colourful fizzing baking soda and vinegar science experiment

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Happy Hooligans

Crafts and Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers to Tweens

Fizzing Colours! A Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment for Preschoolers

Last updated on February 18, 2021

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Toddlers and preschoolers will love this classic baking soda and vinegar experiment . They’ll ooh and ahh over the colourful chemical reactions they’ll create with just 3 kitchen ingredients!

A baking soda and vinegar experiment is one of those classic science experiments  that always fascinates. It’s perfect for the classroom or for a day at home when your kids are bored.

Your children will love the colourful, bubbling eruptions that result when baking soda and vinegar are combined.

This experiment is easy and inexpensive to set up so you can do it over and over, whenever you need a quick and easy activity to entertain your kids.

In addition to being fun and entertaining, this activity is educational too. You’ll have an opportunity to discuss colour, colour mixing  and chemical reactions.

To do our colourful baking soda and vinegar experiment, you’ll need:

For your conviencience, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• box of baking soda (also known as bicarb soda)
• small bowl of white vinegar

• food colouring or liquid watercolours
• baking sheet  or a messy craft mat

We did several science activities yesterday, and according to the hooligan you see in the photo above, this was the best “spare-a-mint” of the day.

I’m guessing it’s because it had the goopiest results for her to dig her hands into.  This little one just loves getting messy when she plays.

The Experiment:

We began by sprinkling baking soda all over the baking sheet.  Then we shook the baking sheet back and forth to evenly distribute the baking soda.

Next, using food colouring and liquid watercolours, we squeezed drops of colour all over the baking soda.

And now for the fun part:

A drop of vinegar dripped on top of a drop food colouring.

FIZZ, FIZZ, BUBBLE, BUBBLE!

I wish I’d snapped a picture of her face when the first eruption took place. Her expression was one of pure delight and amazement.

Then she began dripping vinegar onto all of the colours on the tray, watching and listening to each one bubble and fizz.

Using a dropper is great for helping to develop fine-motor skills, pencil grasp and co-ordination.

At one point, I gave her a spray bottle of vinegar so she could spray the baking soda as well.

A spray bottle is great for strengthening muscles and co-ordination in little hands. It was a lot of fun to use but we found that the dropper gave us a more intense reaction.

As the colours erupt on the baking sheet, you can explain  why baking soda and vinegar react the way they do when combined .

We also discussed primary and secondary colours. I would say “Look!  We have purple happening here!  Which two colours mixed together to make purple?”

She dripped and she dropped until the tray was a collage of colourful craters.

And then, as I suspected she put down her dropper, and sunk her hands into the results of our experiment.

What a lovely way to finish up the activity, sliding and swishing her hands through a soft and soupy rainbow of colour.

I hope you’ll try this baking soda and vinegar experiment with your kids or students!

And stay tuned…  I’ll be sharing more of yesterday’s science activities throughout the week.

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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.

Reader Interactions

February 20, 2016 at 11:20 pm

Great activity! I have tried this with my preschoolers and it keeps them fully engaged for long periods of time. Love your photos 🙂

May 19, 2016 at 8:53 pm

This may be a silly question, but do you mix the food colouring with water, or just drop on pure food colouring?

happyhooligans

May 20, 2016 at 6:57 am

We used ours full-strength, Sasha.

December 13, 2017 at 12:07 am

There is one sentence that looks like it might have been the victim of an incomplete edit. “A drop of vinegar dripped on top one of a drop food colouring”

May 16, 2020 at 3:59 pm

Can I use red vinegar instead of white vinegar?

Jackie Currie

May 17, 2020 at 10:50 am

I imagine it would work, Alina. Sprinkle a little baking soda on a plate and drip some red vinegar on it. If it fizzes, you’re good to go.

February 17, 2022 at 6:01 am

Hi! I am planning on doing this with my preschoolers too but just wondering what the clean up process is? Did you throw the baking soda in the garbage after?

March 23, 2022 at 2:55 pm

I pour it down the drain Camille. Baking soda and vinegar are commonly used to flush kitchen drains.

