Category Archives: Fun experiments

Fun things to do with Glycerine

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What is Glycerine:

Glycerine (glycerin) is a sweet, colourless, odourless, viscous liquid that is widely used in laboratories, industry, around the home, making soaps and cosmetics and umpteen other uses. As well as serious applications it can also be used for many fun experiments and below is just a few that you can try out at home, in school or even at work.

List of Fun experiments with glycerin

  • Making your own snow globes.
  • Creating giant soap bubbles
  • Preserving branches
  • Making Lip balm and Lip gloss
  • How to make glass disappear and reappear
  • The Potassium Permanganate and Glycerine Exothermic Reaction
  • Bread clay

Making you own snow globes:

What you will need:

  • Glycerine.
  • An empty glass jar with a leak proof lid. You can use a jam jar or a larger one if you wish.
  • A figurine, a toy etc Make sure that it is not going to be damaged sitting in water and that it will fit in the jar.
  • Water.
  • Glitter (any colour you like).
  • Waterproof glue.
  • Food colouring (optional)

Remove the lid from the jar and glue the figurines etc to the inner side of the lid. Set it aside and allow to dry fully.

Turn the jar, right side up and pour in a few teaspoons of glycerine. Then half fill with water, stir thoroughly to ensure that the glycerin is full dissolved and add the glitter and food colouring: Finally fill up the jar with more water to about an inch from the top.

When the glue has dried on the lid, carefully place the lid on the jar avoiding hitting the glued-on object from being damaged as it is immersed in the liquid. You should see some water overflowing from the jar which is fine as you do not want any air in the snow globe. Tighten as tight as possible. Turn your jar onto its lid and check that no water is leaking. If there is any leaking you will need to remove the lid and apply some glue into the groves so that it seals it properly.

Creating Giant soap bubbles:

This is a cheap and highly enjoyable way to make your own soap bubbles that will keep children and adults entertained for hours. It makes excellent entertainment at parties, fairs, days out in the park or just in the privacy of your own back garden. It is also a great experiment to try at school to help teachers explain the chemistry and physics of bubbles.

What you will need:

  • 5Litres of water
  • 500mls of good quality washing up liquid.
  • 50mls of clear glycerine
  • A bucket
  • A plastic paddling pool or other large shallow container
  • coat hangers or a hula hoop
  • For enormous bubbles you will need 2 bamboo canes, 2 pieces of light string (one longer than the other) 2 eye hooks, a pair of pliers and 2 or 3 fishing shot weights.

Make up the solution in a bucket by slowly adding and mixing the detergent and glycerine into the water avoiding too much agitation so as not to produce foam. For the best quality bubbles you should let the solution rest for a day or so. The glycerine is used to improve the quality and longevity of the bubbles.

For simple, smaller bubbles you can use virtually any object with one or more holes in it. Try using a tennis racket, a kitchen whisk, cake shape cutters, a bubble pipe, or just a piece of wire in the shape of a circle.

For large bubbles pour the soap bubble solution into a small paddling pool or similar. Use a hula hoop to produce the bubbles by laying it flat in the liquid for a few seconds and then lifting it out slowly. Hold it flat and then quickly raise it, tilting it towards you to produce the bubble. Alternatively take a coat hanger and shape it into circle using the curved end as a handle.

For the super sized bubbles take 2 bamboo canes and screw two eye hooks into one end of each of the canes. Tie a length of light string to each of the eyes and then tie a second, about 2/3 the length of the first string to the sames eyes. The length of strings can be as long as you like and the longer they are the bigger the bubbles will be. It is necessary to add some weight to the longer piece of string and this can easily be achieved by using a few small fishing shot weights attached to the centre of the string using a pair of pliers. To produce the bubbles dip the ends of the bamboo with the string attached into a bucket of the soap solution. Lift it out and pull the bamboo canes apart so that you have a triangular shape of string in front of you. Step backwards and as the air passes through the string the bubble forms. It will take some practice to get the perfect bubble but once you have mastered it you will have endless fun.

