator solution to display a rainbow of colors. All you need is the right indicator and either a glass tube containing indicator solution and a pH gradient or else a series of test tubes at different pH values. Two indicators that work well for this color change are Universal Indicator and red cabbage juice.

Make a pH Rainbow Wand

Spooky Old Nassau or Halloween Color Change Reaction

The Old Nassau reaction is popular as a Halloween chemistry demonstration because the chemical solution changes from orange to black. The traditional form of the demonstration uses mercury chloride, so this reaction is not commonly seen anymore because the solution shouldn't be poured down the drain.

Try the Old Nassau Reaction

Valentine's Day Pink Color Change Demonstrations

Try a pink color change chemistry demonstration for Valentine's Day.

The "Hot and Cold Valentine" is a temperature dependent color change that goes from pink to colorless and back to pink. The reaction uses the common indicator phenolphthalein.

The "Vanishing Valentine" uses a resazurin solution that starts out blue. After a matter of minutes, this solution becomes clear. When the flask is swirled, the contents change to pink. The liquid again becomes colorless and can be cycled through the clear-to-pink cycle multiple times.

• Try the Hot and Cold Valentine Reaction
• Try the Vanishing Valentine Demonstration

Red and Green Christmas Chemistry Color Change Reaction

You can use indigo carmine to prepare a solution that changes color from green to red, making an excellent Christmas chemistry demonstration. Actually, the initial solution is blue, which changes to green and finally to red/yellow. The color of the solution can be cycled between green and red.

Try the Christmas Color Change Reaction 

Colored Flames Chemical Reactions To Try

Color change chemistry isn't restricted to chemical solutions. Chemical reactions produce interesting colors in flames, too. Using spray bottles may be the most popular, where a person sprays a solution toward a flame, changing its color. Many other interesting projects are available. These reactions are the basis of flame tests and bead tests, used to help identify unknown samples.

• Colored Fireworks Chemical Elements
• Making Colored Candle Flames
• How To Do a Flame Test
• How To Do a Bead Test

More Color Change Chemistry Experiments

There are many more color change chemical reactions that you can do as experiments and demonstrations. Here are some to try:

• Color Changing Lava Chemical Volcano
• Easy Blue Color Change Demo (uses household ammonia and copper sulfate)
• Simple Disappearing Colors Experiment (food coloring, water, bleach)
• Bleeding Knife Chemistry Trick
• Color Changing Liquid Thermometer

Color change demonstrations pique interest in chemical reactions and how the natural world works. You can adapt many of these color change projects to use materials you have on hand. The average kitchen pantry contains many natural and safe products that change color when exposed to different conditions.

• 10 Cool Chemistry Experiments
• Mood Ring Colors and Meanings
• Examples of Physical Changes
• A to Z Chemistry Dictionary
• What Is the Visible Light Spectrum?
• Examples of Chemical Reactions in Everyday Life
• 10 Fun Chemistry Demonstrations and Experiments
• Halloween Chemistry Demonstrations
• 10 Cool Chemistry Demonstrations for Educators
• The Blue Bottle Chemistry Demonstration
• How to Do the Color Change Chameleon Chemistry Demonstration
• Fried Green Egg Food Science Project
• Home and Garden pH Indicators
• pH Indicator Definition and Examples
• Definition and Examples of Acid-Base Indicator
• Halloween Reaction or Old Nassau Reaction

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Rapid color changing chemistry, you will need.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell SCIENCE from MAGIC – and this little demonstration is a great example of that. In this experiment you will watch an almost clear liquid suddenly turn dark blue in a flash. It takes a bit of preparation, and probably a trip to the pharmacy for materials, but we think it’s worth it.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: This experiment should only be done with the help of an adult. Iodine will stain just about anything it touches and it can be hazardous. Hydrogen peroxide can cause eye and skin irritation – safety goggles are needed throughout the experiment. Be sure your helpful adult reads the caution labels on each container.

3 clear plastic cups 4 ounces or larger A 1000 mg Vitamin C tablet from the pharmacy (you can also use two 500mg) Tincture of iodine (2%) also from the pharmacy Hydrogen peroxide (3%) yep, also from the pharmacy Liquid laundry starch (see below for alternatives) Safety goggles Measuring spoons Measuring cup An adult helper

Put on those safety goggles and mash the 1000 mg Vitamin C tablet by placing it into a plastic bag and crushing it with a rolling pin or the back of a large spoon. Get it into as much of a fine powder as possible. Then put all the powder in the first cup and add 2 ounces (60 ml) of warm water. Stir for at least 30 seconds. (The water may be a little cloudy) Let’s call this “LIQUID A” Now put 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of your LIQUID A into a new cup and add to it: 2 oz (60 ml) of warm water and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of the iodine. Notice the brown iodine turned clear! Let’s call this “LIQUID B.” By the way, you’re done with LIQUID A – you can put it aside. In the last cup, mix 2 oz of warm water, 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) of the hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of the liquid starch. This is, you guessed it, “LIQUID C” Okay, that was a lot of preparation, on to the fun part. Gather the friends and family and pour all of LIQUID B into LIQUID C. Then pour them back and fourth between the 2 cups a few times. Place the cup down and observe….be patient….somewhere between a few seconds and a few minutes, the liquid will suddenly turn dark blue!

