color mixing magic milk experiment

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Magic Milk STEM Experiment: Colorful Science for Kids

Are you ready to have some STEM fun with your kiddos? There’s more to this Magic Milk experiment than meets the eye. Learn all about color mixing, chemical reactions, surface tension, and more!

STEM activities provide a fantastic opportunity for kids to explore the world around them and develop a love for science. The “Magic Milk” experiment combines the principles of chemistry and color theory to create a visually appealing and fun learning experience.

Magic Milk is a simple, inexpensive, and safe STEM activity that kids of all ages can enjoy!

Whole milk, food coloring, and a bit of dish soap come together to show children a magical explosion of colors.

This activity not only piques their curiosity but also serves as an excellent teaching moment to delve into the science behind the colorful phenomena. Learning the concepts of surface tension, chemical reactions, and color mixing can begin to cultivate a lifelong love for STEM subjects.

This is one of those simple science experiments that can teach kids things they never thought of before! I first learned about this food coloring experiment (and many other simple experiments) from the  Steve Spangler Science website .

If you love doing STEM activities with your kids, make sure you check out my Earth Day Science Experiment and Snow Volcano Experiment activities too!

Let’s dive in and have some science fun!

The Science Behind Magic Milk

You might be wondering what causes the amazing color explosion in the magic milk STEM activity. There are several factors to consider in this fun science experiment:

To understand what’s happening in the Magic Milk STEM activity, it’s important to know that milk is made up of water, vitamins, minerals, fats, and protein molecules. In this experiment, you observe the interaction between fat (in the milk) and soap.

The type of milk you use for this activity matters . Whole milk has a higher fat content (roughly 3.25%) than reduced-fat varieties (like 2% or 1%).

The fat content of the milk is important for the chemical reaction involved in the activity.

Love crafts and easy DIY projects? Grab this mini activity book for more by clicking the image below – free! 👇

Food Coloring

Now, let’s move on to the color explosion. The magic milk experiment relies on the interaction between milk’s fat molecules and dish soap.

When you add dish soap to the plate of milk, its molecules mingle with the fat molecules, causing swirling patterns of color. This is because dish soap molecules have a dual personality, with a water-loving head (hydrophilic end) and a water-fearing (hydrophobic) head or end.

As the soap molecules find their way into the milk, the hydrophobic end of a soap molecule grabs fat molecules. This forms little clusters called micelles, where the soap molecules surround and isolate the fat molecules. 

The colorful twist comes from the food coloring you’ve added to the milk. As the micelles move around, they push the food coloring molecules into different paths, leading to a rainbow of colors and mesmerizing patterns.

Surface Tension

The surface tension of the milk also plays a role in this activity. Surface tension is a property of liquids where molecules at the surface form a sort of dome due to their molecular bonds.

The dish soap disrupts the equilibrium of the milk’s surface tension, allowing the micelles to move freely and create those beautiful swirling patterns.

Magic milk is a great visual representation of scientific concepts, making it an excellent choice for a milk science fair project. Have fun experimenting with different types of milk to see how the fat content affects the results, and enjoy the dazzling display of colors!

Magic Milk Science Experiment Materials Needed

All you need to do this are a few common everyday ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen! 

Let’s make sure you have everything ready to dive into some colorful, milky science by gathering up these supplies:

• Whole milk – other percentages can be used as a variable
• Liquid food coloring – in a variety of colors like primary colors or pastel colors (I used orange, green, yellow, red)
• Dish soap (e.g., Dawn dish soap)
• Q-tips – cotton swab or cotton ball

Magic Milk Step-by-Step Directions

Introducing the Magic Milk STEM activity, an engaging and fun experiment for kids and preschoolers. This eye-catching activity provides a great opportunity for little scientists to observe fascinating color changes and reactions. Follow this friendly, step-by-step procedure to create some science fun at home.

Pour milk onto the large, shallow glass plate. Pour just a thin layer of milk to cover the bottom of the plate.

Drop 4-5 drops of food coloring (in the colors of your choice) around the plate. Leave a little space between each drop. 

Pro Tip: You can use as many colors as you like, and placing them near each other will create more exciting visual effects.

Each time you use a color, add a drop of dish soap to your cotton swab.

Place the Q-tip in the middle of the food coloring in the milk.

Watch what happens to the food coloring!

Swirl the Q-tip around and ‘paint’ the milk. Watch the cool patterns in the milk as you do this.

Observe The Magic Milk In Action

Touch the dishwashing liquid-covered Q-tip gently to the milk’s surface, preferably near the food coloring drops.

You’ll quickly notice the food coloring appears to burst and dance across the surface of the milk. This happens because the dish soap breaks down the fat molecules in the milk, causing the molecules to move quickly and spread out the food coloring within the milk.

The result is a mesmerizing display of swirling colors that is sure to inspire young minds!

Magic Milk Experiment Variations and Extensions

This experiment is easy and uses inexpensive materials. More importantly, it’s fun for kids!

If you’re looking to expand on the magic milk STEM activity, here are a few options to consider:

• Experiment with different types of milk:  Try using different types of milk, like skim milk, 1%, 2%, and whole milk to observe how the variations impact the experiment. Compare the results and see if your child can determine if the fat content in the milk has an effect on how the colors move. You can also try using different kinds of milk , such as almond, soy, or oat milk, to see how that variable impacts your results.
• Play with the colors:   Encourage your child to mix different food colors and see what new colors they can create in their rainbow milk experiment. This will give the experiment a creative touch and help your child learn color combinations when mixing different colors.
• Gel food coloring:  To take the experiment to another level, try using gel food coloring instead of liquid. Gel food coloring is more concentrated, so it might produce different results. This variation can help your child learn about the different forms and properties of colorants.
• Create patterns:   Teach your child to create various patterns (such as concentric circles), different shapes, a color grid, or even draw a simple picture using the food coloring drops. This offers to make an art project out of the science experiment.
• Play with the thickness of the milk:  Instead of a thin layer of milk on a dish, what happens if you use a glass of milk?

Here are some additional ideas for color-changing milk experiment variations and extensions that can be tried at home:

• Use a dropper to add the dish soap, and try placing it at different spots on the milk to see how the colors react.
• Experiment with different dish soap brands or even liquid hand soap, comparing how they affect the color explosion in the milk.
• Place a piece of paper on top of the milk after the colors have exploded and gently press on it. Carefully lift the paper and let it dry, creating a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece of art!

Enjoy exploring these easy science experiment variations with your child, allowing them to develop their creativity while learning about the properties of liquids and colors.

Important Magic Milk Safety Notes

First and foremost, always have  adult supervision  when conducting this experiment with young children. While the materials involved are generally safe, adult guidance will help avoid any mishaps and ensure proper handling of the supplies.

Keep the food coloring and dish soap out of reach of children.

Here are some essential safety tips to remember while performing the magic milk activity:

• Use only non-toxic food coloring and dish soap that are safe for children.
• Be mindful of possible allergies to milk or any other ingredients used in the activity. If a child has a milk allergy, consider using a non-dairy alternative.
• Gently pour the milk into the shallow dish to prevent any spills, and securely close the food coloring and dish soap containers when not in use.