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Magic Colourful Fizzing Bicarb Soda & Vinegar Science Experiment

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Shallow tray
• Food colouring
• Bicarb Soda { Baking Soda }

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLOURFUL BICARB & VINEGAR REACTIONS

What's happening when baking soda and vinegar react.

OTHER FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

• Lava Lamp Sensory Bottle
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• Fizzing Pumpkins

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vinegar and baking soda experiment

The vinegar and baking soda experiment is a classic and exciting science activity that demonstrates a chemical reaction. Discover how to conduct this experiment step-by-step and understand the science behind it.

The vinegar and baking soda experiment is a classic and popular demonstration that showcases the fascinating chemical reaction that occurs when an acid and a base interact. By combining vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), we can observe an exciting display of bubbling and fizzing. This experiment not only captivates the imagination but also serves as a valuable educational tool, allowing us to explore the properties of acids and bases in an interactive and engaging manner.

To conduct this experiment, you will need a few basic materials: baking soda, vinegar, a clear plastic bottle or glass jar, a funnel (optional), and a balloon (optional).

Let's walk through the steps of the experiment:

• Begin by selecting a clear plastic bottle or glass jar to serve as the container for the reaction. It's helpful to use a clear vessel, as it allows for better observation of the reaction.
• If desired, use a funnel to carefully pour a small amount of baking soda into the bottle, filling it to about one-quarter of its capacity. The funnel helps to prevent any spillage or mess.
• Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle, being cautious not to fill it to the brim. Leave some space at the top to accommodate the reaction that will take place. As the vinegar comes into contact with the baking soda, the magic begins.
• Observe the reaction as the vinegar and baking soda interact. Almost immediately, you will witness a flurry of bubbles and fizzing. This effervescent display is a result of the chemical reaction occurring between the acetic acid in the vinegar and the sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda.
• For an added interactive element, you can stretch a balloon over the top of the bottle or jar before pouring in the vinegar. As the carbon dioxide gas is generated during the reaction, it will inflate the balloon, creating a visual representation of the gas production.

The chemical reaction that transpires between the vinegar and baking soda can be explained by the following equation:

CH3COOH (acetic acid) + NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate) → CO2 (carbon dioxide) + NaC2H3O2 (sodium acetate) + H2O (water)

The reaction between the acid (vinegar) and the base (baking soda) produces carbon dioxide gas, which manifests as bubbles. Simultaneously, sodium acetate and water are formed as byproducts of the chemical reaction.

This experiment serves as an excellent educational tool, particularly for teaching children about chemical reactions and the properties of acids and bases. It provides a hands-on experience that allows them to witness the exciting transformation and understand the principles at play.

By engaging in the vinegar and baking soda experiment, children can develop a deeper appreciation for the world of chemistry. They can learn about the concept of chemical reactions, how different substances interact, and the role of acids and bases in these processes. Furthermore, the visual effects of bubbling and the inflation of the balloon make the experiment even more captivating and memorable.

However, it is important to note that while this experiment is safe and enjoyable, caution should always be exercised. Adult supervision is advised, especially when working with young children. It's crucial to handle the materials responsibly, avoid ingestion or contact with eyes, and clean up any spills promptly.

In conclusion, the vinegar and baking soda experiment provides an exciting opportunity to explore the chemical reaction between an acid (vinegar) and a base (baking soda). Through the combination of these two substances, we witness a captivating display of bubbling and fizzing, accompanied by the production of carbon dioxide gas, sodium acetate, and water. This experiment serves as an interactive and educational tool, allowing children to gain insights into the world of chemistry, understand the properties of acids and

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiments

Kids love easy science experiments you can do with baking soda and vinegar. When baking soda and vinegar combine, you get an incredible chemical reaction everyone will want to try. Check out our top baking soda and vinegar science experiments for preschool through middle school.

Take a look at how we give this classic science experiment a twist with the activities below. These are our favorite ways to explore a fizzing reaction. Use this safe experiment as an easy way to introduce a chemical reaction to younger kids.

See our list of preschool science experiments and elementary science experiments .

All you need are a few simple ingredients you may already have in your kitchen! Baking soda, vinegar, and a little food coloring will keep your kids busy for quite a while. We have also included a few other ingredients that react with baking soda to make it fizz. Find unique ways to enjoy this fun experiment any day of the year!

