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As part of our Museum at Home series, Science Educator Becky Wolfe shares a fun experiment you and a grown-up can do while you're at home.
Supplies:
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Sandwich baggie
- Clothespin or chip clip
- Measuring cup
- Spoon
- Food coloring (optional)
Directions:
- Add ¾ cup of vinegar into a sandwich bag. You can pre-color your vinegar or add it to the bag.
- Pinch the bag just above the vinegar and hold it closed with a clothespin or chip clip.
- Add 3 Tbsp of baking soda to the top of the bag and seal it tight.
- Place the baggie on the ground and release the clip. You might have to shake the bag slightly.
- Stand back and watch!
What’s going on:
Baking soda—also known as sodium bicarbonate—and vinegar—or acetic acid—react when they are mixed. A chemical reaction is when two or more substances combine and create a new substance. The atoms in the substances are breaking apart and forming new combinations. When this happens, there is an observable reaction. This could be the formation of a gas or heat.
In the baking soda and vinegar reaction, CO2 is produced and it fills up the bag. When the gas builds up in the bag, it has to go someplace. This causes the bag to explode.
For more science fun, you can try different amounts of vinegar and baking soda, or different sized bags. Scientists document their work, so take pictures and videos of your experiments and share them with us!