I HIGHLY recommend having paper towels or cleaning cloths handy to clean up any spills immediately to avoid stains.

Magic Milk Questions to Consider

As you conduct the magic milk STEM activity and take note of your magic milk experiment results, it’s helpful to keep a few questions in mind to promote critical thinking, observation, and understanding of the underlying concepts.

What did you notice before and after? 

Did you notice a plain layer of milk and food coloring drops sitting on top before you started the experiment? After adding the dish soap and witnessing the reaction, focus on the patterns and changes in the colors.

Comparing these observations before and after will help you understand how the dish soap interacts with the milk.

What happened when you put the Q-tip in the milk? 

When you dipped the Q-tip in dish soap and touched it to the milk surface, the colors likely moved rapidly and created an explosion of vibrant patterns.

Take note of how the colors interacted with each other, and how the movement changed over time.

Why do you think that happened? 

This reaction occurs because the dish soap disrupts the bonds between fats and water molecules in the milk, causing the food coloring to move along with the separation.

Consider how the chemicals in the dish soap and the properties of the milk contributed to this effect.

Why do you think the colors stopped moving? 

Eventually, the colors will slow down and stop moving. This is because the dish soap has reached a saturation point, where it cannot disrupt any more molecules in the milk.

It’s interesting to explore how saturation affects the reaction and its limits.

What else did you observe? 

Apart from the main reaction, there may have been other subtle details to observe. For example, maybe you noticed that different food coloring colors spread at different rates or created distinct patterns. Reflecting on your overall observations can lead to deeper comprehension and appreciation for the magic milk experiment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Whole milk is the preferred choice for the magic milk experiment due to its higher fat content. The fat in the milk interacts with the dish soap, allowing the food coloring to spread and create the “magic” effect. You could also use 2% milk, but the results might not be as vibrant.

The magic milk experiment is a short-lived activity. Once you’ve mixed in the dish soap, the reaction occurs for a few minutes before the food coloring settles and the milk returns to its original state. It’s best to enjoy the experiment while it’s happening and not try to preserve or store the outcome.

If you’re having trouble with your magic milk experiment, there could be a few reasons. First, make sure you’re using whole milk, as the high fat content is essential for the best results. Second, ensure you’re using liquid food coloring, as gel or powdered forms may not produce the desired effect. Finally, check that you’re adding the dish soap correctly: add just a drop of soap in the center of the milk and the food coloring to see the reaction take place.

The magic milk experiment relies on the fat content in dairy milk for the reaction to occur. Almond milk, being a non-dairy milk substitute, generally has a lower fat content than whole milk. Although you can still try the experiment with almond milk, the results may vary and might not be as vibrant or impressive.

More Hands-On Fun

Isn’t this science activity lots of fun?! If you want even more great ideas and inspiration, check out these posts:

• Dancing Raisins Experiment
• Fireworks In A Jar Science Experiment
• Easy Rainbow Walking Water Experiment
• DIY Rainbow Spaghetti For Sensory Fun
• How To Melt Crayons Into New Shapes

Magic Milk STEM Experiment

Ingredients.

• Large dinner plate
• 1-2 cups of whole milk
• Food coloring (orange, green, yellow, red)
• Small container dish soap

Instructions

Pour milk onto the large glass plate. Pour enough milk to cover the bottom of the plate.

Drop 4-5 drops of each color of food coloring around the plate. Leave a little space between each drop. Dip a Q-tip into the dish soap each time you use a color.

Place the Q-tip in the middle of the food coloring in the milk. Watch what happens to the food coloring!

Swirl the Q-tip around and ‘paint’ the milk. Watch the cool patterns in the milk as you do this.

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Magic Milk Science Experiment for Kids

Nothing happens if you drip food coloring onto milk, but once you add a drop of dishwashing liquid, the milk turns into a swirling wheel of color. Here’s how to perform the magic milk science experiment and a look at how it works.

Magic Milk Materials

This is a great science project for kids because all you need is milk, food coloring, and dishwashing liquid. It’s also easy on your pocketbook because you only need a little of the ingredients.

• Food Coloring
• Dishwashing liquid

How to Do the Magic Milk Science Experiment

• Pour enough milk to cover the bottom of a small place or shallow saucer.
• Add a few drops of food coloring. You don’t need to use different colors, but if you do, you can explore how colors combine to make new ones.
• Observe how boring this is. The food coloring drops stay where you put them and may even sink into the milk and disappear.
• Drip a droplet of dishwashing liquid onto the center of the milk. You don’t need to stir the milk. The colors immediately start to swirl on their own.

How the Magic Milk Experiment Works

Adding food coloring to milk doesn’t have much of an effect. Yes, you can color the milk if you stir it, but if you don’t stir it the color spreads by diffusion . Diffusion is a slow process and not very interesting to watch.

When you add dishwashing liquid, the colors start to swirl. Dishwashing liquid is a detergent. Detergents lower the surface tension of the water in the milk, making it easier for the ingredients on the plate to mix. You can observe surface tension if you pour water or milk into a glass and note you can overfill the container slightly. The anti-gravity water science trick also relies on surface tension.

But, that’s not all detergent does. Detergent is an emulsifier . Each detergent molecule has a hydrophobic (“water-fearing”) and hydrophilic (“water-loving”) portion. The hydrophilic portion orients toward water molecules, while the hydrophobic portion orients toward fat molecules. The end result is that detergent forms tiny spheres called micelles that separate the fat from the water. Basically, an emulsifier helps two immiscible (unmixable) liquids mix. The food coloring swirls throughout the milk as the detergent forms micelles around fat globules within it. The fat content of the milk matters. Skim milk contains very little fat, so the detergent doesn’t have a big effect on it. 2% milk and whole milk work much better for the magic milk project because they contain enough fat to cause a visible reaction between the detergent and milk.

From Project to Science Experiment

Science projects work due to scientific principles. For young explorers, you can explain that detergent changes the properties of milk so colors added to it mix better. Explain that the same process happens when you wash dishes. The detergent makes it easier for oil and grease to lift from dishes and get rinsed away. Also, this is a great project for kids to explore colors. They can see that blue and yellow combine to make green, red and blue combine to make purple, and so on.

But, older children can turn the science project into a science experiment. The difference is that an experiment uses the scientific method . In a nutshell, an investigator observes the project, makes a prediction or forms a hypothesis about what will happen if one thing is changed, and then conducts and experiment to see if the prediction was correct. Here are some ideas of factors to change to turn the magic milk project into a true magic milk science experiment.

• What happens if you increase the fat content of milk? You can compare skim, 2% milk, whole milk, and half-and-half. Or, you can mix oil in with milk before continuing the project. Is there a point where the thickness of the milk slows down the reaction?
• Does the project work with water? With vegetable oil? What happens if you mix water and oil and try the project?
• What happens if you sprinkle glitter onto the milk before adding the detergent?
• Temperature affects the rate of many processes and chemical reactions. Is there any difference if you use very color milk compared with hot milk?

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Magic Milk Science Experiment

How do you make magic milk or color changing rainbow milk? Let us show you how easy and fun simple science experiments can be! The chemical reaction in this magic milk experiment is fun to watch and makes for great hands-on learning. The perfect kitchen science as you already have all the items for it in your kitchen. Setting up science experiments at home is easier than you think.