How does it work?

This is an example of the chemical reaction know as the IODINECLOCK REACTION. It is called a clock reaction because you can change the amount if time it takes for the liquids to turn blue. (see experiments below) The chemistry of the demonstration gets a bit complicated, but basically it is a battle of chemistry between the starch which is trying to turn the iodine blue, and the Vitamin C which is keeping it from turning blue. Eventually the Vitamin C loses and, bam! – you get instant blueness.

Note: If you do not have liquid starch, you can also use 1/2 teaspoon of corn starch or potato starch. The liquids will be more cloudy and the reaction will happen a bit more slowly, but it’s still impressive.

Clean up: Carefully pour all liquids down the drain with plenty of water and wash your hands. Recycle the cups or dispose of them in the trash.

MAKE IT AN EXPERIMENT

The project above is a DEMONSTRATION. To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these questions:

1. Does the temperature of the water affect how quickly the liquids turn blue? 2. Does the amount of Vitamin C added (Liquid A) affect how fast the liquid turns blue? 3. Does stirring the liquids more affect how fast the liquids turn blue?

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Color-Changing Liquid Experiments

How to Turn a Glass of Water With Red Dye Back Into Clear Water

Some of the most interesting and visually exciting science fair experiments are those that feature a wide array of moving colors. Color-changing liquid experiments are especially well-suited for younger students, as the chemicals and supplies needed for the projects are easy-to-access and, for the most part, relatively safe. Some ideas include experimenting with food coloring and water, milk of magnesia and vinegar, as well as the compounded color-changing effects of various other substances.

Food Coloring and Water

This experiment is designed to teach students about surface tension and Brownian motion, which concerns the effects of density on motion. According to AtoZTeacherStuff.com, to perform this experiment, you need a bowl of water, a spoon and some food coloring. After giving the water a gentle stir, add in one drop of food coloring, and observe. While you might expect the dye to disperse and dissolve rapidly in the water, quite the opposite is true. You may notice that it takes awhile for the dye to penetrate through the surface of the water, which is caused by surface tension, a web-like interconnection of surface water molecules. Also, because the food coloring molecules are denser than water molecules, it takes awhile for the “weaker” water molecules to shift around the “stronger” food coloring molecules and effectively disperse them.

Milk of Magnesia and Vinegar

Milk of magnesia is a white solution that consists of hydrated magnesium carbonate suspended in water. It is used as both an antacid and a laxative. According to SteveSpanglerScience.com, for this experiment, you need to pour 100 milliliters (mL) of milk of magnesia into a 500 mL beaker, and then add water, until the beaker is filled to approximately halfway. You then need to add in 10 mL of universal indicator--which is a chemical commonly used in pool kits to check pH levels--and stir. Because the milk of magnesia is an alkaline compound, you should notice the solution taking on a bluish hint. However, if you then add in 10 to 20 mL of vinegar into the solution (while stirring), you will notice something remarkable: The bluish solution will rapidly change to red. This is caused by the vinegar neutralizing the alkaline magnesium carbonate, which drastically increases the solution’s acidity.

Multiple Chemicals and Color Changes

Unlike the above-mentioned experiment, this experiment moves beyond simply changing a solution from alkaline to acidic. Instead, it seeks to determine the precise amount of specific chemicals that are needed to cause these changes. According to HomeTrainingTools.com, you should start by filling one flask or beaker with 25 drops of universal indicator and approximately 200 mL of water. Then, put a dropper full of vinegar in a second beaker, a dropper full of ammonia in a third beaker, and--finally--100 mL of vinegar in a fourth beaker. You then need to pour the contents of each beaker sequentially into the next, and observe the colors produced (so, pour the first into the second, the second into the third, and so on). While the vinegar will initially turn the solution red, the alkaline ammonia should neutralize it and change the solution to blue. If there is enough vinegar in the final beaker, the solution should turn back to red. You will need to experiment with the quantities to determine the precise amounts necessary to cause each change.

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• A to Z Teacher Stuff: Food Coloring Fun Part 1 - Color Swirls Experiment #438
• Steve Spangler Science: Color Changing Milk of Magnesia

About the Author

Erik Devaney is a writing professional specializing in health and science topics. His work has been featured on various websites. Devaney attended McGill University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in humanistic studies.

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Colour Changing Flowers Science Experiment - A fun science project for kids

MORE FUN SCIENCE PROJECTS FOR KIDS

Colour changing flowers science experiement for preschoolers.

Supplies needed for the colour changing flowers science experiment

• White flowers
• Glass jars (we used baby food jars)
• Liquid water colour or food colouring

What are the best flowers to use for the colour changing flower experiment?

How to set up the colour changing flowers experiment 

Step 1: get your supplies ready for the flower experiment and predict what will happen.

STEP 2: Fill glass jars with coloured water

STEP 3: Prepare the flowers

Step 4: place the flowers into the coloured water .

How long does it take to change the colour of a flower with food colouring or liquid watercolour?

The science behind the colour changing flowers science experiment. 

Cool Science Experiments for Preschoolers (and older kids too!)

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SCIENCE 4 FUN

Color Changing Liquid

The time to turn a clear liquid into a dark blue color can be changed by changing the amount of substances inside the liquid. You have to go to a pharmacy store for a few materials, but other materials can easily be found in your kitchen.

