Balloons Lift Off!
Making chemical reactions to blow up balloons with materials from the kitchen. Using baking soda, vinegar, and a balloon.
Materials
12-18 oz plastic bottle
Funnel
9 inch Balloon
Tablespoon baking soda
¼ cup of vinegar
Safety
The chemical reaction can explode. Vinegar is an acid and can burn one’s eyes. Be sure to keep face clear of reaction and consider wearing safety glasses.
You might even want to wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.
Try this out!
The Science Behind the Activity: An aside-base chemical reaction. The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a chemical that can change when it is mixed with an acid. It changes into a new chemical and creates carbon dioxide, a gas which you can see forming as the liquid buibbles. The gas rises in the bottle and fills the balloon. If you put a thermometer in the bottle, the liquid will get colder as a result of the chemical reaction. This happens too when you make cakes and breads at home. The acid-based chemical reactions make bubbles or holes in breads and cakes.
Safety! Be Careful! Other things to do with acids and bases
NOTE: Be careful because this reaction can explode or overflow in a container. And acids can burn the eyes.
Other things you can try with chemical reactions!
Materials
12-18 oz plastic bottle
Funnel
9 inch Balloon
Tablespoon baking soda
¼ cup of vinegar
Safety
The chemical reaction can explode. Vinegar is an acid and can burn one’s eyes. Be sure to keep face clear of reaction and consider wearing safety glasses.
You might even want to wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.
Try this out!
- Take a 9 inch balloon, place a funnel in the opening and add 1 Tablespoon of baking soda into it. Set aside.
- Pour ¼ cup of vinegar into the bottle.
- TAke the balloon and carefully place the open end over the opening of the bottle.
- What do you see and hear happening when the baking soda drops into the vinegar?
The Science Behind the Activity: An aside-base chemical reaction. The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a chemical that can change when it is mixed with an acid. It changes into a new chemical and creates carbon dioxide, a gas which you can see forming as the liquid buibbles. The gas rises in the bottle and fills the balloon. If you put a thermometer in the bottle, the liquid will get colder as a result of the chemical reaction. This happens too when you make cakes and breads at home. The acid-based chemical reactions make bubbles or holes in breads and cakes.
Safety! Be Careful! Other things to do with acids and bases
NOTE: Be careful because this reaction can explode or overflow in a container. And acids can burn the eyes.
Other things you can try with chemical reactions!
- Can you make this happen with other types of acids in your kitchen? Like juices?
- Does the amount of baking soda affect how big you can blow up your balloon?
- Does the temperature of the vinegar affect how well the balloon can blow up?
Check out Zoom and Exploratorium for more Chemistry Fun!