Color Changing Milk: An Explosion of Color

Some very unusual things happen when you mix a little 
        milk, food coloring, and a drop of liquid soap. 

The materials for this week's science experiment: milk, soap (in the cup) and food coloring.

Have fun.  Try all different colors and sizes of drops.

The secret of the bursting colors is the chemistry of that tiny drop of soap. 

Dish soap weakens the chemical bonds that hold the proteins and fats in the milk.

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.

During all of this fat molecule gymnastics, the food coloring molecules are bumped and shoved everywhere,
providing an easy way to observe all the invisible activity.

As the soap becomes evenly mixed with the milk, the action slows down and eventually stops. 

This is why milk with a higher fat content produces a better explosion of color - there's just more fat to combine with all of those soap molecules.

Watch the video.




Don't forget to email pictures of bees this week!