Things You Will Need

• 3 empty plastic glasses
• Measuring Cup – (Or anything to measure the water in milliliters)
• 1 Permanent Marker
• 1 tablet of 1000 mg Vitamin C – (from a pharmacy store)
• Iodine tincture (2%) – (from a pharmacy store)
• Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) – (from pharmacy store)
• Liquid laundry starch – (Or corn starch, but it will make liquid slightly cloudier)

How To Make?

Precautions : Before you do any experiment, always wear your safety goggles, hand gloves, and safety apron. Also, perform the experiment in the presence of your parents or an adult.

• Take a permanent marker and write “Glass A” on one glass, “Glass B” on second glass, “Glass C” on the third
• Place a tablet of vitamin C in a clear plastic bag and crush with the help of spoon until it becomes powdery. If you have mortar and pestle in your kitchen, you can also use it for crushing the tablet.
• Put the powdered vitamin C tablet into Glass A, then pour 60 ml (about 2 ounces) of warm water in it. Now, stir the liquid well to mix the powder well with the water – the liquid may become slightly cloudier. NOTE : You need to measure water accurately before pouring it in the glass.
• Take a spoonful (about 5ml of liquid from Glass A and pour it into Glass B. Then, pour 60 ml of hot water and one spoonful (about 5ml) of iodine tincture also in the Glass B. Stir the liquid in the Glass B well and you will watch the liquid carefully; the brown colored iodine tincture will become clear.
• Get the Glass C and pour in it 60 ml of hot water, 15 ml of hydrogen peroxide, and half spoon (2.5 ml) of liquid laundry starch. Stir the liquid in the Glass C well and keep it aside.

Everything is now ready now, let’s start the fun part !

When you want to perform the experiment in front of your friends and family members, just pour all the liquid of the Glass B into the Glass C and mix the liquids well by pouring it between the two glasses about 3 times. Now place the well-mixed liquid in the glass and observe it carefully. It will suddenly turn into dark blue in a few minutes!

How It Works

You have just performed a chemistry experiment which uses the iodine clock reaction to turn the liquid color after a certain amount of time. The reason for adding “clock” in the name of reaction is because you can change the amount of time needed to change the color of the liquid (check below section more information).

When liquid from Glass B, which contains vitamin C and Iodine, is added to Glass C the reaction begins. In this reaction, starch is trying to turn the iodine into dark blue color but vitamin C is preventing it from doing so. When starch takes over vitamin after a certain amount of time, the color of liquid suddenly changes and gives you a magical effect.

Try This Also

• Try to increase the amount of liquid that you pour from Glass A to B and see does it affect the timing of color changing.
• Try to use cold water in place of hot water and try to find out its effects on the reaction speed.

You Will Also Like

Color Changing Flowers Science Experiment

I just love this color changing flowers science experiment ! It is really easy to do and the kids love watching the flowers change color. We think it is the perfect science activity for spring!

I even created printable recording sheets that kids in preschool and early elementary can use to show their observations. Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of the post to get them.

Related: Walking Water Science Experiment

Color Changing Flowers Experiment

We love a good science experiment and this one did not disappoint. It was really neat to watch the flowers change colors. If you are looking for a science activity to try this spring, you should definitely give this one a go!

Supplies Needed:

• Free printable recording sheets (button to download at the bottom of this post)
• White carnations
• Liquid food coloring in a variety of colors

Instructions:

• To start you will want to trim down the stems of the flower so they fit your cups or glasses.
• Add water to each cup.
• Then put about 10-15 drops of food coloring in the water and stir around a bit.
• Add at least one carnation to each glass of colored water.
• Check in on the flowers every couple of hours and observe any changes.

Observing the Flowers Change Color

We did this color changing flower experiment in the early evening and we started to see changes within a couple of hours. Some of the flowers started showing faint streaks of color along their petals.

By the next morning, most of them were even more colorful. The flower in the purple water didn’t seem to be taking in much water, so I trimmed the stem a little more and it soon started showing more color in the petals.

The following day the color was even more vibrant.

We continued to watch the flowers over the next few days. They did get a bit brighter than the pics above, but never completely saturated in the color.

Next time, we plan to try even more food coloring to see if we get even more saturated colors. We also decided that we will try roses alongside carnations and see if one takes on the color better than the other.

There are lots of ways you can change-up the experiment. You can try doing several different flowers at once. Or you can try different amounts of food coloring.

How Do Plants Drink Water?

Plants drink water from the ground up through their roots. The water travels up the stem and into the petals of the flower. Although, our flowers didn’t have roots anymore they were still able to pull water up from the cup into the stem and up through the flower to the petals.

It is through capillary action that plants are able to defy gravity and pull water up and into their leaves and flowers.

To read more about capillary action, check out this awesome walking water science experiment !

We hope you’ll give this fun color changing flowers science experiment a try soon!

Science is Fun and Engaging for Kids!

Science experiments help foster curiosity, ignite children’s imagination and help develop a love for learning! It’s a fantastic way for kids to develop problem solving skills, critical thinking and improve fine motor skills while building confidence!

Your kids will have a blast while learning science concepts in the classroom or at home.