💡 You can easily try this experiment at home or in a classroom, making it easy to do!

Free Printable Fizzy Reactions Guide

If you love mixing baking soda and vinegar, look through the experiments below and grab the free printable baking soda and vinegar fizzy reactions guide !

Apple Volcano

Grab an apple that’s ready to be composted and try this fall theme baking soda and vinegar activity!

Baking Soda and Cranberry Juice

What happens when you add cranberry juice to baking soda? Fizzing cranberries ! What about lemon juice or lime juice like this Lemon Volcano ? Find out with these citric acid experiments.

Baking Soda Fizzy Paint

Try fizzy painting! Make your own cool fizzy art with baking soda and vinegar paint for a fun and easy art meets science activity. Try this fizzy heart !

Baking Soda Moon Rocks

Here we made our own DIY moon rocks for a cool space theme activity for kids.

Balloon Experiment

Can you blow up a balloon using only baking soda and vinegar?

Baking Soda Bottle Rocket

Combine physics and chemistry with this unique baking soda and vinegar science experiment! Kids will love blasting off a bottle rocket .

Bubbling Slime

This is by far one of the  coolest slime recipes we have to date because it combines two things we love: slime making and baking soda and vinegar reactions.

Classic Baking Soda Volcano

Vinegar volcanoes are always a hit, and you can make them in several ways. We are using the classic baking soda volcano to test our science skills! Learn how to make a batch of salt dough and craft a volcano fit for this science experiment.

Cookie Cutter Baking Soda Experiments

Grab your cookie cutters for a fun and easy baking soda project. Try different themes with your holiday cookie cutters. Try these fizzing snowflakes!

Dancing Corn

Dancing corn is usually a favorite baking soda and vinegar experiment around Thanksgiving for us! The alternative to this type of science project is done with a carbonated liquid, such as this dancing raisins science experiment.

Dinosaur Volcano

What’s more fun than combining dinosaur play and a baking soda and vinegar reaction! This dinosaur volcano activity provides an opportunity for younger kids to learn about dinosaurs, volcanoes, and the natural world in a hands-on way.

Fizzing Dinosaur Eggs

The coolest dinosaur activity EVER!! A fun variation on a baking soda and vinegar reaction where kids can hatch out their own dinosaurs.

Fizzing Sidewalk Paint

This is an awesome way to take science outside and turn it into STEAM! Get outdoors, paint pictures, and enjoy a kid-favorite fizzing chemical reaction.

LEGO Volcano

Build your own volcano with basic LEGO bricks and watch it erupt over and over again.

Popping Bags

Another unique way to try a baking soda experiment outside! How to make an exploding plastic bag.

Sandbox Eruption

Take your baking soda project outdoors and build a baking soda and vinegar bottle rocket in your sandbox.

Snow Volcano

This makes for a great winter science experiment! Take the baking soda and vinegar fun outdoors and create your very own erupting snow-cano!

Watermelon-Cano

We love to make anything erupt… Also check out our apple volcano , pumpkin volcano and even a puking pumpkin .

Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Fair Project

Set this up as a Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Fair Project! Learn more about Science Fair Projects here and grab the free pack.

• Try using different baking soda and vinegar ratios to see how they affect the reaction.
• Add food coloring to the vinegar to create a colorful eruption.
• Test other household substances, such as lemon juice , orange juice, or cranberry juice , to compare their reaction with baking soda.
• Add dish soap and compare the eruptions.
• Try using containers with different size openings to observe the pressure the gas exerts, causing the eruption.

💡 Read more about the Scientific Method for Kids here!

What Makes Baking Soda Fizz?

Baking soda is made up of tiny particles called molecules. Each molecule has three different elements: sodium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen.

Something exciting happens when baking soda comes into contact with an acid, like vinegar! The acid (vinegar) and the base (baking soda) react. The vinegar donates a hydrogen ion to the baking soda during this reaction.

The hydrogen ion combines with the bicarbonate ion in baking soda to form carbonic acid. This is unstable and quickly breaks into water and carbon dioxide gas.

