Learning science doesn’t have to be a bore. In fact, it can be incredibly fun! There are tons of fun experiments and demonstrations that you can do with your elementary students. Kids love to see science in action, especially when it involves big explosions or dramatic effects, which is why you should strive to incorporate as many of these science labs as possible. Here we’ll show you how to do a fun supercooling experiment.
What is supercooling?
Supercooling is a phenomenon that occurs when a liquid is chilled below its freezing point, but it doesn’t turn into a solid. In order for this to occur, the water needs to be extremely pure. According to an online post issued by the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, when water freezes, it usually crystallizes around impurities in the water. When these impurities are removed, the water reaches a supercooled state and does not freeze unless it is disturbed. This results in a mesmerizing effect, where a bottle of water instantly turns into an icy slush.
How does it work?
You’ll just need two materials for this experiment:
- Several unopened bottles of ultra-pure water (Fiji water is a good brand for supercooling)
Place the bottles in the freezer long enough for them to reach freezing temperatures. A good six hours should be plenty of time. If all goes well, the water should simultaneously reach a freezing temperature and remain in a liquid state. Remember that any jostling could trigger crystallization prematurely, so be careful when you remove the bottles from the freezer and take them to your classroom. You can add dirt or other impurities to trigger freezing, but it’s better to just slam the bottle against a hard surface, so that you can reuse it for future demonstrations. It’s a good idea to do this a few times on your own before showing your students, so that you can get a feel for how it works. This phenomenon is sure to astound your students and it will allow you to deliver a fun and educational presentation on the science of temperature!
Watch the video below to see this in action!