Other Fun 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!

Explore chromatography with this fun  chromatography science experiment  for kids!

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 !

Looking for more fun science? Your kids will love these 30 science experiments !

Color Changing Flowers Experiment with Free Printable

Sharing is caring!

In this captivating color changing flowers experiment, your children will explore the fascinating world of plant physiology and water absorption. This engaging hands-on activity involves placing white carnations in differently colored water and observing the mesmerizing transformation of the petals.

This is one of those activities that can be done with all ages, including preschool!

We will get to see how water moves through a plant’s “straw-like” system called capillary action. It’s like a journey for the water as it travels through the plant and helps it absorb and share water, kind of like how our bodies need water to stay healthy. So, it’s not just about colors changing; it’s also a fun way to learn about how plants drink water and share it with different parts of their “body.”

The Science Behind the Color Changing Flowers

The science behind the color changing flowers experiment is the capillary action in plants.  Capillary action enables plants to work against gravity and move water from the soil into the leaves and stems (the vascular system) of the plant.

To understand capillary action, it’s important to understand the properties of water. Consider testing the properties of water as a follow-up to this activity.

Water not only provides hydration to plants but also helps maintain their structure. When water moves through the xylem, it creates internal pressure, allowing plants to stand tall and firm. Without capillary action, plants may become limp and wilted.

Capillary action is a fascinating phenomenon that involves the movement of liquids, like water, through narrow spaces, such as tiny tubes or porous materials. The driving forces behind capillary action are cohesive and adhesive forces.

You can read about cohesion and adhesion in this post we have on testing the properties. There are six simple activities that will help you and your children understand and “see” the cohesion and adhesion properties of water.

 Cohesion simply means that water molecules like to stick to each other. This is caused by the slightly negative charge of the oxygen atom of one water molecule being attracted to the slightly positive charge of the hydrogen atoms of another water molecule.

When water encounters a narrow space like a thin tube, and the diameter is small enough, cohesive forces within the liquid, along with adhesive forces between the liquid and the container’s surface, come into play. This synergy surpasses the force of gravity, allowing water to move upward. It’s like a delicate balance of attractive forces that goes against water’s natural tendency to be pulled downward by gravity.

This is where capillary action comes into play. A plant has special tubes called xylem tubes. They are the plant’s special system for moving water from the ground all the way up to the leaves, As water is drawn into the xylem tubes, it adheres to the walls of these tubes due to adhesive forces. At the same time, cohesive forces cause water molecules to stick together, forming a continuous chain.

Now, envision this chain of water molecules moving upwards through the xylem. It’s like a collaborative effort, where each water molecule pulls the next one up, defying gravity. This process allows water to reach even the tallest parts of the plant.

Capillary action is like a superhero power for plants! It helps move water and all the good stuff they need from their roots to every part of their body. Capillary action is a plant’s special delivery system for water and nutrients from the soil.

It’s hard for our children (and us) to see this capillary action, but the color changing flowers experiment is a very visual representation of the process.

SPECIAL NOTE: I highly recommend leaving the stems longer. This will help your child see how the stem and leaves change color too.

Add Some Variations to the Color Changing Flowers Experiment

Here are some variations you can try on this activity:

• As an experiment, you could set up 2 parts to the experiment. Create two identical set-ups of flowers and colored water, however, the one variable you change is the length of the stem. Keep one set shorter and one set longer. Then, compare the time to see the coloring changing in the flowers.
• Where we live, the winter temperatures hover around 39 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, if you are able to, place one set of flowers outside in about 40 degree weather and another set inside where it’s 68 or warmer. Did temperture affect the rate of absorption for the colors?
• You can also cut a slit in each stem and place one half in one color and the other half in a second color.

Get the Color Changing Flowers Lab Sheets

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Materials and Procedures for the Color Changing Flower Experiment

Materials needed:.

• 5 to 7 white carnations
• 5 to 7 vases or tall glasses
• Food coloring
• Worksheets we have created for this activity

Directions:

• Determine the colors you are going to use. Will you mix colors, such as red and blue to make purple? This is also a fun way for our youngest scientists to learn about mixing colors.
• Gather the flowers and cut off about 1/2 of an inch from the bott, cutting at an angle.
• Determine how much water you are going to pour into each jar or vase. Then, mix up a color for each vase.
• Fill each vase or glass with a colored water.
• Place one flower per vase.
• Record the starting point of your experiment on the recording sheet.
• Place the vases or glasses in a safe place where they can be observed. (We placed ours on our kitchen table and enjoyed them while we ate and schooled.)
• Watch the flowers over the next 4 to 7 days and use the questions and fun “lab sheets” to discuss and record what is happening to the flowers.

How long did it take to notice a slight tinge of color?

Take some photos of the flowers over the observation days.

Note where the water is in each vase at the start of the experiment. Ask some discussion questions:

• What do you think is going to happen to the level of water in the vase?
• If you think the water level is going to go down, where will the water go?
• This is a good time to talk about capillary action. Check out our printable with information and diagrams.
• Also notice the leaves and stem; watch them over the next few days too.

Check the water level after a few days. What happened?

What parts of the flower are changing color? Is it just the petals? Check out the entire length of the stem, leaves, and flower. Notice that our green also showed a border of yellow too!