Preserving Tree Branches, flowers and leaves:

  1. Cut branches when colour begins to change, before the leaves are completely tinted. (Fully turned leaves are too dry and brittle.) Beech, oak, wild apple, mountain ash and copper beech are well suited for this method of preservation.
  2. Use a solution of 2 parts water to 1 part glycerine. The amount needed depends on the size of the branches. (The stems must be in liquid to a depth of 3 to 4 inches.)
  3. Trim off any small twigs at the bottom of the branch. Slit the bottom of each stem with a sharp knife to 3 or so inches.
  4. Next, bruise the stalks with a hammer.
  5. Arrange the branches in a container of the water/glycerine mixture and place in a cool room for a week to ten days. The leaves will last for years! Makes great centerpieces and displays.
  6. You can do the same thing to preserve flowers, grasses and leaves and any other vegetation that you want to display or just keep for fun.

How to make your own Lip Balm and Lip Gloss:

You can make your own lip gloss easily with a few basic ingredients including glycerine. Glycerin is used in many cosmetic products as it is a natural moisturiser helping to keep lips and skin supple and hydrated.

What you will need

  • Glycerine (1 teaspoon)
  • Coconut oil or beeswax (7 grams)
  • vegetable oil  (4 tablespoons)
  • Natural food colouring (optional)
  • Natural food flavouring oils used in cake making. (5 drops)
  • Microwave safe dish
  • Glass jar
  • Hand whisk

Place the glycerine and beeswax / coconut oil in a dish and heat in a microwave until a clear solution is produced. Carefully lift out the hot dish and beat the solution with a hand whisk until a creamy mixture. Add in the glycerine, the food flavouring and colouring if desired and continue mixing until all the ingredients are fully blended. Cool down and store in a sealable glass jar.

When choosing you flavouring avoid using alcohol based products and look for essential oil types. You can look for fruity, minty, vanilla flavourings which all work well. Other types of essential oils like tea tree oil and rosemary have healing benefits.

How to make a piece of glass disappear and reappear:

If you take a piece of glass and drop it into a beaker of water we can clearly see it but if we place the same piece of glass in a beaker of Glycerin it will completely disappear. Now if you warm the beaker of glycerine the piece of glass starts to become clearly visible again. Why?

A better illustration of this experiment – Fill up a small narrow glass bottle with glycerine. Half fill a glass bowl or large drinking glass with water. Immerse the bottle of glycerin into the water and you can see the bottle quite clearly. Now empty out the water, dry the bowl and half fill with more glycerine. Now see what happens when you immerse the bottle of glycerine into the bowl – the bottle disappears….now that’s chemistry magic!!

Everyone knows that when you place a pencil in a beaker of water the pencil looks like it is bent and distorted. This is because of a property of light called refraction. Refraction causes light to bend when it passes from one substance into another, in this case from air to water. Since light travels slower in water than in air, water is said to have a greater optical density and refractive index.

Similarly when the piece of glass is dropped in the water the light travels slower through the glass than through the water and we can clearly see it as easily as if it was sitting on our hand.

In the case of glass and glycerol, these two have very similar refractive indexes (approx 1.47) and light passing through both mediums will bend the light by the same amount and there is no change in the path of light rays passing through both the mediums. Because of this we cannot detect the presence of piece of glass in the glycerin and hence the piece of glass looks invisible for our eyes. When we heat the glycerine the refractive index of the glass changes and light passes through it faster as if it were passing through water. Now the refractive indexes of the glycerine and glass are different and the light is bent through the glass making the glass visible.

The Potassium Permanganate and Glycerine Exothermic Reaction:

Please Note – this experiment is potentially hazardous producing fire and gas and must only be done by experienced adults in a safe controlled environment, either in a fume cupboard or outdoors. Always make sure that a bucket of sand is at hand to control the fire if necessary.

The experiment illustrates the oxidising power of potassium permanganate and that glycerine is a carbohydrate, a good source of energy. It also shows how an exothermic reaction occurs creating heat and light spontaneously from 2 chemicals.

