Colorful Candy Diffusion Science Activity
Candy is inexpensive and everywhere. It is fun to create colorful mixtures with different candies. This activity is very easy and can produce beautiful results. It is perfect for Preschoolers and up. Try it for the holidays using themed candy.
4. Create an experiment by testing different temperatures of water. What effect will that have?
Materials
Different Types of Candy: Candy Canes, Gobstoppers, Sprees, Nerds, Smarties,
Gumdrops, Red Hots, Skittles, M&M's, Peppermints, etc. They don't all have to work. That is something the students can learn from.
- Small Dish (I like Petri dishes or dessert plates.)
- Water
- Alka-Seltzer Tablet (optional) for extra fun.
Directions
1. Place several of the candies around the dish. Make sure you use different colors; you don’t want the same color side by side.
2. Slowly pour water into the
center of the dish to almost cover the candies.
3. Observe. Make sure no one is
bumping the table. We want to keep the
water still.
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Why does this happen?
If the candy is brightly colored, it
will slowly dissolve, causing the water around it to turn that color. There is no special magic trick as to why you
get such defined shapes of colors. It
all has to do with mixing. Since we
poured the water slowly, the molecules did not mix quickly. The colors slowly diffuse, making a
pattern. If you wait long enough, it will eventually become one mixed color.
If you use warm water, this process will happen more quickly. If you use cold water, it will happen more
slowly. What a wonderful exploration of molecular movement and thermal energy!
MORE EXAMPLES
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| Spree Candy has very bold colors. I would try greens and reds. |
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Smarties Candy does not do anything. They do not have enough dye.
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My favorite is using a white gumball. I placed it on black paper to truly see the colors.
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Take it up a notch and add an Alka-Seltzer
tablet. The fizzing will cause the colors
to mix and create more excitement.
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