More Capillary Action Activities

• Get Growing free printable – 50+ page printable covering plant life cycles, photosynthesis, capillary action, and more.
• Testing the Properties of Water
• Coffee filter painting

I hold a master’s degree in child development and early education and am working on a post-baccalaureate in biology. I spent 15 years working for a biotechnology company developing IT systems in DNA testing laboratories across the US. I taught K4 in a private school, homeschooled my children, and have taught on the mission field in southern Asia. For 4 years, I served on our state’s FIRST Lego League tournament Board and served as the Judging Director.  I own thehomeschoolscientist and also write a regular science column for Homeschooling Today Magazine. You’ll also find my writings on the CTCMath blog. Through this site, I have authored over 50 math and science resources.

Laughing Kids Learn

Where learning is made fun

Science experiment with colour changing flowers

September 7, 2015 by Kate 29 Comments

It only required a few materials to set up this science experiment and inspired Possum (aged 3.5 years) to learn more about plants and how they absorb water . 

Recommended age : 3 years +  (Active supervision is required on all my activities) 

The brightly coloured water will transform the white flowers within only a few minutes.

It’s amazing and creates a great ‘WOW’ factor for kids. To do this science activity you will need the following materials – 

• White flowers (chrysanthemums, roses or daisies would work well)
• Small containers or jars
• Food colouring

How to make your flowers change colour

Quite simply, I cut the stem of the flowers so there was about 6 inches of stem remaining before placing one in each of the jars.

I highly recommend ensuring there are no leaves left on the stem as it can go mouldy in the water, which will reduce the time you can keep this activity.   Place your jars in a safe location that will gives them some lovely natural sunlight . We placed our on the kitchen windowsill. 

Making predictions

I wanted the end result to be a surprise to Possum and so I asked her  what she expected to happen to the flowers over time. Some children may benefit from drawing their predictions . It’s also a great idea to do this because children can return to their initial predictions and make comparisons to the actual end result. 

TA DA! 

This is the result of the flowers absorbing the coloured water after one week. All of the flowers absorbed the coloured water and highlighted how it travelled all the way to the tips of the petals to nourish it. Mind blown.

Possum loved watching the changes over the course of the week.  One thing we did observe was that the flower in the purple coloured water didn’t absorb quire as well as the others. Still amazing, but less vibrant in comparison.

Your children can make predictions and record the changes by drawing what they see each day.

It’s a great visual  demonstration of how plants absorb water up their stem to nourish itself. I hope you enjoy this one.

Do you think your child would find this interesting? 

Fabulous ebooks for purchase –

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September 7, 2015 at 1:18 pm

This is so cool! What a fun activity to do with the kids.:)

September 8, 2015 at 10:21 am

Thanks Kat! It was so cool watching the colour appearing through the petals. 🙂

September 8, 2015 at 10:39 pm

Wow these look so colourful and my girls would love to do this activity! We have some white daisies out the front so maybe we’ll try it this week 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration Kate.

September 8, 2015 at 10:59 pm

Daisies would work really well I’m sure! Thanks for commenting Kate. 🙂

September 8, 2015 at 10:45 pm

soooooo pretty – and fascinating! the kids have been asking to do this, so time to rustle up some flowers!

September 8, 2015 at 10:57 pm

They were so gorgeous sitting on our windowsill. Highly recommend this one Kate. Thanks for the comment. 🙂

September 9, 2015 at 2:20 pm

An oldie but a goodie!

September 11, 2015 at 10:25 am

Totally agree Sara. Wish I’d done this one earlier though. So pretty. 🙂

September 9, 2015 at 2:38 pm

Great Science experiment . Thanks to share .

September 10, 2015 at 9:30 pm

I love this timeless activity….the kids are always amazed by the results.

September 11, 2015 at 10:24 am

I could have this experiment sitting on my windowsill all the time! LOL So beautiful. Thanks for commenting Janice! 🙂

September 12, 2015 at 2:31 pm

Superb experiment ! Thanks for shearing this post.

June 25, 2016 at 4:47 pm

Not sure what went wrong but all our flowers died. Some took up a hint of colour but they all just shrivelled up like they didn’t even have water. Just regular daisies, just regular food colouring..

June 25, 2016 at 7:28 pm

Hi Amy, how strange and terribly disappointing! I’ve not heard of that happening, but I guess some flowers just don’t respond to the colouring. If you had the energy to give it another go, I’d double check your glass and water is super clean and possibly buy your flowers from a florist. It’s usually the cheaper white flowers that respond the best. Sorry it didn’t work out for your first attempt. I hope you feel up to trying it again. Let me know how you get on. Best wishes Amy. Thanks for your comment. 🙂

March 30, 2017 at 10:20 pm

I’ve been trying to do this experiment with my class but nothing has worked. Tried different flowers, (carnations and chrysanthemums) different food colouring (colour and brand) different amounts of water to colouring ratio, I’ve tried snipping the stems up the middle too. Nothing going is working. Any ideas where I might be going wrong?

March 31, 2017 at 9:51 am

How very strange Sarah! How long are you leaving the flowers in the water for? I make sure I have there there for a good number of hours, even overnight! That gives the flowers enough time to absorb the water. Are your flowers white? White flowers will show the strongest colour change.