What you will need

  • A pestle and mortar
  • A ceramic dish
  • A dropper
  • Potassium permanganate
  • Glycerin

First weigh out about 10g of potassium permanganate crystals and grind up to a very fine powder. Wear suitable personnel protection equipment to prevent inhaling any of the fine powder. Then place in a small pile in the centre of a ceramic dish and carefully using a dropper place 5 drops of glycerine into the centre of the pile. After less than a minute smoke will start appearing as the reaction begins and all of a sudden it will burst into a bright purple flame.

Making bread clay:

Making bread clay is simple yet fun to do for children of all ages. It can be moulded into all sorts of sizes and shapes and painted.

what you will need:

  • 6 slices of white bread with crust removed.
  • PVA glue (6 tablespoons)
  • Glycerine (2 tablespoons)
  • Food colouring (optional)
  • Mixing bowl.

Break up the bread in a bowl and add the PVA glue. Knead the mixture until a uniform paste is formed. Add the glycerine and food colouring and continue blending. Remove the paste and cut into desired shapes either using cookie cutters or moulding into your own shape. Brush the shape with an equal mixture of glue and water for a glossy finish. Allow to dry overnight before painting with acrylic paints.

Where to Buy Glycerine BP online UK

Where to buy glycerine GR Grade


How to make Copper Sulphate

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This is an easy way to produce copper sulphate either at home, at school or in a laboratory.

Please note: As you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to make your own copper sulphate crystals:

  • Copper carbonate or black copper oxide
  • Sulphuric acid
  • a clean beaker
  • A conical flask
  • A glass rod
  • A tripod
  • an evaporating dish
  • Gauze
  • Filter paper
  • A funnel
  • goggles
  • Gloves

Instructions on how to make copper sulphate:

  • Using gloves and goggles add sulphuric acid to copper carbonate or copper oxide until no more dissolves.
  • You will know when you have added enough as no more gas will be produced.
  • Filter the solution through the filter paper in a funnel onto an evaporating dish.
  • Heat the solution gently over a bunsen burner until most of the solution has evaporated and allow to cool.
  • crystals of copper sulphate will start to form on the dish.

Notes:

Always wear appropriate personal protection equipment when handling sulphuric acid as it is very corrosive.

Buy Copper Sulphate

How to grow copper sulfate crystals

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Growing crystals is fun and very rewarding. It does take time and a lot of patience but the final results can be amazing.

The secret to quality crystals is working with clean equipment and good quality copper sulfate. The process involves using a saturated solution to firstly create a single seed crystal and then growing this seed crystal as large as you like.

Please note: As you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to grow your own copper sulfate crystals:

  • Water
  • copper sulfate
  • 2 clean jars
  • Fishing line
  • A pencil or stiff wire
  • Tablespoon
  • A cloth
  • Gloves

Instructions on how to copper sulfate crystals:

Stage 1 – Producing a saturated solution.

  • Using gloves add copper sulfate to a jar containing water and stir until dissolved.
  • Keep adding more copper sulfate and mixing until no more will dissolve.
  • There should be some undissolved copper sulfate settled at the bottom of the jar.
  • Allow the jar to sit for an hour so that all undissolved solid settles to the bottom of the jar.
  • Carefully transfer only the liquid to a second clean jar and seal it for the next processes.

Stage 2 – Producing the seed crystal.

  • Pour some of the saturated solution into a clean jar.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and place in a dark place (cupboard etc).
  • A few crystal should start forming at the bottom of the jar. (see notes)
  • Allow them  to continue to grow until they are large enough to handle easily.
  • Remove the crystals from the jar and keep dry for using in the next process.
  • Seed crystals that you wish to keep for later should be wrapped in tissue.

Stage 3 – Growing the large crystals.

  • Take the original jar of saturated copper sulfate solution.
  • Tie one of the seed crystals to a length of fishing line.
  • Tie the other end of the line to a pencil or some stiff wire.
  • Immerse the seed crystal into the jar making sure that it is not touching the sides or the base.
  • Place the pencil or wire across the top of the jar and fix in position with a bit of tape.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and set aside to allow the crystal to grow.
  • Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, radiators etc.
  • As the crystal grows the level of the saturated solution will drop.
  • you can top up the solution by making more of it (repeat stage 1) and adding carefully so as to avoid disturbing the growing crystal.
  • You can continue doing this for days, weeks, months or even years – it just depends on how big a crystal you want to grow.
  • When you are happy with the finished crystal remove it and store it somewhere dry.