WHAT IS MAGIC MILK?

We love super simple science experiments that you can pull out on a rainy afternoon (or in any weather). This magic milk experiment has to be one of our favorites and definitely for science experiments with milk!

Kids are naturally curious, and sharing fun, simple science activities at home or in the classroom is just another way to get kids to learn. We love to keep our science playful too! No two magic milk experiments will ever be the same!

Click here to get your free printable science guide!

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If you want to make this truly a science experiment or even a milk science fair project using the scientific method , you need to change one variable . You could repeat the experiment with different types of milk, such as skim milk, and observe the changes. Learn more about the scientific method for kids here .

• Full Fat Milk
• Liquid Food Coloring
• Dawn Dish Soap
• Cotton Swabs

NOTE: There are so many fat percentages available that the milk used is a fantastic variable to consider! Low-Fat Milk, Skim Milk, 1%, 2%, Half and Half, Cream, Heavy Whipping Cream…

MAGIC MILK INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: Start pouring your whole milk into a shallow dish or flat bottom surface. You don’t need a lot of milk, just enough to cover the bottom and then some.

If you have leftover milk, try our milk and vinegar plastic experim ent !

STEP 2: Next, you want to fill the top of the milk with drops of food coloring! Use as many different colors as you like.

TIP: Use a variety of colors or give your magic milk experiment a theme for the season or holiday!

STEP 3: Pour a small amount of dish soap into a separate bowl, and touch your cotton swab tip to the dish soap to coat it. Bring it over to your milk dish and gently touch the surface of the milk with the soapy cotton swab!

TIP: Try a cotton swab without dish soap first and see what happens. Talk about what is observed, then try the dish soap-soaked cotton swab and check out the difference. This is a great way to add more scientific thinking to the activity.

What happens? Make sure to read about how the magic milk experiment works below!

Remember, each time you try this magic milk experiment, it will look slightly different. It’s a fun fireworks science activity for the 4th of July or New Year!

Also, check out: Fireworks In A Jar Experiment

HOW DOES THE MAGIC MILK EXPERIMENT WORK?

Milk is made up of minerals, proteins, and fats. Proteins and fats are susceptible to changes. When dish soap is added to the milk, the soap molecules run around and try to attach to the fat molecules in the milk.

However, you wouldn’t see this change happen without the food coloring! The food coloring looks like fireworks because it’s getting bumped around , a color explosion.

The soap lowers the surface tension of the milk. When the soap molecules head for the fats, they form spherical micelles. This causes movement and creates cool bursts and swirls of color. After all the fat molecules have been found and equilibrium has been reached, there is no more movement. Are there any more hiding?

Try another cotton swab dipped in soap! 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• What did you notice before and after?
• What happened when you put the cotton swab in the milk?
• Why do you think that happened?
• Why do you think the colors stopped moving?
• What else did you observe?

MORE FUN COLOR-CHANGING MILK EXPERIMENTS

Magic milk experiments are super easy to create themes with for different holidays! Kids love mixing in a favorite holiday with science. I know this from experience!

• Lucky Magic Milk
• Cupid’s Magic Milk
• Frosty’s Magic Milk
• Santa’s Magic Milk

MORE FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS TO TRY

Love seeing chemical reactions? Check out our list of chemistry experiments for kids .

• Skittles Experiment
• Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
• Lava Lamp Experiment
• Growing Borax Crystals
• Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment
• Pop Rocks and Soda
• Magic Milk Experiment
• Egg In Vinegar Experiment

Printable Science Projects Pack

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

17 Comments

This activity is a staple in my house! 🙂 I wanted to say that, even though you say it’s great for little kids, my older kids (6 and ELEVEN) still love this, too!!! I’m not kidding- my eleven year old son asked to do magic milk last month. 🙂 Great fun!

This looks like a terrific idea to do with my kindergarten class! However, is there a possible substitute I can use for the milk?

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Interesting and funny experiments. I like fireworks activity. A ton of value in cheap science activities and experiments.

My son suggested swapping out the soap for sanitizer and it is awesome. The color just explodes!

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The experiment was fun. We read the explanation about the soap attaching to the fat molecules. We tried it with fat free milk and the same result occurred. Why?

I things with my 4 year old grandson, and this was amazing, we did over and over and when his mom came home from work, he had to show her. Thank you so much for sharing, as on a limited income your free things help me help him learn. Sincerely, it was fun looking forward to the next experiment.

Awesome! So glad to hear he loved it that much!

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See Exploding Colors in the Magic Milk Experiment

February 25, 2022 by Ana Dziengel 24 Comments

See exploding bursts of color in the amazing magic milk experiment! We’ll show you some two ways to do the experiment and an extension idea for the project as well.

When you add a little bit of dish soap to milk and food coloring, the colors swirl around to form what I would deem very artistic and abstract paintings! For the science behind it scroll to the end of this post.

The magic milk science experiment is a simple science experiment you can do with everyday materials. I love showing kids how to do chemistry experiments using simple household supplies. In fact I would argue that some of the best at-home science experiments use kitchen ingredient s !

We did this project in our after school classes and when our students asked to “take it home” I told them they could easily recreate it in their own kitchen.

Video Overview

Detailed instructions for the magic milk experiment:, how to do the magic milk experiment, magic milk experiment materials.

• Almond Milk or Cow’s Milk
• Q-tips (Cotton Swab)
• Cotton Balls
• Food coloring
• Shallow plate or wide bowls

Magic Milk Instructions: Method #1

• Fill a plate or bowl with milk.
• Drop in at least 2 drops of each of four colors of food coloring. The more variety of colors the cooler the painting.
• Generously dip the end of a q-tip in dish soap.
• Now dip the q-tip (cotton swab) into the milk next to a drop of color.
• The first thing that will happen is the color will burst as soon as the dish soap hits it. It’s a great effect but very short lived. Once there is a little dishsoap in the milk it no longer “bursts”.
• Gently swirl the q-tip through the different colors and you’ll see little rivers of color start to form.
• Continue until the colors begin to mix and become brown. Empty your plate/bowl and repeat.

Magic Milk Experiment Instructions: Method # 2

Time needed:  10 minutes.

This version of the magic milk experiment lasts a long time, provided kids can restrain themselves from moving the cotton ball!

Pour a thin layer of milk in a plate or bowl.

Add a few drops each of food coloring on the center of the plate.

Soak a cotton ball in dish soap.

Carefully place the cotton ball in the center. The colors will explode out of the center!

Let the reaction continue until the colors begin to mix and become brown.

Tips & More

• You don’t need that much milk! I vastly overestimated how much we would need. For a class of 25 kids we used 1 1/2 gallons of milk.
• This is a great use of expired milk products. Put that small amount of whipping cream at the back of your refrigerator to use.
• Kids love the magic aspect of this project. We called the cotton swabs “magic wands.”
• Too much swishing and swirling and you’ll end up with brown muck fast. Of course kids don’t seem to care!

