I am trying to fill a vial with as many immiscible liquids as possible so that they form many separate layers. I want to do this as a way to visualise how liquids with different refractive indexes flow past one another.
TLDR Is there some list or way of finding out which transparent liquids (at STP) I can mix in a container which won't mix together or react with one another? The liquids need to: a) Be insoluble with eachother even if container is shaken. b) Be at least as transparent as olive oil or better.
I have seen stuff like this done with: maple syrup, honey, milk, dishwashing liquid, water, oil, rubbing alcohol and lamp Oil.
However, most of these substances aren't transparent like I need (I'm willing to use any liquid that's more transparent than Olive oil even if it has a slight hue). I'm also not sure if these substances would react with each other if the container is shaken.
I don't mind mixing soluble substances together in order to change a particular layers properties (such as density, viscosity, refractive index, or surface tension).
From my trial and error tests, I've found that the more types of liquids I add, the higher the chance that a liquid will cause a reaction between two previously unreactive substances.
Apart from common household liquids like cleaners, water, vinegar, bleach, etc, I have the following liquids at my disposal (all of which are transparent in form).
Kerosene
- Kerosene (Paraffin Oil)
- Lamp Oil
- Glycerin
- Liquid Paraffin (Mineral Oil)
- Coco Betadine
- Methyl Salicylate
- Transmission Fluid
- Micellar
- Dishwashing Liquid
- Motor Oil
- Isopropanol
- Mineral Turpentine
- Methylated spirits
- White Spirits
- Acetone
- Ammonia
- Sugar Soap
- Lemon Juice
- 'Clear Glue' (like alcohol based PVA glue)
- Castor Oil
- Linseed Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Eucalyptus Oil
- Propelyne/Dipropelyne Glycol
- Glucose Syrup
- Vegetable/Olive/Sunflower Oil
- A-B Epoxy
- Hydrogen Peroxide 6%
- Poly Sorbate
If there's anything else that's reasonably common (that I could get ahold of on eBay, supermarket or hardware store, etc) that would help with this please mention it!
I really hope you can help me figure out what liquids I can use!