St Mary's C of E (Aided) Primary School, Pulborough

Science Week - Year 6 - lava lamps

Published: 11 Mar '25

As part of their study of States of Matter in Science week, Year 6 made lava lamps from vegetable oil and water. They then added food colouring, which combined with the water. Small pieces of effervescent tablets were added and the sodium citrate and sodium bicarbonate created carbon dioxide, making bubbles which rose to the surface, then sank again due to their greater density. By adding the tablets over a period of time, the lava effect could be kept going. The children really enjoyed this experiment.