Quote:
Originally Posted by Galapagos
I have a question about gasoline/power steering fluid. I have seen both of these chemicals spilled or leaked out onto the asphalt street, and when the sun is shining on them(especially when they have mixed with water) they appear to be glistening in many bands of metallic colors. Why does this occur?
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I actually had to look this up myself, and it's really more physics than chemistry.
But apparently a couple of things play into that effect, just as in "regular" rainbows that you see in the sky or when a sprinkler is turned on. Here's a pretty good explanation:
Why oil on water looks like a rainbow@Everything2.com
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