Notes:

For the cleanest crystals distilled water should be use instead of tap water .

It is very important that during all processes you keep the containers covered to prevent dust getting in which will spoil the crystals.

If during the seed growing process you notice that the complete surface of the base is covered in tiny crystals this means that the jar was not clean and you will need to start this process again.

Where to buy quality Copper Sulfate

How to grow Sodium Chloride Salt crystals

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Salt Crystal

Growing crystals is fun and very rewarding. It does take time and a lot of patience but the final results can be amazing.

The secret to quality crystals is working with clean equipment and good quality PDV Salt. The process involves using a saturated solution to firstly create a single seed crystal and then growing this seed crystal as large as you like.

Please note: As you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to grow your own Salt crystals:

  • Water
  • Sodium Chloride salt
  • 2 clean jars
  • Fishing line
  • A pencil or stiff wire
  • Tablespoon
  • A cloth
  • Gloves

Instructions on how to grow Salt crystals:

Stage 1 – Producing a saturated solution.

  • Using gloves add salt to a jar containing water and stir until dissolved.
  • Keep adding more salt and mixing until no more will dissolve.
  • There should be some undissolved alum settled at the bottom of the jar.
  • Allow the jar to sit for an hour so that all undissolved solid settles to the bottom of the jar.
  • Carefully transfer only the liquid to a second clean jar and seal it for the next processes.

Stage 2 – Producing the seed crystal.

  • Pour some of the saturated solution into a clean jar.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and place in a dark place (cupboard etc).
  • A few crystals should start forming at the bottom of the jar. (see notes)
  • Allow them  to continue to grow until they are large enough to handle easily.
  • Remove the crystals from the jar and keep dry for using in the next process.
  • Seed crystals that you wish to keep for later should be wrapped in tissue.

Stage 3 – Growing the large crystals.

  • Take the original jar of saturated salt solution.
  • Tie one of the seed crystals to a length of fishing line.
  • Tie the other end of the line to a pencil or some stiff wire.
  • Immerse the seed crystal into the jar making sure that it is not touching the sides or the base.
  • Place the pencil or wire across the top of the jar and fix in position with a bit of tape.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and set aside to allow the crystal to grow.
  • Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, radiators etc.
  • As the crystal grows the level of the saturated solution will drop.
  • you can top up the solution by making more of it (repeat stage 1) and adding carefully so as to avoid disturbing the growing crystal.
  • You can continue doing this for days, weeks, months or even years – it just depends on how big a crystal you want to grow.
  • When you are happy with the finished crystal remove it and store it somewhere dry.

Notes:

Salt is the short name for sodium chloride

For the cleanest crystals distilled water should be use instead of tap water .

It is very important that during all processes you keep the containers covered to prevent dust getting in which will spoil the crystals.

If during the seed growing process you notice that the complete surface of the base is covered in tiny crystals this means that the jar was not clean and you will need to start this process again.

Created by Mistral Pure Chemicals. View website

How to grow Alum crystals (Aluminium Potassium Sulphate)

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Growing crystals is fun and very rewarding. It does take time and a lot of patience but the final results can be amazing.

The secret to quality crystals is working with clean equipment and good quality Alum or Aluminium Potassium Sulphate. The process involves using a saturated solution to firstly create a single seed crystal and then growing this seed crystal as large as you like.

Please note: As you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to grow your own Alum crystals:

  • Water
  • Aluminium potassium sulphate 12 water
  • 2 clean jars
  • Fishing line
  • A pencil or stiff wire
  • Tablespoon
  • A cloth
  • Gloves

Instructions on how to Alum crystals:

Stage 1 – Producing a saturated solution.

