How to Make Oobleck (A Surprisingly Fun Science Experiment)

Do Oobleck Ingredients mix together to make a solid or a liquid? Make some, and then squish it around with your hands to find out! (Kids & Grown-Ups Love This Sensory Activity)

What are Oobleck ingredients, and what is Oobleck? That is what I found my self wondering when . . .

A few months ago my daughter asked me if we could make Oobleck. What in the world is Oobleck? I had never heard of it.

So I looked up a basic recipe for it, and then we made some. This was one of the best science and sensory activities we had done.

Now I want to share it with you so you can enjoy it too!

Related: 45 Activities to do With Kids at Home

What is Oobleck?

Oobleck is classified as a non-Newtonian fluid. It is a suspension of cornstarch and water that has the properties of a solid and a liquid depending how much pressure you apply.

For instance, if you scoop some of the Oobleck up in your hand and apply pressure by squeezing it, you can feel it making a solid ball. The moment you stop squeezing the Oobleck the solid ball will turn back into a liquid and drip between your fingers.

Quicksand is another example of a non-Newtonian fluid that is similar to Oobleck.

How did Oobleck get its name?

Oobleck got its name from a book called Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss,published in 1949.

In the story, a king becomes bored with the normal weather and asks his magicians to create something new to fall from the sky. They end up creating Oobleck – a sticky, green goo that falls from the sky all over the kingdom.

How do You Make Oobleck?

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Now comes the fun part. Let’s make some! Read on for Oobleck Ingredients and Recipes that are basic (plus, how to make the basic Oobleck colored), Glowing Oobleck, and even Glow in the Dark Oobleck.

Traditional Oobleck Recipe

This recipe only needs 2 Ingredients, and it is ready to go.

Optional: You can add a little food coloring or tempura (or acrylic) paint to color the Oobleck. Both will do the job, however the food coloring is more likely to stain hands, clothes, and surfaces.

What you Need:

• 1 cup Cornstarch
• 1/2 cup water
• Large Bowl
• Spoon
• Covered Work Surface (this will make clean up easier)

Directions:

1. Pour the Cornstarch in a large bowl.
2. Add the water to the bowl.
3. Stir slowly to mix it up. If you stir too quickly, the Oobleck will be too difficult to stir.
4. You will know it is the right consistency when you can run your finger quickly through it and watch it solidify and then melt back to a liquid.
5. If it isn’t solidifying add a little more cornstarch.
6. If it is too thick add a little more water.

Glowing Oobleck Ingredients

The secret to making this Oobleck glow is the Tonic Water with Quinine. If you shine an ultraviolet black light on the tonic water it will fluoresce a bright blue. This is because Quinine is a substance that fluoresces when it is exposed to UV Light (in this case, the black light). It will stop glowing when the black light is turned off.

What you Need:

• 1/2 cup Cornstarch
• Tonic Water (with Quinine)
• Black Light or Flashlight with Black Light
• Large Bowl
• Spoon
• Covered Work Surface (this will make clean up easier)

Directions:

1. Pour Cornstarch into the Bowl.
2. Slowly Add Tonic Water a little bit at a time, stirring slowly after each addition.
3. Keep slowly adding the tonic water until you can run your finger quickly through it and watch it solidify and then melt back to a liquid. (It will end up being about a 1:1 ratio of Cornstarch to Water).
4. If it is too watery, add a little more Cornstarch.
5. If it is too thick, add a little more Tonic Water.
6. Shine the black light on it to watch it glow while it is in the bowl and while you are playing with it.

Glow in the Dark Oobleck Ingredients

The secret to Glow in the Dark Oobleck is to add some ” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow”>Glow in the Dark Paint will Phosphoresce when exposed to light. If glow in the dark paint is exposed to ultraviolet black light it will glow right away when the light is shining on it, and continue to glow for a time when the light is turned off.

Alternatively, you can expose the glow in the dark paint to indoor lighting or sunlight to “charge” it up, and then it will glow in the dark.

What You Need:

• 1 cup Cornstarch
• 1/2 cup water
• Large Bowl
• Spoon
• Covered Work Surface (this will make clean up easier)
• Glow in the Dark Paint

Directions:

1. Pour the Cornstarch in a large bowl.
2. Add the water to the bowl.
3. Stir slowly to mix it up. If you stir too quickly, the Oobleck will be too difficult to stir.
4. You will know it is the right consistency when you can run your finger quickly through it and watch it solidify and then melt back to a liquid.
5. Stir in some of the glow in the dark paint.
6. If it isn’t solidifying add a little more cornstarch.
7. If it is too thick add a little more water.

Fun Fact – What is the difference between fluorescent and phosphorescent?

The difference is Fluorescent material will stop glowing as soon as the light source is removed, and phosphorescent material will continue to glow for some time after the light source is removed.

Some things that glow under under a black light are: certain species of scorpions, jellyfish, highlighter pens, tonic water (with quinine), Antifreeze, Various Minerals and Gems, White Clothing, Certain Whiteners in Some Laundry Detergents, Neon Clothes, Your Teeth, and Spots on Bananas.

Examples of everday items that glow in the dark after light exposure are: Glow in the Dark Paint, Plastic Glow in the Dark Stars you stick on the ceiling, Glow in the Dark Toys, Glow in the Dark Stickers, and some clock or watch hands that have glow in the dark strips on them.

How to Play with Oobleck

This is some really fun stuff to play with because of its unique ability to turn solid under pressure, and then return to a liquid when the pressure is removed. Here are some things to try:

Punch the Oobleck in the bowl. You will will not be able to punch through to the bottom of the bowl because the liquid will solidify under the quick pressure of your fist.

Run your fingers quickly through the Oobleck, and notice how you can’t do it if you move too fast.

Scoop some up into your hands and quickly roll it between them to try to make a ball. Then watch the ball melt back into a liquid and drip between your fingers.

Squeeze some of it in your hand and feel it solidify, and then open your hand and watch it melt back to liquid.

Pinch it, poke it, let it run through a strainer, or anything else you can imagine.

How to Dispose of Oobleck

An important thing to note is that Oobleck Ingredients form a suspension, which means if it is left alone the Cornstarch will separate from the Water. This means you should simply empty it into the trash when you are finished playing with it. Do not dump it down the drain because the Cornstarch may clump up and clog the pipes.

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