Bursting With Bubbles
The chemical reaction that occurs in this experiment will cause the bag you’re using to burst. BLAMMO!
Be careful, this is not for the easily scared. It is important to follow directions under the supervision of an adult. The insights you will gain have to do with chemicals, in this case ones that are to be found in most households.
- Water
- A measuring cup
- A zipper-lock sandwich bag
- Paper towels
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- Vinegar
- Ask an adult to help you with this experiment, okay?
- If it is nice enough outside, find a place for your bubble bomb to explode. If it’s a rainy day, you can do the experiment in the bathtub.
- Test your plastic zipper bag to make sure it doesn’t have holes in it. Pour water into the bag and zip it shut, and then turn the bag upside down– if it leaks then you cannot use the bag for this experiment. Test bags until you find one that has no holes.
- Now, tear a paper towel into a 5 inch square. Fold it in thirds, and unfold it. Next, put 1 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda in the middle third. Now, fold the sides, so that you’ve folded the baking soda in the middle. Fold the remaining flaps so that you’ve made a square packet with the baking soda inside.
- Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of warm water into the plastic bag.
- Get ready to make some quick moves. Close the zipper bag halfway, and then drop the baking soda packet into the liquid and seal the bag as quickly as possible.
- Shake the bag a little and get out of the way! The chemicals fizzing in the bag will cause the bag to swell and eventually burst.
What Happened:
When an acid (vinegar) and a base (baking soda) come into contact with each other, carbon dioxide forms. In this case, it reacts so quickly that the fizzing gas causes a small explosion!
