Things always get a little...ghoulish...in the weeks leading up to Halloween. With this Ghostly Ms science experiment you can do at home, the Ms on your M&M candies are no exception. All you need is a bowl of water and some of your favorite trick-or-treat candies in this science activity inspired by The Teacher's Corner.

What happens to the Ms when you put them in water? Why do you think that happens?

A thin film of wax floats in the water, does not dissolve and leaves a waxy smear on a clean glass. Wax is also edible, which is important with candy. The M itself is made of titanium oxide. The sand contains heavy, dark grains as well as the white sand. These dark minerals contain titanium and they are mined and used to make the titanium oxide that is used for the Ms on these candies.
 
The dissolved colors stayed separate and formed very sharp boundaries. With cold water the color separation is even more striking. The chemicals which produce the colors have different densities. You might try seeing how the temperature of the water changes the rate that the candy dissolves. If you have a test tube or a very thin bud vase, try stacking different colored candies and covering them with water to see if the colors will form separate layers one on top of the other.
 
You can also separate colors by placing wet M&Ms on a coffee filter and watching the colors separate through a process known as chromatography. 

When you finish, the candy is still perfectly edible, so don't waste it. Just drain off the water and then scoop up the lumps of chocolate for a snack.