Our purpose for this experiment was to move the oil through the rubbing alcohol in order to produce a 
lava lamp. For our design, we tried multiple experiments that could produce this, but became 
unsuccessful. All of these experiments were inside a plastic water bottle. For the first experiment, we put 
300 mL of Canola Oil(density = 1.00g/mL) first, then 425 mL of rubbing alcohol(density = 0.79 g/mL) on 
top of the oil. Once we put both liquids in the bottle, we put it in 400 mL of boiling water(initial 
temperature = 18.7C). However, the water did not have enough heat energy to heat up the oil, it just 
melted the bottle. Therefore, it was unsuccessful moving the oil through the alcohol. The final 
temperature for this was 100C. The second experiment we tried was putting 11g of Calcium Chloride in 
the same amount of oil and 100 mL of water(initial temperature = 18.7C). We took out about 100 mL of oil 
to see any difference with the reaction. We believed that if we reduced the amount of oil in the bottle, it 
would create a move the oil. Once we reduced the oil, we then inserted the Calcium Chloride. We also 
decided to take out the rubbing alcohol due to the heat energy being too high to produce any big reaction 
such as making it look like a lava lamp. As the Calcium Chloride was put inside the water bottle, it wasn’t 
successful due to the lack of heat it produced. The water we poured in didn’t have enough heat to 
produce any movement of oil. The final temperature for this was 28.5C. Before we tried thought of a new 
idea, we thought of putting alka-seltzer’s in with the liquid. Results still remained unsuccessful. We also 
did the same experiment with the oil and water, but instead replaced the Calcium Chloride with 11.1g of 
Sodium Acetate(initial temperature = 18.7C). The results still remained the same with not having enough 
heat energy to heat the oil. The final temperature for this was 22.7C. As we finished the first three tests, 
we found a couple things that we found wrong; as we used the Canola Oil and the rubbing alcohol, there 
was too much liquid in the bottle. The chemical mixtures( Calcium Chloride, Sodium Acetate, and boiling 
water) did not heat up enough in order to move the oil significantly. Also, as we put the alka-seltzer 
tablets in the bottle, they would automatically sink to the bottom and couldn’t react to the oil. How the 
alka-seltzers work is when it’s dropped into the water, solid sodium bicarbonate and citric acid in the 
tablets form sodium citrate, carbon dioxide, and water. Modifications that we made was finding a 
different mixture that was able to move the oil significantly. However, as we researched, we found that 
baby oil is easier to move in the bottle compared to Canola Oil. Also, as we inserted the baby oil in the 
bottle, we realized we shouldn’t put the same amount as we did in the unsuccessful experiments. 
Therefore, we put 200 mL of baby oil(density = 0.83g/mL) Also, instead of using hot water, we used 
350mL of room temperature water(density = 0.9982g/mL). However, we had to find something that could 
produce enough heat energy while not melting the bottle. We came to a conclusion to try alka-seltzers 
again. As we used the alka-seltzers we knew it wouldn’t produce heat energy, however it did go from 
chemical energy to kinetic energy. Chemical energy to kinetic energy was produced due to the 
alka-seltzers “exploding” to move the water into the baby oil. Once the alka-seltzers was inserted into the 
bottle, it automatically began reacting with the water to create CO2. The alka-seltzers was able to move a 
good amount of water into the baby oil, causing bubbles to travel past the water and into the baby oil. 
Observations we saw during the successful experiment along with bubbles were foam, a separation of 
layers, and a creation of a gas. Unfortunately, we didn’t collect enough information to find the energy 
output and the energy transfers for the successful experiment we developed. Although, we have found 
the chemical equation for the alka-seltzers in the water(successful experiment) 3 ​ NaHCO3 + C6H5O7 → 
C6H5Na3O7 +3Co2 + 3H2O. We also never had the chance to produce a blueprint. ​Our main selling points 
in our design was how many experiments we tested in order to create a successful lava lamp. Throughout 
the four tests we did, we had to find something that would have enough energy to move the rubbing 
alcohol with the Canola Oil. Although, we explained to the class that when we had Canola Oil and rubbing 
alcohol together, it was harder to create a bigger reaction due to it being too thick and too “heavy” for 
energy to move it. However, we managed to find something successful; replacing the rubbing alcohol with 
something lighter, water, and replacing the Canola Oil with a lighter oil such as baby oil.