Did you know you can blow up a balloon using chemistry? Next time you have a party at your home, save some leftover balloons for this super cool science experiment… Or, make the experiment part of the fun!
If you have been following our STEAM activities, you have seen several experiments that explore what happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar. Usually, it looks like something “exploding.” This is because, when the two ingredients mix, one of the byproducts of the chemical reaction is carbon dioxide – a gas. That’s what causes the bubbly eruption during the classic volcano experiment.
Today, you and your mini-scientist will harness the gas produced by this reaction to inflate balloons!
All you need is:
- Balloon(s)
- Empty Plastic Water Bottle
- Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- A Teaspoon
This experiment requires some teamwork, so get ready to be scientific together! First, add vinegar to the bottle until it is about ¼ full. Next, have one person pull the opening of the balloon open as wide as possible, while the other person scoops 3 teaspoons of baking soda into the balloon. Now, secure the balloon opening around the top of the water bottle. Lift the balloon up so that all of the baking soda falls into the vinegar.
Observe what’s happening inside the bottle. What happens to the vinegar and baking soda? How long does it take for the balloon to inflate? Consider trying the experiment again, but changing some of the variables. Does the amount of vinegar or baking soda change the outcome? How about the size of the balloon?
Check out the full experiment from Engineering Emily here.
As always, get as creative as you want, and above all, have lots of fun learning together!
We’ll see you right back here next Saturday for another STEAM Saturday activity! Scroll through the rest of our website to learn how Critchlow Adkins is Building Brighter Futures for the children and families we serve!