Explore Easter science with a quick, easy, and inexpensive candy science activity this season. Try a dissolving jelly beans experiment with the kids this year. Pair with a jelly bean building activity or make jelly bean oobleck to get the most out of a single bag of favorite Easter candy! Fun and simple Easter candy science for kids!
PinDISSOLVING JELLY BEANS
Add this simple science experiment to your Easter lesson plans this season. Let’s dig in if you want to learn more about solvents and solutes. While you’re at it, make sure to check out these other fun Easter activities and Easter Minute To Win It Games.
Our simple science experiments are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun! Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home!
A JELLY BEAN EXPERIMENT
Let’s get right to experimenting with what liquids will dissolve jelly beans. Head to the kitchen, open the pantry and let’s get set up. I always like to have half a dozen clear glass or plastic containers on hand! At least six containers for a rainbow theme activity is my rule of thumb!
This jelly bean experiment asks the question: What liquids dissolve a jelly bean?
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YOU WILL NEED:
- Jelly Beans
- Small glass or plastic jars
- Warm water
- Rubbing alcohol
- Vinegar
- Cooking oil
PinJELLY BEAN EXPERIMENT SET UP
STEP 1: Place a few jelly beans in each jar.
PinSTEP 2: Pour a different liquid into each jar, I used warm water, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and cooking oil.
PinTip: Make sure you note which jar has which liquid in it. Either write on the jar, number each jar and keep a list or write on a piece of paper and put under each jar.
STEP 3: Observe the jelly beans in each jar to see what happens to the jelly beans.
Questions to ask… What do you expect to see if a jelly bean is starting to dissolve in the liquid?
What is happening to the jelly beans in each jar? You could make observations immediately, after a hour and even after several days.
PinDISSOLVING JELLY BEANS IN THE CLASSROOM
What other candies or liquids could you use to test this experiment? Of course, Easter is also the perfect time for a peeps science experiment!
To make this Easter jelly beans activity easier for a classroom setting, you could choose just two different liquids or compare hot and cold tap water.
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THE SCIENCE OF DISSOLVING JELLY BEANS
Why do jelly beans dissolve in the water and not in some of the other liquids?
This dissolving jelly beans experiment explores the solubility of a solid (jelly beans) in various liquids! For a liquid (solvent) to dissolve a solid (solute), the molecules in the liquid and the solid must be attracted.
Jelly beans are made of sugar, and sugar molecules and water molecules are attracted to each other! So water is a great solvent for sugar candy, like jelly beans!
Why does sugar not dissolve in oil? The molecules of oil are called nonpolar and they are not attracted to polar sugar molecules, the same as water molecules. Alcohol has some polar molecules, the same as water, and some non-polar, the same as oil.
Experiment with different liquids, such as vinegar, oil, soda water, or milk, and see if the changes are similar or different. Which liquid is the best solvent?
What happens if you leave the jelly beans in the liquids overnight? Are there any additional changes? You could also remove the jelly beans and note any changes to the candy! Do NOT eat jelly beans in liquids!
Physical Change
This experiment is also a fantastic example of a physical change. While the physical characteristics of the jelly bean may change in the various liquids, a new substance is not formed.
CHECK OUT MORE FUN EASTER IDEAS
- Jelly Bean Engineering
- Easy Easter Science Activities
- Peeps Experiments
- Egg Drop STEM Challenge
- Easter Slime Recipes
EASTER JELLY BEAN DISSOLVING SCIENCE EXPERIMENT!
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