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These instructions for making a lava lamp or lava light are for experienced hobbyists.  These instructions are not kids or novices.

This will take a few hours of time.

Here’s How:

1. First, break open an oil-soluble marker or pen and place the inked felt into a container of benzyl alcohol. Leaving it in longer will give a darker color, but will also increase the tendency to bleed into the brine.
2. A few minutes is usually a good time to leave the inked felt in the alcohol. A ‘Sharpie’ bleeds too much into the brine, so choose a different type of marker.
3. Put the benzyl alcohol, specific gravity 1.043 g/ml, and 4.8% salt water (brine, specific gravity 1.032 g/ml) go in the glass container. A bottle about 10 inches tall is good.
4. Build a base to hold the bottle over the lamp using a tin can and plywood. A dimmer on the light will allow you to control heat.
5. Place a fan at the top of the bottle to cool the liquid at this location.

You want about 150 ml benzyl alcohol and the remainder of the liquid to be brine. Seal the bottle, but allow about 1 inch of air space at the top to allow for the fluid to expand.

Responsible adult supervision is required! Because the materials may be toxic and there is a flammability hazard, this project is not intended for young or inexperienced inventors.

Tips:

1. Alternatives to benzyl alcohol include cinnamyl alcohol, diethyl phthalate, ethyl salicylate, or nitrobenzine.
2. An oil-based ink may be used instead of the marker.
3. If the benzyl alcohol floats to the top and stays there, add more water. If the alcohol stays at the bottom, add more salt .
4. A trace amount of an antioxidant, such as BHA or BHT, may be added to the liquid to add color and increase contrast.
5. Please read a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for benzyl alcohol before performing this procedure. Have fun – be safe!

What You Need:

• benzyl alcohol
• 60 Watt light bulb
• 4.8% saline solution

• A glass container
• An oil-soluble marker
• A glass bottle
• A tin can
• A dimmer switch
• plywood
• tools

Tags: chemistry, crafts, lava, lava lamp, science