August 29, 2016 at 6:39 pm

Simply sooper…having fun with ma kids…thy loved the most…thnku for giving ths idea…

August 30, 2016 at 3:31 pm

You are more than welcome Malarsree. 🙂

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What Is the Rarest Eye Color?

Green used to be the rarest eye color, but gray has taken the title

• Eye Colors Ranked

Genetics of Eye Color

• Other Color Differences
• Eye Color and Health
• Color Changes With Age

What Is the Most Attractive Eye Color?

• Changing Eye Color

There are four main eye colors—brown, blue, hazel, and green. Green was once considered the rarest eye color, but new classifications say another color may be even less common: gray.

Eye color is an inherited trait with multiple genes affecting the shade. Genes related to the production of pigments— melanin , eumelanin, and pheomelanin—dictate the color of your skin, hair, and eyes. A person's eye color reflects a unique combination and concentration of pigments in the iris .

This article looks at the genetics of different eye colors and why some are rarer than others. It also discusses conditions that may change your eyes' appearance, health associations with different colors, eye color percentages, and how to change your eye color.

Celeste Muñoz / EyeEm

Most Common and Rarest Eye Colors

The most common eye colors are:

• Hazel (sometimes grouped with amber)

Of those four, green is the rarest. It shows up in about 9% of Americans but only 2% of the world's population. Hazel/amber is the next rarest color after green.

Blue is the second most common and brown tops the list, found in 45% of the U.S. population and possibly almost 80% worldwide.

Black is not an eye color. While some eyes may look black, they're either just a very dark brown or large pupils.

Gray: The Rarest Eye Color

New classifications have determined that gray is its own standard color. (It was previously, and incorrectly, lumped in with blue.) With this change, gray now tops the list as the rarest eye color.

There's not much information on gray-colored eyes. In studies, gray and blue have historically been combined.

Gray eyes may contain just enough melanin in the front layer to dim the blue wavelengths of light that are reflected back by the tissue of the eye. Dark gray eyes have a bit more melanin in the front layer than pale gray eyes. 

What Determines Eye Color?

Eye color is influenced by the production of melanin, or pigments, in the iris—the colored part of your eye. More melanin means darker eyes; less means lighter eyes.

Different types of melanin determine the specific hue of the eyes. Eumelanin is a black-brown pigment responsible for darker eyes, hair, and skin. Pheomelanin is a yellow-red pigment that's behind green or amber eyes, red hair, and freckles.

People in countries farther away from the equator tend to have lighter-colored eyes and skin. Darker eyes and skin are common in warmer locales, closer to the equator.

At one time, scientists thought that eye color inheritance was a simple matter of whether genes present were dominant (expressed whenever present) or recessive (only expressed when matched with the same gene).

In other words, brown eye color (considered dominant) would be expected in a child even if only one parent has brown eyes. Two blue-eyed parents ( blue eye color considered recessive) would not be expected to have a child with brown eyes.

However, we now know that the genetics of eye color are more complex. Most eye-color genes have something to do with the transport, production, and storage of melanin. More melanin in the iris makes for brown eyes, while less of it may mean blue, hazel, green, or gray eyes.

The amount of melanin present in the front of the iris, the back of the iris, and in the stroma (the thickest layer of the cornea) between them matters too.

What Genes Determine Your Eye Color?

Multiple genes influence the various combinations and concentrations of melanin. The OCA2 gene plays the most prominent role in determining your eye color.

According to research, everyone had brown eyes 10,000 years ago until a genetic mutation affected the 0CA2 gene such that it essentially created a "switch" that turned off the ability to produce brown eyes in a person with the mutation. Scientists believe, therefore, that everyone with blue eyes today can be traced back to one ancestor who had that genetic mutation.

Researchers have identified at least nine other genes involved in the production and distribution of pigments. For example, the HERC2 gene turns the OAC2 gene on and off as needed.

Other genes that play a role in eye color include ASIP ,  IRF4 , SLC24A4 , SLC24A5 , SLC45A2 ,  TPCN2 , TYR , and  TYRP1 . Countless combinations of these genes produce a continuum of eye colors in individuals.

Other Eye Color Differences

Some rare conditions that affect eye color include:

Heterochromia 

People with heterochromia have different colored eyes. Some people are born like this. Often there's no known reason for it, but it can be caused by a condition known as piebaldism , a lack of pigment-producing cells in patches of hair, skin, and, in some cases, one eye.

Getty Images / WhitneyLewisPhotography

You can also develop heterochromia later in life. It can occur due to:

• Eye surgery
• Medication, including some glaucoma drugs
• Illness, including glaucoma and diabetes

Heterochromia itself doesn't need to be treated unless it is caused by an underlying condition.

Anisocoria occurs when someone has two different pupil sizes. The larger the pupil, the more black there is in the center of the eye. This isn't an eye color, but it can make someone look like they have heterochromia.

Anisocoria is usually harmless, but it can be a symptom of some serious eye problems , such as:

• Nervous system problems
• Previous eye damage
• High stroke risk
• Viral infection
• A condition called Adie's tonic pupil , in which one pupil doesn't react well to light
• Horner syndrome, a rare condition involving drooping eyelids, different-sized pupils, and lack of facial sweat

If you have anisocoria along with certain other symptoms, you should see an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). Watch for symptoms such as:

• Dropping eyelids
• Difficulty moving your eye
• Pain in your eye
• Reduced sweating

Anisocoria itself doesn't need to be treated, but an underlying condition may need to be.

