Report Copyright Infringement View in OSM UK

Description

Perform an experiment with Skittles. Different amounts of Skittles are dissolved in hot water and then transferred to the same jar.

Skittles are mostly sugar, so dissolve in hot water and the colouring turns the water different colours. The cups with more Skittles (purple) will have more sugar in compared to the cups with fewer Skittles (red) but all the cups have the same amount of water. The amount of matter packed into one space causes density; the red water is less dense than the purple water so will float on top.

Resources

Skittles
Glass (or jar)
5 separate cups
Water in a container (and a means to warm it up)
Pipette (or syringe or something to drop liquid into the glass)
Measuring spoon

Instructions

Virtual Scouting At Home: Scouts follow the instructions under parental supervision
Virtual Scouting Live: Leader can demonstrate the experiment via videoconference and ask Scouts what they think will happen and why. Optionally, Scouts can also follow along and perform the experiment at home given suitable at-home supervision.

1. Separate the Skittles into the 5 cups in the following amounts:
- 2 red
- 4 orange
- 6 yellow
- 8 green
- 10 purple

2. Heat the water until it it hot (not boiling)

3. Measure and pour 2 tablespoons of hot water into each cup on top of the skittles

4. Stir each cup and leave to cool, stirring occasionally

5. Using the pipette, carefully add the colours of the glass, starting with purple and working upwards. Slowly squirt the liquid down the side of the glass to add it so the colours don't mix

Tags

• experiment
• science
• science experiment
• skittles
• Virtual Scouting At Home
• Virtual Scouting Live

Badge Links

• Scientist - Experiment