A word about food insecurity

We try to be respectful of the challenges children and families face including food insecurity. As an educator, I try to avoid using food in projects when possible. I make exceptions for projects that may have a lot to teach kids and where I feel we won’t be wasteful. That said, please think carefully about the population of students and families you serve before doing this project. Consider whether they would find this wasteful or offensive before proceeding. Also consider vegan families who may not want their children working with animal products; see some of the alternatives we suggest below.

Magic Milk Variations

• Try Different Milk Types  We have used almond and cow’s milk for this experiment and both worked well. The higher the fat content of the milk the more pronounced the “explosions” should be. A fun experiment would be to compare the results with different types of milk: almond, cow, rice, coconut. You can also experiment with cream, whole milk, and skim milk to see if there is a difference.
• Premix the soap and milk For a variation we premixed the milk and dish soap. You won’t have the color burst effect but it does seem to keep the colors separate a little longer.

The Science Behind the Magic Milk Experiment:

The dish soap molecules are attracted to the fat molecules in the milk. As soon as you introduce the soap to the milk/coloring mixture the molecules race around trying to bond. The food coloring gets pushed around in the process and appears to burst. Eventually the molecules all bond and the reaction stops.

This is a good example of how detergents work, their molecules have two ends: one end is attracted to oils and the other to water. One end of detergent molecules attracts oils and dirt from clothes, dishes etc., and as they stick together they break the oil and dirt down into smaller, easy to remove pieces.

How to Do the Magic Milk Experiment in the Classroom

If you would like to the magic milk experiment with a class full of kids here are step-by step instructions.

Per student Materials:

• (1) Small Plate or other shallow dish (make sure these are waterproof)
• (1) Large Plate or other shallow dish
• Tray to put underneath

NOTE: You may also use a divided plate as pictured above.

T eacher’s Materials:

• Milk 1.5 gallons per class of 25 students
• Tubs to collect dishes in afterwards

Sh ared Materials:

• Small bowl of dish soap
• Q-tips (Cotton swabs)
• Small bottles of liquid food coloring

Experiment #1 Procedure:

• Pass out per student materials. Ask students to place the small plate in the center of the table. It will be used for the second experiment. Ask students to place the large plate in the center of their tray.
• Explain the experiment first. Tell students they will be making colorful explosions using milk and food coloring and a “magic ingredient.” Tell students to use only a few drops of food coloring once it is available. Demonstrate how to carefully squeeze drops out of the food coloring bottles.
• Teacher(s) pour a thin layer of milk in each plate.
• Pass out the shared materials to each group of students.
• Ask students to carefully drop several drops of food coloring in the milk around their plate. Remind them not to disturb the color.
• When everyone has added color tell students to grab a “magic wand” AKA a Q-tip. Ask them to dip the wand into the magic ingredient (soap) but hold it to the side of the plate until everyone is ready. You can ask them if they know what the magic ingredient is.
• Do a countdown and on the count of 3 student should dip their q-tip into one of the drops of color. Instruct students to continue dipping the q-tip into the other drops. Listen for the oohs and aahs!
• When done the teacher should place the plates and milk in tubs to clean.

Experiment #2 Procedure:

• Ask students to place the small plate in the center of their tray.
• Teacher(s) pour a thin layer of milk in each small plate.
• Ask students to carefully drop a good squeeze of three colors of food coloring near the center of their plate. Remind them not to disturb the color.
• When everyone has added color tell students to dip a cotton ball in the soap.
• Instruct students to place the cotton ball in the center of the plate and not move it. See video below. This is an exercise in restraint!
• Watch as the color explodes out of the center of the plate/cotton ball.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ana from Babble Dabble Do (@babbledabbledo)

Turn the magic milk experiment into colorful paper!

Did you know you can expand on this experiment by making Marbled Milk Paper ?

Go HERE   for instructions: 

More Favorite Science Projects to Try:

Michelle - Little Paper Dog says

January 29, 2013 at 7:17 pm

So cool! I can’t wait to try this out with my little guy. 🙂

Ana Dziengel says

January 30, 2013 at 2:28 pm

Thanks Michelle! So simple and fun! BTW your blog is lovely! I particularly love that you have fast and easy projects; I’m trying to do something similar on my blog: quick, easy, simple projects using stuff you already have on hand.

Amanda Preiser says

April 18, 2013 at 5:06 am

This is awesome my daughter and I are going to do this today!

April 18, 2013 at 5:33 am

Thanks for stopping in Amanda! It’s a super fun and simple project. Enjoy!

August 21, 2014 at 11:08 am

Thanks! I’m an art teacher. There’s so many meet ideas I got from your blog. Thanks!

September 4, 2014 at 3:49 am

Linda, I’m thrilled to hear it! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

Denise says

August 23, 2014 at 1:45 pm

what type of paper did you use for the milk painting project?

September 4, 2014 at 3:51 am

Hi Denise, I used watercolor paper 🙂

Virginia says

January 3, 2015 at 12:34 pm

Did I miss something? I didn’t see directions for a little paper dog. I love this site. GREAT ideas Sorry if ? is dum! I can hardly wait to make the crystals. You know, Epsom salts have done ‘miracles’ ever since I knew of them! They were up front and most important in the “medicine cabinet” of my parents who had fifteen children, therefore many opportunities to use the salts for ‘injuries, localized infections and sore spots.’ Now I see they can add enormously to the decorations in my life as well as do almost magical “healing” Wish my Dad could see those! “What a Wonderful World!” Thank-you!

January 5, 2015 at 5:30 am

Thanks Virginia!

Rachel Holland says

February 7, 2015 at 9:57 am

I have tried this experiment out with my children today. I was really excited about it after seeing the lovely photo’s etc, however it was a bit of a flop. Tried it with Almond milk as suggested and semi skimmed cows milk, but when we put in the washing up liquid not much really happened. We changed the washing up liquid and got much better colour spread. However when it did the colours almost pretty much disappeared and trying to get paintings from them was so wishy washy. Are food colourings in the US very different to those in the UK, or do I just need to buy better colourings? I assumed that the liquid colourings from my local supermarket would be fine. I have also tried with gel colouring (which is the only thing that most stores stock) but this wasn’t particularly good either. I really want to make some lovely backings for Mother’s day cards etc but I am drawing a blank! Any help you could give would be great.

February 19, 2015 at 4:14 am

Hi Rachel, I’m sorry to hear this! Gel food coloring will not work. Regular food coloring should work fine. You will need to make the prints right away, if you wait until the colors are mixed you will get muddy results. And make sure you are using watercolor paper. I tried the project using cardstock and regular paper and they just didn’t absorb the color well. I hope this helps and please keep me posted!

J lewis says

February 19, 2017 at 10:09 am

Hello there, We used paste food colouring from cake shop, used to colour roll out icing, much better than the supermarket colours, which are useless for most things now as they have changed the formulas. Mix the colour paste with a little water to make a strong coloured liquid, we use this for colouring pasta too and play dough.

February 22, 2017 at 5:19 am

Thanks for the tip!

August 19, 2015 at 9:18 am

Was looking for the science explanation (chemical reactions) to share with the students while doing this? I like teaching the science of a science based experiment.

Neera Talukder says

October 25, 2015 at 6:56 am

can the whole milk be used as a substitute for almond milk ?

November 9, 2015 at 9:12 am

Absolutely!