  • Using gloves add alum to a jar containing water and stir until dissolved.
  • Keep adding more alum and mixing until no more will dissolve.
  • There should be some undissolved alum settled at the bottom of the jar.
  • Allow the jar to sit for an hour so that all undissolved solid settles to the bottom of the jar.
  • Carefully transfer only the liquid to a second clean jar and seal it for the next processes.

Stage 2 – Producing the seed crystal.

  • Pour some of the saturated solution into a clean jar.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and place in a dark place (cupboard etc).
  • A few crystal should start forming at the bottom of the jar. (see notes)
  • Allow them  to continue to grow until they are large enough to handle easily.
  • Remove the crystals from the jar and keep dry for using in the next process.
  • Seed crystals that you wish to keep for later should be wrapped in tissue.

Stage 3 – Growing the large crystals.

  • Take the original jar of saturated alum solution.
  • Tie one of the seed crystals to a length of fishing line.
  • Tie the other end of the line to a pencil or some stiff wire.
  • Immerse the seed crystal into the jar making sure that it is not touching the sides or the base.
  • Place the pencil or wire across the top of the jar and fix in position with a bit of tape.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and set aside to allow the crystal to grow.
  • Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, radiators etc.
  • As the crystal grows the level of the saturated solution will drop.
  • you can top up the solution by making more of it (repeat stage 1) and adding carefully so as to avoid disturbing the growing crystal.
  • You can continue doing this for days, weeks, months or even years – it just depends on how big a crystal you want to grow.
  • When you are happy with the finished crystal remove it and store it somewhere dry.

Notes:

Alum is the short name for aluminium potassium sulphate dodecahydrate (12 water)

For the cleanest crystals distilled water should be use instead of tap water .

It is very important that during all processes you keep the containers covered to prevent dust getting in which will spoil the crystals.

If during the seed growing process you notice that the complete surface of the base is covered in tiny crystals this means that the jar was not clean and you will need to start this process again.

Where to buy quality Alum

How to grow copper sulphate crystals

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Growing crystals is fun and very rewarding. It does take time and a lot of patience but the final results can be amazing.

The secret to quality crystals is working with clean equipment and good quality copper sulphate. The process involves using a saturated solution to firstly create a single seed crystal and then growing this seed crystal as large as you like.

Please note: As you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to grow your own copper sulphate crystals:

  • Water
  • copper sulphate
  • 2 clean jars
  • Fishing line
  • A pencil or stiff wire
  • Tablespoon
  • A cloth
  • Gloves

Instructions on how to copper sulphate crystals:

Stage 1 – Producing a saturated solution.

  • Using gloves add copper sulphate to a jar containing water and stir until dissolved.
  • Keep adding more copper sulphate and mixing until no more will dissolve.
  • There should be some undissolved copper sulfate settled at the bottom of the jar.
  • Allow the jar to sit for an hour so that all undissolved solid settles to the bottom of the jar.
  • Carefully transfer only the liquid to a second clean jar and seal it for the next processes.

Stage 2 – Producing the seed crystal.

  • Pour some of the saturated solution into a clean jar.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and place in a dark place (cupboard etc).
  • A few crystal should start forming at the bottom of the jar. (see notes)
  • Allow them  to continue to grow until they are large enough to handle easily.
  • Remove the crystals from the jar and keep dry for using in the next process.
  • Seed crystals that you wish to keep for later should be wrapped in tissue.

Stage 3 – Growing the large crystals.

  • Take the original jar of saturated copper sulphate solution.
  • Tie one of the seed crystals to a length of fishing line.
  • Tie the other end of the line to a pencil or some stiff wire.
  • Immerse the seed crystal into the jar making sure that it is not touching the sides or the base.
  • Place the pencil or wire across the top of the jar and fix in position with a bit of tape.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and set aside to allow the crystal to grow.
  • Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, radiators etc.
  • As the crystal grows the level of the saturated solution will drop.
  • you can top up the solution by making more of it (repeat stage 1) and adding carefully so as to avoid disturbing the growing crystal.
  • You can continue doing this for days, weeks, months or even years – it just depends on how big a crystal you want to grow.
  • When you are happy with the finished crystal remove it and store it somewhere dry.

