Make a Drawing Dance and Discover the Science of Dry Erase Markers

Here’s What You’ll Need

• dry erase marker

• smooth ceramic plate or dish

• water

Make a Drawing Dance in 1 Minute

Step 1: Doodle on the dish with a dry erase marker.

Step 2: Let your drawing dry for 1 minute.

Step 3: Slowly and gently pour water onto the plate next to your drawing.

Step 4: Watch closely as your drawing lifts up and comes to life!

What’s going on? 

This dancing drawing is thanks to some clever chemistry. The ink in dry erase markers is made of sticky, slippy liquid silicone. When the ink dries, the silicone is what sticks the drawing to the dish… but not very well. Pouring the water unsticks the silicone. Now the thing is, silicone hates mixing with water.  And like oil, silicone floats on water. So the dancing drawing is really dried-out, colorful silicone, just floating and moving and vibing with the waves.