Oil and Water

NCERT anchor: NCERT Looking Around Class 1 — Theme: Water (simple mixing observations)

• Pouring oil into water and stirring does not make it dissolve like sugar.
• Oil floats on top of water, even after stirring.
• After stirring and leaving it still, oil and water separate again into two layers.

1. Oil does not dissolve

Verbal: Oil poured into water stays as drops or a layer, it does not disappear like sugar.

Visual: A glass of water with a shiny layer of oil floating on top.

2. Oil floats on top

Verbal: Oil sits above the water in the glass.

3. Oil and water separate again

Verbal: Stir oil and water together, then let it sit — the oil rises back to the top.

Pouring cooking oil into a glass of water

Step 1 — Pour a spoon of cooking oil into a glass of water.
Step 2 — Stir well for a few seconds.
Step 3 — Let the glass sit still for a minute.
Step 4 — Watch the oil rise and form a layer on top again.
Answer: oil does not mix with water, it floats back to the top.

• Does oil dissolve in water?
• Where does oil sit in a glass of water?
• What happens to oil and water after stirring and leaving it still?
• Stretch: How is oil in water different from sugar in water?

Revision tip: Watch an adult make salad dressing and see the oil float on top of vinegar or water.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Oil and Water.