Notes:

For the cleanest crystals distilled water should be use instead of tap water .

It is very important that during all processes you keep the containers covered to prevent dust getting in which will spoil the crystals.

If during the seed growing process you notice that the complete surface of the base is covered in tiny crystals this means that the jar was not clean and you will need to start this process again.

Where to buy quality Copper Sulphate

How to grow borax crystal snowflakes and other shapes

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Making snowflakes, stars, reindeers, virtually any shape you like with borax is fun and easy to do. It is great for making your own decorations for christmas to hang on the christmas tree or around the house. Why not give to friends and family as presents.  How about giving your best friend their name in borax crystals.

Please note: As borax is dangerous if swallowed and you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to make your own borax crystals:

  • Water
  • Borax decahydrate
  • Glass Jar or bowl
  • Pipe cleaners (white or coloured)
  • Blue Food colouring
  • A pencil
  • Tablespoon
  • string
  • Gloves

Where to buy Borax online UK

Instructions on how to make borax crystal shapes:

  • Firstly make the shape you want with the pipe cleaner (see notes below)
  • Tie some string to the pipe cleaner shape and at the other end attach the string to a pencil or other rod which is wider than the top of the jar or bowl.
  • Fill the jar or bowl with boiling water
  • Wearing gloves carefully add 1 tablespoon of borax powder and stir until dissolved.
  • Keep adding 1 tablespoon at a time and mixing until dissolved.
  • When no more borax will dissolve and some sits at the bottom then stop adding more.
  • Add a few  drops of  blue food colouring to colour if you wish and mix thoroughly.
  • Slowly drop the snowflake or other shape into the jar ensuring that it is fully immersed and does not touch the bottom.
  • Fix it in position with the pencil resting across the top of the jar.
  • Leave overnight and the crystals will grow on the surface of the pipe cleaners.
  • Hang the shapes using thread.

Notes:

For every cupful of water you will require approximately 3 tablespoons of Borax.

To make the snowflake take three equal lengths of pipe cleaners. Twist them together at the centre to form a six sided shape.

For more complicated shapes you can use templates like cookie cutters and simply bend the pipecleaners around the shape.

Borax crystals cannot be coloured although blue dye will add a blue hue to them.

Using coloured pipe cleaners will produce coloured shapes.

Where to buy borax

Where to buy boric acid powder

How to make slime with Borax

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Making slime with borax is fun and easy to do. As borax is dangerous if swallowed it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to make your own slime:

  • Water
  • Borax decahydrate
  • PVA glue (white craft glue)
  • 2 bowls
  • Food colouring
  • A plastic teaspoon
  • Plastic resealable food bag
  • Gloves

Instructions on how to make slime:

  • Wearing gloves carefully add 1 teaspoon of borax powder and 1 cupful of warm water in one bowl.
  • Stir continually until all the borax has dissolved and the solution is clear.
  • In the second bowl add 1/2 cupful of PVA and 1/2 cupful of water and mix thoroughly
  • Add 2 drops of  food colouring to the PVA glue and mix thoroughly.
  • Slowly add the glue mix to the borax solution with continual stirring.
  • The slime will start to form a ball. Keep stirring slowly.
  • Take the ball of slime out of the bowl leaving excess water behind.
  • Knead the ball bewteen your hands and it will get less sticky.
  • Wash the ball with water and it is ready to play with.
  • Store the ball in the plasic resealable bag and it will keep for a couple of weeks.

Where to buy borax online

Where to buy boric acid powder

How To Change The Colour Of A Campfire

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Sitting in front of a fire or enjoying the dancing flames with family and friends over good conversation is a great way to pass an evening. Adding some flair and colour to the fire with everyday items will astound your guests and make them squeal with delight. Several household items change the colour of a fire from standard orange and yellow to blues, greens and reds.

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

  • One of several chemicals listed below
  • A fire
  • Personal protective equipment

The most important and first step is read all the warnings for this article. If you don’t, very bad things could happen.