Peggy Ashbrook says

November 30, 2015 at 4:27 am

I love it when you add the science concepts involved, both at an adult level to refresh our memories or learn new, and at a level appropriate for young children. Exploring the properties of art materials engages children in art and science!

August 16, 2016 at 5:13 am

Thanks so much Peggy!

Lisa Lewis says

January 21, 2016 at 8:07 am

I have tried the milk art 3 times with my grandchildren. We were very excited to watch the action of the colors in the milk but no much happened. I used whole milk, food colors, and Dawn dish soap. But once I put the drops of soap in the colors spread a little and then nothing else happened, I have read the posts and people talk about all the movement of the colors but we didn’t get that result. Am I doing something wrong?

August 16, 2016 at 4:51 am

Once the soap and fat molecules combine the reaction does stop. We like to swirl the milk using Q-tips after and watch the colors swirl.

Milton Garcia says

August 7, 2016 at 7:01 am

Messy. But I think my kids would love this activity.

August 15, 2016 at 8:06 am

They will love it!

Morgan says

August 23, 2016 at 12:22 pm

This looks like so much, and I love how it turns out. This would be a great project to take on with my four-year-old! Thanks so much for the idea!

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Family Travel and Activities for kids

Science Experiment

Magic Milk Experiment for kids

I have been wanting to try out the magic milk experiment with my kids for a while. I thought it was a great way to introduce them to science and color mixing. We finally went for it!! We loved it! It is a very easy science experiment that will take you less than 5 minutes to put in place. And your kids are going to love the magic happening in front of their little eyes.

This milk and food coloring experiment is very easy to carry out at home.

What you will need for this color changing milk experiment

• Food coloring
• Cotton Swab
• Dish soap or detergent
• A bowl or a plate
• A small recipient for the detergent

Magic Milk Experiment Steps

What we like about this color changing milk experiment is that it will fascinate everyone from young kids to adults. 

Start by pouring the milk in your recipient. You should only aim at covering the bottom of your recipient or plate to not waste the milk. 

Then add drops of the different food coloring you have. You can either spread them or aim at the middle of the plate. We went with the primary colors (blue, red and yellow) to test out my kids color mixing theories!

Dip your cotton swab in the detergent and you are all set! The magic is ready to begin.

You can either let the detergent drop from the cotton swab or you can dip it in your plate!

Tadaaa!! The colors are running away from the cotton swab and getting mixed together.

As soon as we put the detergent in the milk, the food coloring moved from the middle of the plate. The colors stared mixing up and some green appeared on the top of the plate, a little bit of orange at the bottom ad well.

Then we kept on playing with it and saw the purple appearing as well!

It is very easy to guess where we dipped out detergent as the food coloring ran spread in a circle shape when it had enough room.

It’s a great experiment to watch. You can dip the cotton swab for quite some time if you do not leave it in the milk for more than a second each time.  After a little while, it won’t work anymore as the colors will be mixed with the milk. 

Here is what happened when I tried moving the recipient! Turned out to be great art!!

Magic Milk Experiment explanation

Milk is made up mostly of water but contains vitamins, minerals, proteins and fat. When you add food coloring, you can see that it does not mix up to the milk (while it does if you add it to water). The molecules on the surface of the milk have a strong connection to the molecules surrounding them and together they form a “film” on the surface on the milk. This film is like a little wall holding your food coloring drops on the surface. This phenomenon is called  Surface Tension .

When you add up your washing liquid, this little wall breaks apart. The molecules in the washing liquid weaken the molecules on the surface on the milk, thus destroying the film. This is why the food coloring can start mixing up with the milk. It is pushed around when the detergent and the fat in the milk react together.

You probably have seen that happening already when washing some very greasy dinner plates.  When you just add water to your plate, nothing happen. The grease stays there and does not mix up with the water. But as soon as you add up your washing liquid, the grease and the water can start mixing up and you can clean your plate!

Pepper and Milk Science Experiment 

You can try the same science experiment but replacing the food coloring with pepper. Pepper won’t mix up with the milk but you can still see it running away from the soap which is pretty cool.

That’s because the molecules on the surface of the milk still want to keep their surface tension going on. So they pull back from the soap and take the pepper with them!

Have you tried this magic milk experiment before? Did you enjoy it? 

If you are after more science experiments for kids, check out this lava lamp without alka seltzer .

You may also like

How to make lava lamp without alka seltzer

Experiments like these are perfect for kids to learn something while also having some fun. Thanks for sharing this idea and explaining it so well!

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Color Changing Milk

This is guaranteed to become one of your favorite kitchen chemistry experiments. some very unusual interactions take place when you mix a little milk, food coloring, and a drop of liquid soap. uncover the scientific secrets of soap..

Print this Experiment

This unforgettable hands-on learning experience is fun and easy—no wonder it’s one of Steve Spangler’s most popular experiments! Learn how to turn this activity into an awesome science fair project.

Experiment Videos

Here's What You'll Need

Milk (whole or 2%), dinner plate, food coloring (red, yellow, green, blue), dish-washing soap (dawn brand works well), cotton swabs, let's try it.

Pour enough milk in the dinner plate to completely cover the bottom to the depth of about 1 / 4 inch. Allow the milk to settle before moving on to the next step.

Add one drop of each of the four colors of food coloring—red, yellow, green, and blue—to the milk. Keep the drops close together in the center of the plate of milk.

Find a clean cotton swab for the next part of the experiment. Predict what will happen when you touch the tip of the cotton swab to the center of the milk. It’s important not to stir the mix—just touch it with the tip of the cotton swab. Go ahead and try it.

Now place a drop of liquid dish soap on the other end of the cotton swab. Place the soapy end of the cotton swab back in the middle of the milk and hold it there for 10 to 15 seconds. Look at that burst of color! It’s like the Fourth of July in a plate of milk.

Add another drop of soap to the tip of the cotton swab and try it again. Experiment with placing the cotton swab at different places in the milk. Notice that the colors in the milk continue to move even when the cotton swab is removed. What makes the food coloring in the milk move?

How Does It Work

Milk is mostly water, but it also contains vitamins, minerals, proteins, and tiny droplets of fat suspended in solution. Fats and proteins are sensitive to changes in the surrounding solution (the milk).

The secret of the bursting colors is in the chemistry of that tiny drop of soap. Like other oils, milk fat is a non-polar molecule and that means it doesn’t dissolve in water. When soap is mixed in, however, the non-polar (hydrophobic) portion of micelles (molecular soap structures in solution) break up and collect the non-polar fat molecules.Then the polar surface of the micelle (hydrophilic) connects to a polar water molecule with the fat held inside the soap micelle. Thanks to the soap connection, literally, the non-polar fat can then be carried by the polar water. This is when the fun begins.

The molecules of fat bend, roll, twist, and contort in all directions as the soap molecules race around to join up with the fat molecules. During all of this fat molecule gymnastics, the food coloring molecules are bumped and shoved everywhere, providing an easy way to observe all the invisible activity. As the soap becomes evenly mixed with the milk, the action slows down and eventually stops. This is why milk with a higher fat content produces a better explosion of color—there’s just more fat to combine with all of those soap molecules.

