Water to Wine to Milk to Beer

Materials: ★★☆ Available in most school laboratories or specialist stores
Difficulty: ★★☆ Can be done by science teachers
Safety: ★★★ Only to be attempted with adequate safety procedures and trained staff

Categories: Acids and Bases, Chemical Reactions, Colour Changes, Science Shows

Alternative titles:

Summary

This dramatic chemistry demonstration makes a liquid appear to transform into water, wine, milk, and beer as it is poured from one glass to another. The sequence involves pH indicators, precipitate formation, and gas release, illustrating multiple chemical concepts in a visually striking way.

Procedure

  1. Fill a “water” glass with distilled water and add sodium bicarbonate solution.
  2. Add phenolphthalein drops to an empty “wine” glass.
  3. Place barium chloride solution in a “milk” glass.
  4. Put sodium dichromate crystals in a “beer” glass and add hydrochloric acid just before the demo.
  5. Pour the liquid from the water glass into the wine glass (it turns red).
  6. Pour from the wine glass into the milk glass (it turns cloudy white).
  7. Finally, pour from the milk glass into the beer glass (it turns amber and frothy).

TURNING WATER TO WINE TO MILK TO BEER Water | SCIENCE OR MAGIC TRICK - KnowChem:


Chemistry Demo: Water, Wine, Milk, Beer - Dr. B's Chemistry:


📄 Water to Wine to Milk to Beer Chemistry Demonstration - Science Notes: https://sciencenotes.org/water-to-wine-to-milk-to-beer-chemistry-demonstration/#google_vignette

Variations

Safety Precautions

Questions to Consider