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In response to Jay Higgins (Program/Exhibit Developer, Providence Children's Museum, RI) and his query concerning air bubbles through oil, we have used Karo syrup from a local grocery store and find that it has a suitable viscosity straight from the bottle.  Its viscosity can be reduced by the addition of water.  Since it is water soluble clean-up is not a major problem.  And, should a spill occur, it is not toxic.  For many years we have used this in a column about 3 ft. high in a transparent acrylic tube about 1-1/2 inches in diameter.  The top of the tube is loosely capped so air can escape but dust and microorganisms cannot fall in.  We find that after a few years of air bubbling the syrup stiffens up, so we add a few spoonsful of water.  As I recall, the idea of using Karo Syrup this way came from the Ontario Science Centre, perhaps fifteen years ago. 

Albert J. Read, Science Discovery Center of Oneonta (NY)
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ORIGINAL QUERY:
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>
>Hi,   We've been playing with an art piece for an exhibit where air 
>bubbles form at the bottom of a tube and float up through the clear oil. 
>   I can't remember where else we've seen this, but we love the effect. 
>
>After playing with some small amounts of food grade lubricating oil 
>we've started looking for large amounts.  The trick is finding a clear 
>oil in different viscosities that won't break the bank.  Does any one 
>have experience with mineral oil or silicon oil?  Can anyone  recommend 
>a retailer? 
>
>Thanks, 
>Jay 
>
>-- 
>Jay Higgins 
>Program/Exhibit Developer 
>Providence Children's Museum 
>100 South Street 
>Providence, RI 02903 
>401.273.5437 x137 
>http://www.childrenmuseum.org 
>Come play, come learn! 



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