Skittles Experiment

This skittles experiment is easy, low cost and provides lots of investigative opportunities. Try using different temperatures of water, white vinegar or even lemonade to discover what happens.

Colourful Skittles Experiment

What you need:

A plate or container – preferably white

Skittles, other coated sweets work too

Water

Skittles Experiment Instructions

Place your skittles or sweets into a white container, try to alternate the colours.

Carefully pour water into the container, if the skittles move, just push them back into place quickly.

Watch what happens..

Why do the colours spread?

Skittles are coated in food colouring and sugar. When you pour water over the skittles the coloured coating dissolves spreading through the water.

The colour and sugar dissolve into the water and then diffuse through the water, making it the colour of the skittle.

Extension ideas

Can you time how long the colours take to reach the centre of the plate using cold and warm water? Which do you think will be faster?

Try using other sweets, can you find any that work as well as skittles?

Questions to ask and think about

Why do you think the colours don’t mix?

Can you spot the ‘S’ from the skittles? What happens to it?

How could you speed up the reaction?

Do the colours mix eventually?

More science investigations you might like

Use any spare skittles to try some candy chromatography!

If you liked this activity you’ll love my other candy science experiments!

How about one of my easy Roald Dahl activity ideas. You can make potions for George, chocolate play dough for Charlie, a wormery for The Twits, an upside down house and lots more!

This growing gummy bear activity from Playdough to Plato looks fantastic too! Who wouldn’t want a bigger gummy bear?

If your children enjoyed this skittles experiment they’ll love one of my new books, Snackable Science!

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Last Updated on May 24, 2021 by Emma Vanstone