Color Changing Water

A glass of blue-colored water is placed inside a bowl, and the bowl is then filled with yellow-colored water. When looking through the bowl, the overlapping yellow and blue liquids appear green, even though the water in each container stays its original color.

1. Fill an empty glass about three-quarters full with water.
2. Add 1–2 drops of blue food coloring to the glass and stir until mixed.
3. In a pitcher, fill with water and add 7–10 drops of yellow food coloring. Stir well.
4. Place the glass with blue water in the center of a large empty bowl.
5. Carefully pour the yellow water from the pitcher into the bowl until the water surrounds the glass, being careful not to spill into the glass.
6. Observe the colors: check the water in the bowl, the water in the glass, and what you see when you look through both.

Color Changing Water Science Experiment - Cool Science Experiments Headquarters:

• Try different color combinations (e.g., red and blue, red and yellow) to see what colors your eyes perceive.
• Shine a flashlight through the water and observe if the perceived color changes.

• Be careful when pouring water to avoid spills.
• Food coloring may stain surfaces—cover the table with newspaper or paper towels.

• What color is the water in the bowl? (Yellow.)
• What color is the water in the glass? (Blue.)
• Why does the water appear green when you look through the bowl and the glass together? (Because light passes through both the yellow and blue liquids, and your eyes perceive the combined effect as green.)