The carbon dioxide gas is why baking soda starts to fizz and bubble. The gas tries to escape from the mixture, creating bubbles that rise to the surface. These bubbles make a fizzing sound and give the impression of a mini volcano eruption!

So, when you mix baking soda with an acid like vinegar, you get a fantastic fizzy reaction due to the production of carbon dioxide gas. It’s truly an exciting and visually appealing demonstration of a chemical reaction!

You might also like: Cool Chemistry Projects for Kids

Endothermic Reaction

Mixing baking soda and vinegar is an endothermic reaction because the carbonic acid needs to take in energy from its surroundings (the mixture of baking soda and vinegar).

This process of taking in energy is what makes the reaction endothermic. And as it takes energy, it produces carbon dioxide gas, which creates all the exciting fizz and bubbles you see! It’s like a bit of science magic happening right before our eyes!

You might also like: Elephant Toothpaste (Exothermic Reaction)

Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• DIY Science Kits
• Science Tools for Kids
• Scientific Method for Kids
• Citizen Science Guide
• Join us in the Club

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

One Comment

I am a regular visitor of your website. Thanks for the great article. By following this article I created youtube video of my son showing step by step tutorial of Magic Balloon Science Experiment for Kids using Baking Soda and Vinegar – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl_OMitc150

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

This classic science experiment is always a favorite activity for kids. And it’s easy to put together too! You only need baking soda, food coloring, water and vinegar. Kids will loving making this fizzy rainbow.

RELATED: Rain Cloud in a Jar

Rainbow Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

Kids love doing this easy science experiment. Not only is it a fun activity but it’s a great learning exercise too. They also get to practice fine motor work by using a pipette or dropper.

To save steps, you can also do this experiment by using regular baking soda shaped into a rainbow. Then just add a few drops along the arches of the food coloring.

The Science

What happens when you mix vinegar and baking soda?

You see the bubbling and foaming but what is causing this reaction? The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base while the vinegar (acetic acid) is an acid and what you are seeing is an acid/base reaction. Initially, the reaction makes carbonic acid which is unstable and breaks down into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water which is what creates all of the fizzing and bubbles as the gas leaves the water.

Supplies Needed to do a Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

– Baking Soda – we like this large 5 lb bag for activities

– Food Coloring Gel (one in each color of the rainbow) – we like to use this liquid food coloring gel since it’s concentrated and makes the colors really vibrant

– Dropper

– Water

– Vinegar

Watch the Video Tutorial Here!

How to do a fizzy baking soda and vinegar experiment.

1. Start by placing 1 cup of baking soda into a bowl.

2. In a pouring cup, add 3 tablespoons of water. Mix in 1-2 drops of red food coloring into the water. If using regular food coloring, you may need to add more drops to make it more vibrant.

3. Pour the food colored water into the bowl with baking soda and mix until the baking soda is dyed.

It should still be a powdery-like texture and look like the following:

Repeat the above steps for Yellow and Orange. 

For Green, Blue and Purple , mix only 1/2 cup of baking soda to 1.5 tablespoons of water (you don’t need as much of these colors to make the rainbow so you can halve the recipe above.

4.  Lay out the colors onto a white tray or baking sheet. Protect your table if needed so the food coloring does not go onto your table.

5.  Put vinegar in a bowl and then let kids use a dropper to drop the vinegar onto the rainbow.

Kids love seeing the reaction the baking soda and vinegar makes together!

We love how easy this science experiment is to set up. And kids love to use the droppers to make the vinegar/baking soda reaction.

The rainbow version is a lot of fun to try! We hope you enjoy this easy science experiment!

More Science Experiments

Try this fun and easy Grow a Rainbow Experiment . You only need washable markers and paper towel!

For another fun experiment, make some oobleck! 

Try a rainbow rain cloud in the jar experiment!

Related Ideas:

Cloud Dough

The BEST Playdough Recipe

How to Make Slime With Contact Solution

50+ Christmas Crafts for Kids

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Fizzing Colors Experiment

Baking soda experiments are so fun! Plus, they are super easy to set up. The chemical reaction that happens when the vinegar combines with the baking soda will wow your kids! It’s also a great opportunity to throw in some science and sensory words.

