The ‘Crazy Lab’ workshop at the 12^th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival is welcoming young ‘scientists’ to experiment with easily available materials to learn about simple concepts in science in a fun manner.

At Expo Centre Sharjah, young kids aged 6-9 are engaged in a hands-on project that explored concepts of liquid density and chemical reactions as they set about building a ‘Lava Lamp’.

Using a funnel to fill half a bottle with water, the young ones topped it up with cooking oil which they observed floated above the clear liquid due to its lower density. A few drops of edible colour were then added with a pipette dropper, and the children watched the colour slowly sink through the oil and mix with the water, as both liquids are of the same density.

The final step was the addition of two teaspoons of fruit salt antacid powder, following which the bottle was sealed immediately.

8-year-old Lana was excited to note the formation of gas bubbles as soon as the antacid powder mixed with water. Gas, being lighter than water, rose to the top taking with it bubbling blobs of coloured water – like the lava in a volcano.

The bottle of coloured and bubbling liquid was instantly transformed into a glowing ‘Lava Lamp’ when placed over a light source.