demonstrations:glowing_oobleck

Glowing Oobleck

Materials: ★★☆ Available in most school laboratories or specialist stores
Difficulty: ★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
Safety: ★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required

Categories: Fluids and Surface Tension, Light, Special Occasions

Alternative titles: Halloween Blacklight Oobleck

Summary

This Halloween-themed activity creates glowing oobleck that behaves like both a liquid and a solid. Under a blacklight, the quinine in tonic water makes the mixture glow eerily, and when placed on a speaker playing spooky music, the oobleck appears to writhe and dance like a haunted slime.

Procedure

  1. Gather cornstarch, tonic water (containing quinine), a spoon, a container, and a blacklight.
  2. Mix two parts cornstarch with one part tonic water until you create oobleck that resists sudden force but flows when handled gently. Adjust with extra cornstarch or tonic water as needed.
  3. Turn on the blacklight to give the oobleck an eerie, glowing effect.
  4. Place the glowing oobleck onto a speaker covered with plastic wrap or into a shallow dish on the speaker.
  5. Play Halloween-themed music or sound effects with deep bass. Watch the oobleck creep, ripple, and dance like a spooky slime monster.

GLOWING OOBLECK SLIME Science Experiment! Easy Science Experiments for Kids! - The Wild Adventure Girls:


How to make Oobleck that Dances and Glows in the Dark! - Silly Science with Simon:


📄 Glowing Oobleck - KiwiCo: https://www.kiwico.com/diy/stem/crazy-chemistry/glowing-oobleck?srsltid=AfmBOoqW-3sDOAGLxn0BruyCGWyh2yxewtzg3lw-SPTXPZHVEyOmOauT

Variations

  • Add a few drops of orange or green food coloring to enhance the Halloween look.
  • Sprinkle in glitter or plastic “eyeballs” to make the oobleck look like bubbling witch’s brew.
  • Carve a small pumpkin and place a dish of glowing oobleck inside under blacklight for a haunted centerpiece.

Safety Precautions

  • Keep oobleck away from electrical equipment by covering speakers with plastic wrap.
  • Clean up spills right away to prevent slipping.
  • Do not drink the oobleck mixture.

Questions to Consider

  • Why does the oobleck glow under blacklight? (The quinine in tonic water fluoresces under ultraviolet light.)
  • How does oobleck’s behavior add to the spooky Halloween effect? (It changes from solid-like to liquid-like, making it seem alive as it creeps and squirms.)
  • How does music change the movement of the oobleck? (Different frequencies and beats transfer vibrations that make the oobleck move in unique patterns.)
  • What other Halloween props could you combine with glowing oobleck for extra spookiness? (Fog machines, carved pumpkins, eerie lighting, or creepy sound effects.)