Albino Eyes: Red, Pink, Violet

Albinism is a condition characterized by low amounts of melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes. In some people, it only affects the eyes. This is called ocular albinism .

People with albinism may have lighter versions of standard eye colors. But they may also have eyes that appear:

The iris doesn't actually have red, pink, or violet pigment, though. These colors result from blood vessels at the back of the eye being visible. In other people, the color of the iris blocks the view of these blood vessels.

People with albinism often have serious vision problems. That's because melanin helps the eye develop normally before birth.

Do Purple Eyes Exist?

The eyes of a person with albinism may appear purple, but purple irises do not exist. Makeup or lighting may cause the eyes of a person without albinism to appear purple.

Eye Color and Your Health

Having a rare eye color or appearance may seem special and distinctive. It may go beyond appearance, though, as eye color (or shade) may be tied to certain health benefits or concerns.

A 2014 study concluded that women with light-colored eyes were better able to withstand pain during pregnancy than those with darker eyes. The sample size for this study was relatively small, including just 58 women, but another small study had similar results.

A review from 2015 suggests people with darker eyes may have a reduced risk of hearing loss not related to age.

Lighter eye color is also associated with an increased risk of macular degeneration , which causes a loss of your center field of vision, as well as ocular melanoma (cancer in or around the eye).

More research is needed to confirm such connections and associations.

Eye Color and Changes With Age

Your eye color can change in adulthood. Sometimes, it's not a cause for concern. Other times, it's due to diseases, medication use, or injury and may need treatment.

If you don't have gray eyes but they appear to become more gray over time, it may be due to a cataract . This is a clouding of the eye's lens. Cataracts can affect your vision and may need to be surgically removed. Let your eyecare provider know if your eyes appear to be turning gray or milky.

Brown freckles can develop in your iris over time, usually due to sun exposure. Most of them are harmless but sometimes they can be cancerous, so bring those to your provider's attention if they occur.

Conditions like Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis can lighten your eye color and may lead to serious vision problems. Fuchs involves inflammation in some of the structures at the front of your eye. It may cause:

• Loss of pigment in your eye, which changes the color
• Atrophy (wasting) of the iris
• Glaucoma , which can cause loss of vision

Because of the potential for serious vision problems, you should be evaluated by a healthcare provider if you notice a change in the color of your eyes.

According to one survey of 66,000, people find green to be the most attractive eye color. The poll results ranked eye color by attractiveness:

• Green: 20.3%
• Light blue: 16.9%
• Hazel: 16.0%
• Dark blue: 15.2%
• Gray: 10.9%
• Honey: 7.9%
• Brown: 5.9%

Changing Your Eye Color

If you want to change your eye color, contact lenses are the easiest option. Some brands of contact lenses are available in different colors and your prescription can be added to them.

If you don't need corrective lenses, you can order some that are purely for looks. However, you should still see an eye-care professional and get a prescription for them. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends never buying contact lenses that don’t require a prescription due to an increased risk of eye infections.

Eye color is determined by a person's genetics, although sometimes eye color can change due to medication side effects or certain eye conditions. While green eyes used to be considered the rarest eye color, gray eyes are now thought to be rarer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eye color changes can be caused by genetics, disease, medication, and trauma. For example, some medications that treat glaucoma, a condition that causes increased eye pressure, can cause eye color to change over time.

Yes, some people's eyes naturally appear red. The iris itself isn't red, but a lack of pigment can allow blood vessels behind the eye to show through. The eyes then look red, pink, or violet.

Light brown pigment in the iris interacts with blue light in the eye, resulting in green, speckled, or hazel eyes.

It may. Preliminary research links lighter eye colors with a higher risk of macular degeneration (a disease that makes you lose your center field of vision) and cancer of the eye.

Grigore M, Avram A. Iris colour classification scales—then and now .  Rom J Ophthalmol . 2015;59(1):29-33.

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Your blue eyes aren't really blue .

Katsara M-A, Nothnagel M. True colors: A literature review on the spatial distribution of eye and hair pigmentation .  Forensic Science International: Genetics . 2019;39:109-118. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.01.001

Mackey DA. What colour are your eyes? Teaching the genetics of eye colour & colour vision. Edridge Green Lecture RCOphth Annual Congress Glasgow May 2019 .  Eye. 2022;36(4):704–715. doi:10.1038/s41433-021-01749-x

MedlinePlus. Is eye color determined by genetics?

National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Is eye color determined by genetics?

Open Access Government. All people with blue eyes have one common ancestor .

American Academy of Ophthalmology: EyeSmart. Heterochromia .

National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Piebaldism .

American Academy of Ophthalmology: EyeSmart. What is anisocoria?

Nemours TeensHealth. Albinism .

National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation: NOAH. Information bulletin - what is albinism .

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Inside Life Changing Medicine. Can eye color predict pain tolerance?

