Color Changing Milk Experiment

Learning letter M.

M is for milk.

We decided to do a simple color changing milk experiment. This is a fun chemistry experiment to watch and do for the little ones and even though they don’t understand the complete science behind it, it’s still fun to watch the colors mix. We will definitely be doing this again when my preschooler is a little older and can understand the science behind it.

Materials needed:

• Food coloring
• Full fat milk
• Cotton swabs
• Dawn dish soap mixed with small amount of water
• Shallow dish.

Directions:

1. Pour some milk in the dish, and let it settle.
2. Add food coloring drops.
3. In a small bow, add dish soap and small amount of water. Mix and set aside.
4. Use cotton swab, dip it in the soap mixture.
5. Dip the soap cotton swab in the milk mixutre and watch the colors explode.

Conclusion:

Milk is basically fat, proteins and nutrients mixed in water. Fat in the milk doesn’t easily mix when soap is added, and you see the reaction with the food coloring. The fat and proteins react to the disruption (dish soap) in the milk. And it slows down as the dish soap forms bond with the fat molecules in the milk.

This activity not only sparks interest, but also teaches cause and effect, hand-eye coordination and language development. Use skim milk to show the different results, use this experiment to mix different colors and see the outcome.