Science Fair Projects

Aim:

This science fair project shows that water and oil are immiscible. We will also see that a lighter density fluid floats at the top when poured into an immiscible high density fluid.

This project set up gives an impression of a volcano, hence the name Artificial Volcano.

Materials Needed:

1) Clear drinking glass
2) Any clear vegetable oil
3) Common salt
4) Water
5) Food colors (optional)
6) Container for water
7) Container for oil
8) News paper

Science Fair Project Procedure:

Step #1: Find a well ventilated room with a little free space. Ensure that there is proper lighting to see the salt volcano in action. This experiment can also be conducted outdoors.

Step #2: Place the old newspaper on the table or ground. Take the clear drinking glass and place it on the newspaper. Take the container and pour water into the glass. Make sure that the height of water inside the glass is about 3 inches.

Step #3: Take the container having oil in it. Pour oil into the glass 3 inches above the water level. The oil should float at the top. This is because water being denser than oil sits at bottom.

Step #4: Pick the table salt bowl. Take a pinch of salt and sprinkle it on the oil in the glass. The salt particles being denser than oil will sink to the bottom.

Step #5: Add some food colors to the salt and you will see a colorful volcano unfold right in front of your eyes.

Observation:

You will find that there are some particles traveling from the liquid at the bottom towards the liquid at the top. This gives an effect of a volcano. In case you have added food colors in Step #5 then you should see a colorful volcano.

Chemistry:

We see two different layers because oil is non-polar and water is polar. Hence they are immiscible. Oil has lower density than water. Hence oil floats on water. In this experiment the salt added is heavier than water, so when you pour salt onto oil, it sinks to the bottom of the mixture. Salt is soluble in water. As it dissolves, salt releases the oil particles attached to it, which floats up to the top because of lighter density. These oil particles give the volcano effect while moving up.

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Aim:

This experiment demonstrates the process of using electricity and indicators for colored writing.

Materials Needed:

1) Filter paper
2) Sodium chloride
3) Water
4) Methyl orange indicator solution
5) Carbon electrode
6) Copper wire
7) Crocodile clip
8) 6V battery
9) Petri dish

Science Fair Project Procedure

Step #1: Fill take about two cubic centimeter of water in a small container. Now take a spatula measure of sodium chloride (common salt) and add it to water that is to be used for this experiment. To the salt solution just created, add three drops of methyl orange indicator.

Step #2: Take a filter paper and lay it inside a plastic Petri dish. Drop the solution onto the paper using a dropping pipette, until the paper holds no more solution.

Step #3: Add the positive end of a 6V battery to a lead ending in a crocodile clip. Use the crocodile clip to grip one end of paper.

Step #4: Attach the negative end of the battery to a carbon electrode. Write lightly on the wet paper, using the carbon electrode as a pen.

Observation:

You may observe the color of the writing. Repeat the experiment using universal indicator. Observe the color when universal indicator is used.

Chemistry:

Oxidation occurs at the positive electrode or anode, whereas reduction occurs at the cathode or the negative electrode.