FIRE & ICE REACTION IN A JAR 
Watch science magic unfold before your eyes! This mesmerizing experiment creates a dramatic dance of fiery bubbles and cool ice, illustrating the amazing properties of density and chemical reactions.

Ingredients:

1 clear glass jar or vase

Vegetable oil (enough to fill ¾ of the jar)

½ cup water

Red food coloring

Blue food coloring

Crushed ice or small ice cubes

1 Alka-Seltzer tablet (or generic effervescent tablet)

A small cup for mixing

A spoon or dropper

Preparation Method:

Create the Oil Base: Fill your clear jar about ¾ of the way full with vegetable oil. Let it settle until it’s completely still.

Make the “Fire”: In a separate cup, mix the ½ cup of water with several drops of red food coloring. Stir until it’s a deep, vibrant red.

Layer the Liquids: Slowly and carefully pour the red water into the jar of oil. Observe how it immediately sinks and forms a separate layer at the bottom, like a pool of lava.

Add the “Ice”: Gently drop your crushed or small ice cubes on top of the oil layer. They will float at the oil-ice interface.

For a Blue Ice Effect (Optional): For an extra pop of color, you can toss a few ice cubes with a drop of blue food coloring before adding them in.

Unleash the Reaction: Break your Alka-Seltzer tablet into 3-4 pieces. Drop one piece into the jar and watch the magic begin! The tablet will sink to the water layer and create energetic red bubbles that erupt through the oil and ice like fiery blobs.

Sustain the Show: As the reaction slows, add another piece of the tablet to keep the incredible “fire and ice” display going!

Recipe Tips:

The Best View: Place your jar in front of a dark background or shine a flashlight through it to make the colorful reactions truly pop!

Sparkling Ice: For a magical, frosty effect, try adding a pinch of glitter to your ice cubes before freezing them.

Why It Works: The water and oil don’t mix because they have different densities (oil is lighter). The Alka-Seltzer tablet reacts with the water to create carbon dioxide gas bubbles. These bubbles grab bits of the colored water and carry them up through the oil until they pop, sending the water falling back down in a beautiful lava lamp effect!

Supervision is Key: This experiment is best done with adult supervision. It’s a fantastic way to make learning fun!

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