Try adding another drop of soap to see if there’s any more movement. If so, you discovered there are still more fat molecules that haven’t found a partner at the big color dance. Add another drop of soap to start the process again.

Take It Further

Repeat the experiment using water in place of milk. Will you get the same eruption of color? What kind of milk produces the best swirling of color, skim, 1%, 2%, or whole milk? Why? This is the basis of a great science fair project as you compare the effect that the dishwashing soap has on a number of different liquids. Do you see any pattern in your observations?

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Happy Hooligans

Crafts and Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers to Tweens

Magic Milk Experiment – an Explosion of Colour

Last updated on February 1, 2019

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The Magic Milk Experiment is such a cool way to teach kids about chemical reactions . You’ll set off an explosion of colour in a dish of milk, using just food colour and dish soap. The ever-changing waves of colour are fascinating to watch!

The magic milk experiment is one of those classic science activities  that’s been thrilling kids in classrooms and kitchens for years. If you’ve never tried it, you need to put it on your must-do list now.  It’s fun, quick, and easy, and kids of all ages (grown-ups too!) will find it fascinating!  Be warned though: you won’t just do it once.  If you’re like us, you’ll want to set those colours swirling, twirling and colliding over and over again!

To do the magic milk experiment, you’ll need:

• saucer or small plate
• milk (we used 1%, but 2% or whole milk is said to work best)
• liquid food colouring
• dish soap (I believe any brand will work)

To make the colour explosion happen:

Pour enough milk to cover the bottom of the saucer.

Gently drip one drop of each of the colours of food colouring on to the surface of the milk.  Drop your colours close together near the center of the saucer.

Now, grab a Q-tip, and coat one end with a drop of dish soap.

Now for the magic!

Press the soapy end of the Q-tip into the food colouring, where the colours intersect.  Hold it steady, and watch what happens!

Keep it in place for 10 or 15 seconds, observing how the colours continue to stream out from the Q-tip.

For fun, lift your Q-tip up, and press it down in another area of the plate where the colours have gathered.

Continue to move the Q-tip from one spot to the other, watching the colours swirl and churn and collide.

Try tipping and tilting the Q-tip to see what effect that has on the colours.

Remove the Q-tip completely, and watch in amazement as the colours continue to spin, whirl and twirl.

Isn’t that just the coolest?  You want to do it again, don’t you!

How does it happen?

Head over to Steve Spangler Science to find what makes milk, dish soap and food colouring behave this way when they’re combined.

For more easy preschool science experiments, check out:

10-minute, homemade butter

Expanding Ivory Soap Experiment

Ocean in a Bottle

Turning Grapes into Raisins

Water Displacement Experiment

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Reader Interactions

June 3, 2018 at 8:54 pm

Hi! This looks amazing!! Do you know if there is something else that can be used in place of cow’s milk? We are dairy-free due to my son’s allergy. Do you know if coconut milk work work due to its fat content? We have soy and pea milk at home, but those are low in fat. Thanks for the great idea!

happyhooligans

June 4, 2018 at 3:36 pm

I’m not sure if it would work with a non-dairy substitute, Betty. You could certainly pour a little into a saucer to see if it would work. If it doesn’t, you might pick up a small lunch box sized carton of milk for the experiment. Unless, of course, there’s the danger that your son might ingest some.

April 10, 2023 at 3:43 pm

Oh my goodness! This looks like so much fun. I might have to give this a go with my nieces.

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Laughing Kids Learn

Where learning is made fun

Magic Milk Science Experiment

August 3, 2014 by Kate 81 Comments

This particular science activity is lots of fun and a great introduction to those children who haven’t had much experience in observing chemical reactions etc. I had shared this magic milk science experiment  a long time ago and it proved particularly popular on my  Laughing Kids Learn Facebook page .

Recommended age: 2 years + (Active supervision is always advised with my activities)

You will need – 

• 1/2 cup – 1 cup milk
• 1 drop of dishwashing liquid
• food colouring
• toothpicks (optional)

This science experiment is simple to set up and quickly gets to the ‘wow factor’ that will bring a smile to your child’s face.

Simply begin by pouring milk onto a plate. You will need to ensure you have enough milk to cover the base of the plate.

Let the magic happen!!

Carefully add one drop of dishwashing liquid to the middle of the milk.

Quickly a chemical reaction will occur, which will see the colours begin to spread away from the dishwashing liquid drop and begin mixing and churning the colours.

It’s absolutely amazing and you can observe  it continually move and swirl for a decent amount of time!

What is the science behind it, simply put?

Milk is made up of mostly water but it does contain vitamins, minerals, proteins and small droplets of fat. The fat and proteins are super sensitive to changes in the milk and so when the dishwashing liquid is added a chemical reaction occurs.

The soap and fat work hard to join together, which causes the movement. When food colouring is added we are able to witness this chemical reaction occurring. See here for more information .

Going further

You might like to experiment further by adding an extra drop of soap to see if there is more movement. If you see more movement you’ve discovered that there was still more fat that hadn’t combined with the soap. You might like to continue the process.

Would your child love observing this science experiment?

Some other ideas you’ll love – 

August 9, 2014 at 2:07 am

This is so fun and easy. I really admire all of the cool experiments that you do with your little one.

March 27, 2017 at 3:32 am

You are right even though I don’t have kids.

August 9, 2014 at 2:08 am

Wow, this is so fun and easy. I really admire all of the cool experiments that you do with your little one.

August 9, 2014 at 3:59 pm

Awww thanks Nicole! We do have lots of fun. Thanks for popping by and taking the time to comment. 🙂

December 29, 2020 at 8:25 pm

What is the Aim behind this experiment?

August 11, 2014 at 11:25 pm

Love all the recipes please keep me posted.

August 12, 2014 at 8:49 pm

Have you subscribed to my blog Gwenda? I’d love to have you on board and that way you won’t miss a post. Click over to my blog http://www.laughingkidslearn.com and add your email address. Warm regards, Kate

August 18, 2014 at 4:33 pm

Great idea It doesn’t work with ecostore dishwashing liquid but my 3 year old had a great time swirling the colours Great blog!

August 18, 2014 at 4:58 pm

Thanks Heather for sharing that information. Very helpful! I’m really glad your little 3 year old still enjoyed the activity. We had lots of fun with it and little Possum found mixing the colours quite irresistible too. Hope you’ve had a chance to subscribe to my blog. Thank you kindly for your comments. 🙂

September 27, 2014 at 8:15 am

I love this and all of your posts. I have a little man (1 this December) and I have so many things to do with him, thanks to you! Cheers from Seattle!

September 27, 2014 at 9:06 pm

What a beautiful message to send me Meg. Thank you so very kindly. I’m thrilled to hear that you’re enjoying the posts I’m sharing and it is keeping your little one year old busy. I can imagine the visual of this science experiment would impress. 🙂

January 24, 2015 at 12:40 pm

I love your experiments. I teach a science club at the Boys & Girls Club And I frequently use your ideas.

January 26, 2015 at 5:02 pm

Thank you Dixie! I really appreciate hearing that. Feel free to send me through a photo and I can share it on our FB page. 🙂

February 24, 2015 at 2:29 am

This experiment is even better if you use half and half. More fat equals more reaction 🙂

February 24, 2015 at 8:11 am

So half milk and half detergent?

