What we gathered per turn:
- One small zip-lock bag for exploding
- Bicarbonate of soda (3 teaspoons)
- Warm water (1/4 cup)
- Vinegar (1/2 cup)
- Measuring cup
- A tissue for making bicarb time release packets
What we did:
The first thing we did was make up our little parcels of bicarbonate of soda by placing 3 teaspoons of bicarb into the middle of a tissue and twisting the corners together. We made a few as this is unlikely to ever be a one time experience:
Next we placed the water and vinegar into a small sandwich bag and half closed the opening:
We popped in the bicarb parcel, holding onto it through the baggie ensuring it didn’t touch the vinegar solution:
The baggie was then completely closed and the parcel freed to drop into the vinegar solution:
We stood back and admired our handiwork:
And then repeated again, and again, and again…….
The Science?
The reaction between bicarb and vinegar is a standard acid base reaction producing carbon dioxide gas which blows up the bag. The warm water acts as catalyst, speeding up the reaction and making it seem more dramatic!
For more Fizzy Fun and other preschool science see here
Wonderful! I love the photos of the girls. 😀
They are kind of cute aren’t they?
Fun! The girls in their lab coats are adorable!
I think so! I enjoy the science just because they get to pop on overalls and goggles!
We have had fun with those, too! Great step-by-step photos.
Thanks Phyllis!
I just love the girls in their lab coats!!
I bet you ALL enjoyed this!
Thanks Francis! And yes, the older ones had lots of goes as well until we ran out of vinegar. Great fun for all ages!
Those pictures are fabulous! I love them.
We made a cork fly up in the air with that same chemical reaction, it was a lot of fun.
It’s a reaction which is timeless and ageless I think!
Grea idea. We’ll be doing this soon I’m sure 🙂
Thanks Debbie.
I am amazed at how much science you do with your children. I think it is wonderful. I am not so much a science person myself, and I am afraid we haven’t done nearly enough hands-on over the years. They girls have begun dissecting and one has found it quite fun. It almost has me worried. Ha. I hope to have pictures up one of these days.
From the photos, it seems the girls had a blast. Love to see their smiling faces. They are precious.
I don’t think I do enough science. Last term in particular I did almost nothing. I’m trying to make up for it now though! Dissection sounds fabulous – I’d LOVE that!
Lovely! Next time my boy runs out of his own crazy ideas, I am going to teach him this one! Such fun!
Just make sure you get in lots of supplies. All five of mine wanted to do and redo this!