Oil and Water Experiment: Simple Science for Kids

A fun and simple science experiment for kids using just 3 common household items.

Experimenting with oil,water and dishwashing detergent is a fun way to explore basic chemistry with kids.

This science experiment is suitable for kids over 4 years of age.

There is no need any special equipment… in fact I am sure you already have everything you need in your kitchen cupboards. It can be a little messy so I suggest attempting the experiment outside or somewhere that is easy to clean.

When my kids and I are playing with science I like to ask them lots of questions and listen to their answers – they come up with some very imaginative responses. But if you are interested in the facts, I have included an explanation for what is happening at the end of the post.

Oil and Water Experiment: Simple Science for Kids

Oil, Water & Detergent Experiment

You will need:

  • Glass jam jars (with secure lids if you want to shake them)
  • Jug of water
  • Vegetable oil
  • Dishwashing detergent
  • Food colouring
  • Small container
  • Syringes or pipettes
  • A cloth for accidental spills
  • Optional: Table salt

Experiment Directions:
1. Pour one cup of water into your glass jam jar.

Oil and Water Experiment: Fun Science for Kids

2. Pour half a cup of vegetable oil on top of the water in the jar.

Oil and Water Experiment: Science for Kids

3. Stop and observe. Does the oil mix with the water? Screw the lid onto the jar and shake it…. can you make the oil and water  mix?

For children learning about density this is a great time to ask, “Is the vegetable oil more or less dense than the water?”

4. Mix a generous squirt of dishwashing detergent with some food colouring in the separate small container.

5. Using a dropper or a syringe squirt some coloured detergent into your oil and water filled jar.

Oil and Water Experiment: Simple Science Experiments for Kids
6. Watch what happens….. you should see a lava lamp like affect with bubbles of colour falling through the mixture.

Oil and Water Experiment
Repeat this progress as many times as you like.

7. If you would like to see a different reaction try pouring a teaspoon of salt into the mixture and watch what happens.

Oil and Water Experiment: Fun Science Experiments for Kids

Oil and water experiment explanation: What is happening?

There are a lot of interesting things to note during this experiment.

Firstly oil and water do not mix. Even if you shake the jar the oil will immediately separate from the water as soon as it settles. Oil molecules are attracted to other oil molecules so they stick together. The same goes for water molecules….. so they just don’t mix – they are immiscible.

Secondly, the oil always floats on top of the water because the oil has a lower density than water. You can find out why liquids layer by density in our Density Experiment.

Detergent is different again. It is attracted to both water and oil molecules. Detergent grabs onto both types of molecules causing oil droplets to be suspended in the water. When you shake the jar the detergent molecules adhere the water and oil together forming an emulsion. An emulsion is the combination of molecules that are not normally attracted to each other, that don’t usually mix. That is why detergent is so useful for cleaning greasy dishes!

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7 Comments

  1. i just have a simple question. Do you have to use a glass jar? Can it be plastic?

    1. Hi Cheryl, plastic will work too 🙂 Cheers Ali

  2. hello, is there any safety risks involved or no ?

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  4. Hi! What type of Chemical Reaction is this? Your answer is very much appreciated.

  5. can you use dishwashing liquid instead of detergant?

  6. Rebecca Green says:

    So, why does detergent separate water and oil?

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