April 11, 2015 at 4:29 am

Half & Half is a high-fat milk product — half milk half cream.

April 11, 2015 at 11:49 pm

The more fat in the milk the greater the reaction will be thanks E. 🙂

December 7, 2015 at 10:56 pm

I would like to show this at a school in a slum area in Africa. However, I’m reluctant to “waste” any foodstuffs, in particular if the kids would long for eating/drinking it. Does anybody have an idea how the milk could possibly be replaced by other ingredients? Obviously fat would be required. I assume that the color of the milk also plays a role, so it is probably not easy.

December 7, 2015 at 11:16 pm

Thank you for your comment. I am no aware of any alternatives and can appreciate your thoughts on this. Is it possible for them to see a video of it being done. I know it isn’t the same as them actually doing it, but I’m sure they will still get the wow factor. Hope that helps.

January 19, 2016 at 12:35 pm

Thanks for this great idea! I am a homeschool mom and we are doing science experiment week. We are sooo doing this one this week! It’s very affordable and you already have the items on hand. Perfect!

January 19, 2016 at 11:33 pm

Hi Helen! So wonderful to receive your message. I’m thrilled you are going to give this experiment a go. We absolutely love it. 🙂

February 19, 2016 at 2:06 am

February 21, 2016 at 1:16 pm

You are very welcome Luke!

April 15, 2017 at 10:06 am

You could probably use oil and water as a substitute for milk.

Also, if you are going to use this to teach kids, it’s probably important to note that this isn’t a chemical reaction. Chemical reactions involve an irreversible change to the molecules themselves and are either exo or endothermic. This is neither. It’s actually physics…the milk’s surface tension is disturbed by the presence of dishwashing liquid (it probably wouldn’t work with dishwasher detergent, so if people are having issues, double check which kind of detergent you are using). Still a very cool demonstration of science. I can’t wait to try it with my niece.

April 16, 2017 at 5:52 pm

Thank you for your great comments. I will keep them in mind the next time I do a similar type activity.

September 9, 2016 at 3:42 pm

You named your child Possum?

September 11, 2016 at 8:35 am

February 11, 2019 at 5:22 am

September 27, 2016 at 11:30 pm

you make Grandparenting babysitting a “joy” …thank you for all the easy and quick ideas!

September 28, 2016 at 5:39 pm

Oh Joy, you make me smile from ear to ear. Thank you so much. Love to hear which activity you have enjoyed the most. 🙂

November 8, 2016 at 10:54 am

I’ve tried this with whole milk and 3 different types of dish soap and I can’t get it to work! What am I doing wrong?!

November 9, 2016 at 2:12 pm

How unusual! The fat in the whole fat cows milk reacts to the dish soap. I can only image that you might be using soap free variety of dish soap or a variation of milk (soy, almond etc won’t work). Let me know how you go Dena.

January 23, 2017 at 4:49 am

Thank you! My 8-year-old loved it and my 15-month old liked watching it. Thanks for sharing!!!

January 23, 2017 at 9:59 pm

You’re so very welcome Maria. Thrilled you were able to entertain both ages. 🙂

February 14, 2017 at 2:53 am

I tried this with my 3 and a half year old today & it didn’t work. We ended up with a murky mess. It seemed there was a reaction as soon as I added the food colouring (I hadn’t added the soap at this point). It was fun to do anyway as we tried to figure out why it didn’t look like your photos and we got a “wow” regardless! Thank you

February 14, 2017 at 6:05 pm

Hi Tracy. I’m so confused why it wouldn’t work for you! It’s the detergent attaching itself to the fat molecules in the milk that causes the reaction so you should see a reaction when you have the milk and food colouring together then add the detergent. Sometimes if you don’t have a full fat milk it can reduce the reaction. I’m glad you still had fun.

March 6, 2017 at 8:33 am

Is your child learning about colour? You’ll be amazed at the beautiful creation you make together in this easy and inexpensive activity! Who says art and science don’t mix?

March 25, 2017 at 4:24 am

The is goneing to be good i like a lot me will do it at home i like do cool thing

March 30, 2017 at 2:14 pm

Have fun with it. 🙂

November 12, 2018 at 1:58 pm

SOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

November 19, 2018 at 11:00 pm

Thank you! 🙂

July 1, 2019 at 2:52 pm

I am from New Zealand.

June 4, 2020 at 12:59 am

Thank you so much! we had a blast!

June 9, 2020 at 2:11 pm

Yay! That’s wonderful news.

October 4, 2020 at 5:10 pm

Hello lovely blog and photos BUT please adjust your explanation. This is NOT strictly a “chemical reaction” as the molecules do not break and form new bonds to form new chemical entities, instead they simply move around due to intermolecular forces between the different molecules – fat, protein and water – where positive, negative, hydrophilic or hydrophobic ends of the different molecules attract or detract one another …here is an excellent explanation 🙂

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-chemistry/experiments/colors-move.html

October 5, 2020 at 1:13 pm

Gah, that’s a difficult explanation for a toddler. Can you somehow simplify for our younger audience? Thank you for helping me teach out community.

January 30, 2021 at 9:07 am

There is no chemical reaction going on here. Cute way of explaining hydrophobic, hydrophilic interactions but it is not chemical.

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What makes food coloring dance in milk?

• A Little Messy

When food coloring and soap are added to whole milk, strange things happen.

Will the same thing happen with kinds of milk that have different fat contents?

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zCzIKej2rXc

You Will Need

Different varieties of cow’s milk - Whole Milk, 2% Milk, 1% Milk, Skim Milk, Half and Half, heavy whipping cream

Pie plate, Baking Dish, paper plate or other containers with a flat bottom and raised sides

Toothpicks or Cotton Swabs

Food Coloring

Materials & Directions PDF

Do not drink the milk once it is used for this activity! Soapy milk is not delicious or good for you.

It is helpful to have multiple plates with milk ready to go. For example, start with a 2% milk plate and have a whole milk plate prepared and nearby to do next.

When you first do the experiment, try to keep the toothpick or cotton swab as still as possible to see the full effects. You can move it around later and see what changes!

• Pour some milk into the bottom of your container. You do not need a lot of milk, just enough to cover the bottom, plus a little extra.
• Drop different food coloring colors into the milk, as much or as little as you want.

• Pour dish soap into your small bowl. Dip your toothpick or cotton swab into the dish soap to coat it. Bring it over to the milk dish, and put the tip into the milk. Try to hold the toothpick or cotton swab still. You can move it later. Observe and discuss what happens.
• Try the experiment again using different types of milk. Observe and discuss what happens!

Experiment Extensions

• Once you try the experiment with whole milk, try it with another kind of milk or other liquids. Observe and talk about what happens! Heavy cream has the highest fat content, but because it is so thick the reaction is slow!
• You needed to keep the toothpick or cotton swab very still for the initial part of the experiment. Now try moving it around and see what happens!

Discovery Questions

Beginning the experiment, during the experiment, after the experiment, how it works.

