1. Milk, food coloring and Soap Experiment
Example Lab Report for
Milk, food coloring and Soap Experiment
How will soap change the colors of food coloring in milk? Write your hypothesis before you test it.
You will need: A flat tray (like a cookie baking tray), Food coloring (at least 3 different colors), Whole milk - low fat milk will not work for this experiment, Liquid soap used for washing dishes.
Carefully pour the milk into the tray so that it just covers the bottom. Add about 6-8 drops of different colored food coloring onto the milk in different spots. Add about 5 drops of the liquid soap onto the drops of food coloring and watch the show!
Analysis: Why do you think this happened? What is special about soap and milk that created this effect?
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2. Making a Rainbow with Soap and Milk Per 2
Purpose: to observe the effects of soap on fats (whole milk)
Title (should describe the experiment in two-three words), Your Name, Period
Purpose: summarize why you did the lab, what were you learning by doing the experiment?
Hypothesis: BEFORE you start the experiment, write what you think will happen and why you think so.
Materials: List all the equipment you used. Include the amounts of each item.
Example: 2 liters of water, 2-liter bottle, one bowl
Procedure: Write a step-by-step explanation of what you did, numbered in list form.
Hypothesis: I think that when I add the soap the colors will get lighter, because the soap will clean them from the milk.
Materials: A flat tray (like a cookie baking tray), Food coloring (at least 3 different colors), Whole milk, Liquid soap
Procedure:
1. I poured whole milk into a flat tray.
2. I added 8 drops each of red, blue and yellow food coloring.
3. I added 6 drops of liquid soap.
4. I observed the mixing and movement of the colors.

3. soap. It looked like fireworks.
Data: I observed that when I added the first drop of soap, the colors moved quickly away from the
soap. It looked like fireworks.
When I added more soap, the colors that were
moving away from the soap mixed, and new colors
were formed. I saw orange and green and purple
colors. It looked like Tie Dye.
Changes in Food Coloring in Milk
Data: Your observations must be recorded with a minimum of 3 complete sentences. In addition, you must include either an organized table, graph or labeled drawing. All tables, graphs and drawings must have a descriptive title.

4. Analysis: Why do you think this happened?
I think this happened because soap cleans grease and fat.
What is special about soap and milk that created
this effect? Whole milk has fat in it. When the
soap touches the fat in milk it starts to break it
down. This moves the colors that are sitting on the
fat.
Conclusion: I learned that when I mix soap with whole
milk that has food coloring, the food coloring will
move and mix to create new colors. This happens
because the fat in the whole milk gets broken down
by the soap. I did not prove my hypothesis. I thought
the colors would get lighter. Instead, I observed the
colors mixed to form new colors. Next, I would try
this experiment with low fat or non-fat milk to
see if it would be different.
Analysis: Analyze your data by answering the assigned questions (included in the experiment instructions on the back of this page).
Conclusion: Explain what you learned in 5 complete sentences. Evaluate your hypothesis. Did you prove your hypothesis correct or incorrect. Propose ideas for future experiments based on what you learned. What could you try next?