Hooked on Science: Nail-polish rainbow

Materials

• Aluminum pan
• Water
• Black construction paper
• Clear nail polish

Instructions

STEP 1: Fill the aluminum pan half of the way with water.

STEP 2: Submerge a piece of black construction paper into the aluminum pan of water.

STEP 3: Pull the brush from the clear nail polish and touch the tip of the brush to the water.

STEP 4: Carefully lift the piece of black construction paper from the water and allow the paper to dry.

STEP 5: Once the black construction paper is dry, hold the paper toward a bright light source and observe.

Explanation

The thin layer of clear nail polish on the black construction paper reveals the hidden colors of visible light, creating a rainbow print on the paper.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website, hookedonscience.org, for webcasts and experiments.