Melting Ice Experiment

Supplies:

• Bowls or containers to use to make the ice
• Large tray with sides or cookie sheet
• Salt
• Liquid watercolors or food coloring – please note that food coloring can stain
• Droppers and/or a spoon

Instructions:

1. Fill a variety of bowls or containers with water and freeze them at least overnight. Different sizes and depths are preferred.
2. Remove the ice shapes from their containers and place them on the plastic tray or cookie sheet.
3. Give your child a bowl of table salt – the cheaper the better. Have them sprinkle it on the top of their ice. They can also use a dropper to drop warm water on.
4. Watch as ravines form down the side of the ice as the salt melts it!
5. Squeeze a little bit of a food coloring onto the ice and watch what happens! The food coloring or liquid watercolors will highlight the ravines, crevasses, and tunnels that are forming.
6. Discuss how salt melts the ice.