Science, Tech, Math › Science Water Fireworks for Kids Print Thegoodly/Getty Images Science Chemistry Projects & Experiments Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on November 12, 2019 Fireworks are a beautiful and fun part of many celebrations, but not something you want kids to make themselves, but even very young explorers can experiment with these safe underwater 'fireworks'. What You Need WaterOilFood coloringTall clear glassAnother cup or glassFork Create Fireworks in a Glass Fill the tall glass almost to the top with room-temperature water. Warm water is ok, too.Pour a little oil into the other glass (1 to 2 tablespoons).Add a couple of drops of food coloring.Briefly stir the oil and food coloring mixed with a fork. You want to break up the food coloring drops into smaller drops, but not thoroughly mix the liquid.Pour the oil and coloring mixture into the tall glass.Now watch! The food coloring will slowly sink in the glass, with each droplet expanding outward as it falls, resembling fireworks falling into the water. How It Works Food coloring dissolves in water, but not in oil. When you stir the food coloring in the oil, you are breaking up the coloring droplets (though drops that come into contact with each other will merge... blue + red = purple). Oil is less dense than water, so the oil will float at the top of the glass. As the colored drops sink to the bottom of the oil, they mix with the water. The color diffuses outward as the heavier colored drop falls to the bottom. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Water Fireworks for Kids." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/make-under-water-fireworks-603370. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2023, April 5). Water Fireworks for Kids. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/make-under-water-fireworks-603370 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Water Fireworks for Kids." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/make-under-water-fireworks-603370 (accessed April 27, 2024). copy citation