Magic Rainbow Ice DIY Science Kit for Kids
A colorful and magical science experiment that creates beautiful dendrite patterns inside ice—perfect for curious young minds!
Ingredients
- 1 standard ice cube tray 12–14 compartments
- 2 cups baking soda
- 1 cup water plus extra if needed
- a few drops food coloring optional, for rainbow effects
- as needed warm vinegar for bonus chemical reaction
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of water with 2 cups of baking soda.
- Stir well until the baking soda is mostly dissolved. Some sediment is okay.
- Add a few drops of different food coloring into each compartment of the ice tray, if desired.
- Stir gently with a toothpick or skewer to blend each color.
- Carefully pour the baking soda solution into the ice cube tray compartments, filling each one close to the top.
- Place the tray into your freezer and let it freeze overnight.
- Once frozen solid, pop out the ice cubes and examine the dendrite-like crystal structures that formed.
- For extra fun, place a few cubes in warm vinegar and watch them fizz and bubble!
Notes
This activity explores crystallization, solubility, and chemical reactions in a fun, visual way. For best results, freeze overnight and use fresh vinegar when doing the fizzing experiment.