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    Home » Pumpkin Lava Lamps

    Pumpkin Lava Lamps

    September 26, 2018 By Emma Vanstone 3 Comments

    We’ve made normal lava lamps and spooky lava lamps and now pumpkin lava lamps. These are super easy to make and great fun to watch, especially in the dark.

    Other ideas are to try different colours, add glitter, or get creative and make them look like a witch or ghost.

    make a lava lamp like a pumpkin - image of pumpkin and lava lamp

    How to make a pumpkin lava lamp

    You will need

    • A clear plastic bottle or jar
    • A bottle of vegetable oil
    • Orange food colouring
    • Glitter
    • Water
    • Alka Seltzer
    • Black pen and pipe cleaners for decoration
    homemade lava lamp in the dark decorated like a pumpkin

    Lava Lamp Instructions

    Fill the bottle or jar  a quarter full with water, add some orange food colouring and mix well.

    Top up to the (near) top with the vegetable oil.

    They should separate into two layers, water at the bottom and oil sitting on top.

    Decorate as you wish, we used a black white board pen for the face.

    Pop in half an alka seltzer tablet and watch what happens.

    pumpkin lava lamps

    How do lava lamps work?

    Firstly water and oil will not mix – this is because we say that water is a polar molecule, it’s structure means that is has a positive charge one end and a negative charge the other. Water molecules stick together because the positive end of one water molecule is attracted to the negative end of another while oil molecule structure is different – it is non polar meaning that its charge is more evenly spread out, so the oil is not attracted to water, we call it hydrophobic (water fearing) so it tries to get as far away from water as possible and will not mix. The reason that oil rests on top of the water rather than underneath is because it has a different density to water.

    As the alka seltzer is added (this is made of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate) it reacts with the water and form carbon dioxide gas and Sodium citrate. It is the bubbles of carbon dioxide that carry the coloured water to the top giving a lava lamp effect.

    Pumpkin Lava Lamp
    pumpkin lava lamp experiment instructions

    More Halloween Science Experiments for Kids

    Try one of these great Halloween Science Experiments including jumping ghosts, a spooky noise maker and fake blood.

    Or how about giving one of our spooky Halloween STEM challenges a go?

    Last Updated on September 29, 2021 by Emma Vanstone

    « What is Osmosis?
    How to make a lava lamp »

    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda

      October 19, 2014 at 3:02 pm

      They are so cool I love them. We’ve been decorating pumpkins too.

      Reply
    2. susanna

      October 19, 2014 at 5:08 pm

      Very cool (and original)! I think we may try it at half term. x

      Reply
    3. Aly

      October 22, 2014 at 7:28 am

      I have loads of jars the girls can use to make these.This will be great for a half term activity next week.

      Reply

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