Mad Scientist's Lab
"Mad" scientist? Let's get real. Real-life scientists are pretty much like the rest of us. But they do have a lot of experiments to show you, some of which can make great special effects.
- For secret potions, you will need: cut-up red cabbage, an adult, boiling water, strainer, three empty jars, lemon juice, and liquid soap. Ask the adult to boil some water for you and help you put some cut-up red cabbage into the boiling water. Let the cabbage sit for a while until the water has cooled off and turned nice and pink. Do not touch the water until the adult tells you it's cool enough. Then strain off the juice. You can ask the adult (nicely) to go away now so he or she won't get in on the secrets behind your special effects.
- Arrange three empty jars, putting a little lemon juice in one, a little soap in another, and nothing in the third. Pour some cabbage juice into each jar and see what happens. Do not drink any of your potions. Blech. Worse than carrots.
- Why does the cabbage juice react differently to some substances than others? Try mixing the cabbage juice with other things you find in the kitchen, like baking powder or vinegar, and see what happens.
- For mysterious ooze, try mixing cornstarch and water in a cup. Start with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and gradually add dribbles of water, then a little more cornstarch, then a little water, until you get just the ooziness you want. Is the ooze a solid or a liquid? "Eeew! It's oozing across the table! Somebody stop it!" Food coloring will create a rainbow of different oozes.
- By the way, these mad scientist activities involve real science. What are the features of the things you created? How are the new creations different from the substances you combined to make them?
Curious for an answer? Look Behind the Scenes.
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