Chemistry
Molecules
Diffusion
Gradient
Solutions
Introduction
Here is a fun project you can try with leftover candy you have. You will make some amazing art using nothing but colored candy and hot water—and a little bit of science. Save some of your candy and get started!
Background
Many of the foods we eat are colored with artificial dyes. Some of these dyes will easily dissolve in water. This means that when foods containing the dyes are placed in water, the molecules that make up the dye will break away from the food and start to spread out in the water. The process where molecules spread out like this is called diffusion. The molecules tend to spread from areas where there are a lot of that type of molecule (a high concentration) to areas where there are fewer of that type of molecule (a lower concentration). Eventually the molecules all spread out enough that the concentration is equal everywhere. This is called equilibrium. The molecules, however, do not stop moving completely at that point. They will still bounce around randomly, and diffusion will still occur—but much more slowly.
Science Buddies
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