Now determine what colour you want to change the flame to. The options are red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, purple, and bright white.

Now you need to get some of the material required to give you your desired colour, these are all available from mistralni.co.uk

Here’s the breakdown by colour:

Colour Salts
Red Any Strontium salt like Strontium Nitrate
Orange Calcium Chloride
Yellow Sodium Nitrate, Sodium Chloride (Table Salt)
Green Barium salts such as Barium nitrate, Borax
Turquoise Copper sulphate
Blue Copper (II) Chloride (Campfire Blue)
Purple Potassium Permanganate
White Magnesium Sulphate

There are a few different methods you can use, they are listed below.

  • Toss dry colorants onto the flames.
  • Soak logs in an alcohol solution of colorants.
  • Soak logs in an aqueous (water) solution of colorants and allow the logs to dry.
  • Prepare pinecones, sawdust, or cork with colorants.

In general, there is no specific ratio of colorant to mix with the alcohol or water. Add as much powdered colorant as will dissolve in the liquid. Don’t attempt to mix colours together – you will probably end up with a normal yellow flame. If you want multicoloured fire, try adding a few different pinecones, each soaked with a single colorant, or scatter a mixture of dried coloured sawdust across the fire.

How to Prepare Pinecones or Sawdust

Remember to do this procedure separately for each colour. You can combine some sawdust, dry pinecones or any other absorbant material with different colorants later.

  1. Pour water into a bucket. Use sufficient water to be able to wet your pinecones, sawdust, or waste cork. (Skip to step 3 if you purchased your colorant in liquid form.)
  2. Stir in colorant until you can’t dissolve any more. For sawdust or waste cork, you may also add some liquid glue, which will allow the pieces to stick together and form larger chunks.
  3. Add the pinecones, sawdust, or cork. Mix to form an even coat.
  4. Let the material soak in the colorant mixture for several hours or overnight.
  5. Spread the pieces out to dry. If desired, pinecones may be placed in a paper or mesh bag. You can spread sawdust or cork out on paper, which will also produce coloured flames.

How to Prepare Logs

Follow steps 1 and 2 above and either roll a log around in the container (big container, small log) or else pour and spread the mixture onto the logs. Wear appropiate protective gloves to protect yourself. Allow them to dry. You can make your own newspaper logs by smearing colorant onto the newspaper before rolling it.

Points to Keep in Mind

  • Always take care and use the appropiate protective equipment when working with chemicals or fire.
  • Keep the colorants away from children and handle them with the care and respect due to potentially hazardous chemicals. Read and adhere to any warnings listed on product labels.
  • The element sodium burns with a yellow flame. The presence of this element can overwhelm any other colour. For this reason you should avoid using sodium if you are making a dry mixture.
  • If you are using alcohol-based colorants: Remember that alcohol is flammable. If you don’t allow it to evaporate before use, you will get a lighter-fluid effect. Use with care!
  • You should not try to colour the color of a barbecue, because although it will produce pretty flames it can also produce toxic fumes that will go into the food.

How To Make A Snowglobe

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What You Will Need

Small Jars with Lids
Propylene Glycol
Egg Shell and/or Glitter
Glue Gun or Sealant
Decorative Objects

Instructions

1. Use a glue gun, aquarium sealant, or florist clay to adhere your ‘scene’ to the inside of the lid. Allow glue to ‘set’ the required time before adding liquid.
2. Fill the jar with propylene glycol, it will make the snow and/or glitter fall slower.
3. Add crushed egg shell for snow and glitter, if desired.
4. Carefully set the lid (with scene) onto the full jar and seal it tightly.
5. You may wish to apply more glue or sealant around the outside rim of the jar to ensure a good seal.

Tips

  • Adut supervision is required if you are using a glue gun or sealant. Sealants often give off toxic fumes, so be careful!
  • Crush egg shells by rolling over then with a rolling pin, with the shells inside a heavy duty plastic bag.
  • Use your creativity! You can add food colouring, bits of costume jewellery, make figures from plastic twist-ties, etc.
  • You can make a decorative cover for the lid with fabric and ribbon.

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