You are observing chemistry in action! There is a reaction happening between the soap and the milk fat. Milk is made up of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats. Soap is really good at breaking down fats - think about how it helps get cooking grease off of dishes!

When soap is introduced to milk, the soap molecules chase down the fat molecules and surround them, forming little balls called micelles.

This movement breaks the surface tension of the milk and causes movement, which mixes the colors.

The higher the fat content of the milk, the more fat molecules the soap have to find. You should see more movement in higher fat versions of milk.

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Adding food coloring to milk is nothing very exciting, except the beauty of the colors that spread on the surface of the milk. But if you use one additional ingredient, you will observe an explosion of colors in the milk. The colors mix and turn on themselves as if by magic. This magic milk experience will allow you to observe the movement of molecules and to understand that milk is a mixture of many things.

You will need:

• Food coloring
• Dishwashing liquid
• A cotton swab

From 4 years old

Difficulty : easy

Let's experiment.

Pour milk on your plate or in a flat dish. A height of a few millimeters is sufficient.

Add drops of food coloring in the milk

Use as many colors as you want

Dip your cotton swab in the dishwashing liquid, and then dip it in the plate.

What’s happening?

Understand the experiment

An explosion of colors !

Milk is made up of several things. Mainly water, but also vitamins, proteins and fat molecules. You know that fat and water don’t mix at all. It is calle “immiscibility”. Consequently, the fat molecules are present in milk into the form of dispersed microdroplets.

Dish soap is responsible for this explosion of color. The soap is composed of molecules that love both water and fat. So when you add a drop of soap, the molecules disperse to catch the fat molecules. Hence the movements you observe. These movements, you would not see them without food coloring.

Use different kinds of milk: skim milk, semi-skimmed milk, and whole milk. As fat content varies, observe the behavior differences.

Artistic touch

Take pictures to capture the moment. Repeat with different colors to observe how they move and mix.

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Colour Changing Milk Experiment

Watch the magic happen with this Colour Changing Milk Experiment by mixing milk, food colouring and dish soap .

The kids will want to do this experiment over and over again, it is just so fascinating to watch the swirling effects of colour.

What you will need?

You will need milk (near use by date), shallow dish, food colouring, cotton buds (Q-tips) and dish soap.

Step 1-3 

1.  Pour some milk into the shallow dish.

2.  Add approximately 5-6 drops of food colouring.

3.  Prepare the liquid dish soap in a small bowl, adding a small amount of water and mix with the end of the cotton bud.

Step 4 

4.  Place the soap soaked cotton bud into the centre of the of the milk dish.

This photo was taken just after we placed the soap soaked cotton bud into the centre of the milk. It demonstrates how the coloured food dye disperses outwards to the side of the plate.

The food colouring begins to swirl and move around the plate once the dish soap soaked cotton bud is added. It appears to work like magic and is fascinating to watch as the many shades of colours start forming, combining and also separating leaving the bright white of the milk.

Some Ideas:

• Extend the learning by experimenting with different types of milk, such as soy milk, coconut milk, chocolate milk or butte milk.
• Learn about mixing colours – add only red and blue food colouring to make purple, yellow and blue to make green and red and yellow to make orange. The swirling effect mixes the colours together making a new colour.
• Experiment with full cream milk and skim milk. Are the results the same or are they different?

Let’s Learn – What is happening?

Milk is mainly made of water and the other big ingredient is usually fat (not all milk has the same amount of fat). The dish soap bonds with the fat in the milk. This bond is so strong that the water and food colouring are pushed out. The swirling effect is everything else moving around to make room for the dish soap and fat bond.

Learning Opportunities

• Language development: Using descriptive words to express ideas and opinions.
• Make connections with real life experiences.
• Promote scientific thinking: predictions, observations, comparison, reasoning, data gathering, experimentation and evaluation
• Hand-Eye Coordination and Control
• Cause and Effect
• Concentration

Click here for more SCIENCE activities & play ideas

About The Author

Janice Davis

6 thoughts on “colour changing milk experiment”.

Love the website and am doing a project for the science fair called color changing milk !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for all the lovely project ideas !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love the website

I love the idea and love it.

so cool i want to try this!

My students loved this experiment!

I am doing this for my project

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Hi and welcome to Learning 4 Kids!

My name is Janice and I am an Early Childhood Teacher in Australia.

I have a strong passion and love for teaching and creating meaningful learning experiences for my students. What I love most is watching children discover in those amazing light bulb moments. I hope Learning4kids brings you some useful ideas.

Easy Magic Milk Rainbow Science Experiment for Color-Loving Kids

Categories Science Experiments

Preschoolers will love this amazing science demonstration on surface tension! This magic milk rainbow science experiment is perfect for little scientists.

We’ve done the milk surface tension science experiment before, but I’ve never done it with Bo. She absolutely loved this magic milk rainbow science experiment!

She wanted to keep trying it over and over again until we ran out of milk (and almost ran out of food coloring).

This science demonstration and St. Patrick’s Day STEM activity is a hit with kids of all ages, but preschoolers will especially love it.

Rainbow Milk Science Experiment for Kids

This quick science experiment is the perfect easy science experiment for kids, especially for younger kids, like preschoolers!

If you love working with preschool science, try these preschool science experiments! And don’t forget to check out the full list of rainbow science experiments and preschool STEM activities.

Magic Milk Experiment Hypothesis

My kids thought that the colors would sink right into the milk and start mixing right away.

They thought that the soap wouldn’t do anything when we put it in the milk.

Even though their hypothesis was wrong (the food coloring didn’t mix into the milk and the soap helped mix the colors), they still loved doing this surface tension science experiment!

We do this quick science experiment with our kids every now and then when we have milk that’s about to go bad, even though my girls are much older now!

Milk Rainbow Experiment Explanation

The results of this science experiment are so dramatic due to the effects of the oil in the milk (the fat) and the soap. Milk is a non-polar molecule and won’t dissolve in water. When soap is added to the milk, it allows the fat to be carried through the water (which is why we use soap to clean dishes).

When the soap is dropped into the milk, the soap and fat molecules combine, which causes the food coloring to move rapidly through the milk, creating pretty, swirling patterns.

You could even use this experiment to learn about color mixing if you choose colors that mix well together!

What you’ll need to make magic milk rainbows:

• Milk (whole milk works best)
• Food coloring ( the pure liquid , not the gel)
• Shallow container

How to Do the Magic Milk Experiment

First, cover the bottom of your container with about 1/2 an inch of milk. You don’t need tons of milk to get this to work. We used about a cup total.

Next, drop a few drops of food coloring in a rainbow pattern on the milk. The color will spread a little, but not much.

Instruct your preschooler to drop a tiny bit of dish soap onto each spot of color.

The results are immediate and spectacular. Suddenly, the color flies all over the place!

When you’ve completed the experiment, take a look at the bottom. You’ll see some really cool colors!

If you want to try the experiment again, just rinse out your container and fill it up with more milk. You can get results in a shallow container, but we also liked how the rainbow spread through a jar!

More Rainbow Science Experiments for Kids

How to Make an Instant Ice Rainbow

Flip a Rainbow Light Refraction Experiment

Super Fun Fizzing Rainbow Experiment for Little Scientists

Rainbow Mentos and Coke Experiment

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