You Will Need:
- Skittles
- A shallow plate
- Warm water
What To Do:
- Arrange the Skittles in a ring around the edge of the plate, placing them closely but evenly spaced.
- Carefully pour warm water into the center of the plate until the Skittles are just half-submerged.
- Observe as the vibrant dyes begin to dissolve and diffuse toward the center, forming a striking rainbow pattern.
The Science Behind It:
This experiment demonstrates diffusion—the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. The sugar and food dye coating on the Skittles dissolves into the water, and the resulting solution spreads inward. The colours remain in distinct zones because the concentration of dissolved sugar is similar for each Skittle, creating a visual boundary that prevents the colours from mixing immediately.
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