Holmgaard H, Hansen EØ, Dong NP, Dixen LB, Nielsen GA, Poulsen JN, Gazerani P. Individuals with dark eyes and hair exhibit higher pain sensitivity . Somatosens Mot Res . 2017 Mar;34(1):21-26. doi:10.1080/08990220.2016.1276439

Mujica-Mota MA, Schermbrucker J, Daniel SJ. Eye color as a risk factor for acquired sensorineural hearing loss: a review . Hear Res . 2015 Feb;320:1-10. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2014.12.002

Mount Sinai. Macular degeneration .

American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is ocular melanoma?

American Academy of Ophthalmology: EyeSmart. Why are my eyes changing color?

All About Vision. Green eyes: The most attractive eye color .

American Academy of Ophthalmology: EyeSmart. Are costume contact lenses safe?

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye color: Unique as a fingerprint .

By Steph Coelho Steph Coelho is a freelance health and wellness writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience working on content related to health, wellness, mental health, chronic illness, fitness, sexual wellness, and health-related tech.She's written extensively about chronic conditions, telehealth, aging, CBD, and mental health. Her work has appeared in Insider, Healthline, WebMD, Greatist, Medical News Today, and more.

StarTribune

Flooding forces harriet island and valleyfair to cancel events as water rises in twin cities metro.

A state of emergency is in effect in St. Paul where the river is expected to rise another foot before cresting on Saturday, prompting the closure of several roads, trails and parks, including most of Harriet Island.

With water filling the Wigington Pavilion at the popular downtown park, the city has canceled 11 events at the shelter, including graduation parties, family picnics and one company picnic through July 7, said spokeswoman Clare Cloyd.

Surprisingly, no weddings were scheduled this weekend or next, she said.

Picnic permits for the Crosby Farm Regional Park picnic shelter have also been canceled, Cloyd said.

Meanwhile, high water on the Minnesota River has forced Valleyfair to shut down three rides, shorten park hours and cancel July 4 fireworks.

The amusement park will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily until water recedes and its waterpark, Soak City, will be open only 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Valleyfair said Friday in an email.

The Mississippi River was expected to reach 20.8 feet in the downtown St. Paul area before water levels drop, the National Weather Service said. If that mark is reached, it would be the seventh-highest crest ever. Flooding begins when the river reaches 14 feet.

With damage expected, the St. Paul City Council on Wednesday passed a resolution declaring the emergency, allowing the city to seek county, state and federal resources.

At a news conference Friday, Gov. Tim Walz, Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Director Tom Sivak repeatedly warned residents to remain cautious while driving and while out on lakes and rivers over the holiday weekend.

"We're still in a dangerous situation," the governor said. "It's still very unpredictable."

The three also urged those whose property has been damaged to take time-stamped photographs of the debris in their yards and basements. "Pictures are worth a thousand words to us," Sivak said.

Document the cleanup as well, he said.

"We know that recovery is a long road and we recognize that there will be challenges ahead, especially on the mental health side," Sivak said.

Minnesota's entire congressional delegation on Friday urged President Biden to a disaster declaration Walz submitted a day earlier.

In coming weeks as the water recedes, FEMA and Department of Homeland Security employees will visit affected communities to talk to residents, alerting them in advance through county officials of their presence. Sivak said the employees will be dressed in FEMA gear, have federal identification badges and won't ask for personal information. But Sivak also said residents should not wait to reach out to their insurance companies to report damage.

Dan Hawblitzel, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service, said Friday's overnight rain wasn't enough to add to the flooding. "The rivers can take quite a bit more water than what fell last night," he said at a news conference with Walz. "The good news is we are now going into another stretch of a drier weekend, fortunately, which will allow a lot of these floodwaters to continue to recede, and that has been the case across much of the state so far."

Hawblitzel said the Cannon and Des Moines rivers will continue to go down, with the Minnesota River still cresting at points. It hit record stage in Jordan on Friday morning and is expected to crest in Savage on Sunday, but not at a record. The Minnesota River also will cause major flooding in St. Paul as it empties into the Mississippi River, Hawblitzel said.

A crest in St. Paul is expected Saturday night just above what it reached in 2019 and its highest since 2001. The crest will then cause major flooding toward Hastings until it hits the St. Croix River, moderating the flood levels from Winona on down, he said. After a dry weekend, Hawblitzel warned they're watching another wet system approaching that could bring up to 2 inches of rain. That rain won't exacerbate the floods, but it will extend the drying process.

Earlier this week, Stillwater said it was scrubbing July 4th fireworks due to high water on the St. Croix River but would try to reschedule them later in the summer.

Though floodwater is beginning to drop slightly in some parts of the state, flood warnings remain in effect along several rivers, including the Crow River in Wright County, the Minnesota River from New Ulm through Mankato and to Savage in the south metro, the Mississippi River from St. Paul to Hastings to Red Wing, and the St. Croix River near Stillwater. The Cannon River in the Northfield area also remained above flood stage, the National Weather Service said.

In a piece of good news, the Minnesota Department of Transportation was able to reopen Hwy. 169 north of Le Sueur on Thursday after crews pumped water from the highway and installed a "worm dike" to keep the water back. But the highway remained closed Friday morning south of Le Sueur to St. Peter, the agency said.

Other routes, including Hwy. 99 east of St. Peter and Hwy. 22 from Kasota to Mankato, remained closed.

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather. 

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