Rainbow Candy Experiment
- Sara Thompson
- Mar 11, 2025
- 2 min read
By Sara Thompson
Image credit is User Fichbio, obtained from Wikimedia Commons
Special to the Enterprise
Do you have candy? Do you like rainbow colors? Do you enjoy science experiments? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then this home experiment is for you!
Materials: Shallow bowl or dish, warm water, sweets with a candy coating (Skittles, M&Ms, etc.).
Experiment: First thing is to place your candy-coated sweets in your shallow bowl or dish. Make a fun design, alternate colors, whatever you like. Next, carefully pour the warm water in the dish. If you pour slowly, or trickle the water down the edge, your design will not be disturbed. Let the candies sit in the warm water and see what happens. A rainbow of colors should begin to form!
Candies with a colorful coating are made of sugar and food dye. When the candies are in water, the sugar begins to dissolve, warm water speeds up the dissolving. As the sugar dissolved, the food dye will start to spread, or diffuse, through the water, making the colorful display.
Try different kinds of candies, make different designs, try different water temperatures. Does the experiment work with different liquids, such as vinegar? Make predictions, do experiments, and have fun. And most importantly, have an adult observe and assist with all experiments for safety.
Explorit's coming events:
• Explorit is open Fridays from 1-4pm and Saturday and Sundays from 10am-2pm. The current exhibit is “Blast Off! A Journey Through Our Solar System”. Admission is $5 per person, free for Explorit Members and those aged 2 and under.
• Summer Science Camp Registration coming soon! Member priority registration begins Wednesday, Feb. 26 (must be a member by Feb. 24 to qualify), public registration opens Monday, Mar. 3 at noon. View our topics, grades, policies, and more at https://www.explorit.org/camps.
• Now is a great time to donate and help Explorit continue to educate and inspire the scientists of tomorrow: https://www.explorit.org/donate
• An Explorit Membership grants the recipient free visits to Explorit’s regular public hours, discounts on events, summer camps and workshops, and gives you ASTC benefits to visit other museums throughout the world. To purchase or for more information visit https://www.explorit.org/membership or call Explorit at 530-756-0191.
• Celebrate your birthday at Explorit! Offered Saturdays and Sundays between 2-4pm, this two hour program includes themed group activities and crafts, a decorated party room, and exclusive access to Explorit’s Exploration Gallery. Themes include Amazing Animals, Dynamic Dinosaurs, and Blast Off! Space. Call 530-756-0191 to reserve. More information found at https://www.explorit.org/birthday-parties.
Stunt Bike Extreme Explorit is open Fridays from 1-4pm and Saturday and Sundays from 10am-2pm. The current exhibit is “Blast Off! A Journey Through Our Solar System”. Admission is $5 per person, free for Explorit Members and those aged 2 and under.
In the dance of gravity and arrows the silent physics of Ragdoll Archers captures a moment of fleeting grace. Every shot tells a story of balance and precision written across a digital sky.
Seeing the colors slowly spread and blend feels almost magical, like watching a tiny, delicious universe unfold right in a dish. It's a simple joy that reminds me how wonder can be found in everyday t For more playful discoveries, Poki offers a world of free online games that spark creativity and fun for all ages.
Drift Hunters is a 3D car drifting simulator that lets you customize and drift high-performance cars on various tracks.
speed stars offers a refreshing take on running games. Instead of endless running, it focuses on realistic sprinting mechanics where rhythm and precision matter most. The hurdle modes are challenging but fair, and clearing each barrier at the perfect moment feels amazing. You can tell a lot of care went into making every aspect of the game feel smooth and rewarding.