How to Do Science Experiments With Milk
June is National Dairy Month, but any time will do to perform a few science experiments with a class or your own children as way to teach them about the science of milk. Milk is one of the top dairy products we use on a daily basis. The experiments teach about the physical makeup of milk and how it reacts with other substances like liquid soap. The first experiment is called Multicolored Milk and the second Solid Milk.
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Things You'll Need
- Newspaper
- Eyedropper
- Round plastic bowl or plastic container
- Measuring cup
- Several different food colors: blue, red, green, yellow, blue
- Dishwashing liquid
- Toothpicks
- 1 percent or 2 percent milk
- White vinegar
- Microwave bowl
- Strainer
- Cookie cutters
Instructions
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Assemble the needed equipment for the first experiment, called Multicolored Milk. You will need a round plastic bowl or container, measuring cup, several different food colors, dishwashing liquid, eyedropper and toothpicks. Use a flat surface like a table and cover with newspaper to keep the area clean. The experiment examines the property of surface tension. Milk is made up of water and water molecules are attracted to other water molecules. Often the surface of milk is always trying to shrink.
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Measure the milk into a measuring cup, then pour milk into the bowl. Using an eyedropper, put a few drops of two or three food colors in the milk. You can use blue, green, yellow, red or orange, Drop the colors in the center of the milk in the bowl. Take a toothpick and touch the center of the milk where the colors are, but do not stir.
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Drop a few drops of dishwashing liquid into the middle of the milk mixture. What happens when you do this? Take a clean toothpick and touch the area near the soap drop. Add a drop of soap to different locations in the bowl. Use a toothpick to touch the area where the soap is. Do not stir, just insert the toothpick into the milk mixture. Discuss what happens. An excellent science resource is Kitchen Science Experiments (see Resources).
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Assemble what you need on the kitchen table for the Solid Milk experiment. This experiment will examine the chemical reaction of adding vinegar to milk. The acid vinegar and heat cause a protein in the milk to form a product called casein. You will need a measuring cup and spoons, 1 percent or 2 percent milk, white vinegar, microwave-safe bowl, strainer and microwave. Measure 1 and 1/2 cups of milk into the bowl and then add 4 tsp. white vinegar to the mixture. Microwave on high for one minute. When you take it out you will have a solid and liquid. Before you strain the liquid off, mix it up together for at least five minutes. Strain the remaining liquid through the strainer into the sink.
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After the liquid is strained off, let the mixture cool in the bowl. This can take a while, so be patient. Expect that it may take at least two hours. You can then form the lump of material into shapes and make things out of it. It should feel rubbery and will be yellowish in color. Use cookie cutters to make interesting shapes that will harden into decorative pieces.
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Tips & Warnings
Supervise children if doing these projects in school or at home. When using the microwave, show young children how to operate it properly. Wash hands and dispose of all ingredients and equipment not needed after each experiment.