You will need: Baking Soda Vinegar 4 Sided Activity Tray Food Coloring Droppers – You could also use a condiment squeeze bottle

Layer your activity tray with baking soda. Make the layer thick enough that you can’t see the tray underneath. Color your vinegar with food coloring. I had been saving these old playdough containers to hopefully use at some point. They were perfect for holding our colored vinegar.

Take this time to talk about what you think will happen. You can use the scientific method . 

1. Ask a question – What will happen when we drop colored vinegar into the baking soda? 2. Do background research – For this, you can just talk about what’s going to happen. Explain that there will be a chemical reaction when the vinegar and baking soda meet. Maybe put together a diagram. 3. Construct a hypothesis – Come up with an answer for your question. This is really just a guess. 4. Test your answer with an experiment – Do the experiment! Talk about each step and observe. 5. Analyze your observations – Did your hypothesis prove correct? What happened? 6. Share your results – Have your babe explain each step of the experiment and what happened. Miss 4 will be telling her aunt and uncle about our experiment at brunch today.

Squeeze some vinegar onto the baking soda and watch the magic happen! Talk about the reaction you see and ask questions. What color is it? What would the fizz feel like? Then touch it! I didn’t let them dig their hands in but we did take a finger and smoosh the fizz down a few times.

Mr. 1 wasn’t very good at squeezing so his vinegar came out in drops. It actually looked really neat.

Miss 4 mixed the colors to see what would happen.

I poured his extra baking soda onto her tray. The baking soda coated the wet vinegar on his tray. It made these soft little pancakes of pastel color that you could mush .

We poured the extra vinegar over the baking soda mountain on her tray and watched it fizz as our grand finale . This was our first fizzy science experiment and it was totally fun!

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Laughing Kids Learn

Where learning is made fun

Fizzy science experiment for kids

April 9, 2015 by Kate 7 Comments

Recommended age: 2 years +  (Active supervision is required on all my crafts and activities)

So what is the science behind this experiment?

Put simply, an acid-based reaction occurs when the vinegar and baking powder make contact. The vinegar is the acid and the bicarbonate in the baking soda is the base. I chose to explain it to Possum in the sense that the two ingredients really don’t like each other and so they react and create a gas, which is made and inside each of the bubbles. 

Would your child enjoy this fizzy science experiment?

If you liked this idea, be sure to click over to this – 

September 17, 2015 at 1:58 am

Love this. Great for my Grade R class.

September 20, 2015 at 8:47 pm

How wonderful Jane! I hope they all enjoyed it. I remember my class thinking I was the best teacher ever because of this. LOL

[…] 9. Fizzy Science […]

[…] manera sencilla de explicar a niños pequeños, la vi en un blog norteamericano  y me ha parecido apropiada, es la […]

[…] Fizzy Science Experiment For Kids from laughingkidslearn.com […]

[…] Fizzy Science – Laughing Kids […]

[…] Fizzy Science Experiment for Kids – Laughing Kids Learn […]

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Colorful Fizzing Sensory Bin with Vinegar and Baking Soda

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We've been focusing on color activities for toddlers this week, which meant it was the perfect time to set up our colorful fizzing sensory bin with vinegar and baking soda. This activity is always a fun one and it's great to add a bit of science to our activities.

Colorful fizzing sensory bin with vinegar and baking soda

I'm sure you've seen the reaction of vinegar and baking soda before, and it's a perfect sensory play activity for toddlers and preschoolers. The addition of some food coloring makes it even more fun. If you love this activity you might also enjoy our FREE 10 Day Simple Sensory Bin Challenge (sign up HERE). 

A colorful fizzing sensory bin is an inexpensive toddler activity to set up. Assuming you already have a container, you'll spend less than $10 for everything you need. The main item that I love using in this activity is the turkey baster. It's great for fine motor skills, and the fact that it's larger than a medicine dropper means that it's easier for little hands to use. You can get one for less than $4 HERE on Amazon or you can normally find them at your dollar stores. If you have any leftover baking soda and vinegar you can always try making this DIY Volcano. You can also continue the science theme with these solar science experiments. 

What you need to make a colorful fizzing sensory bin 

The items needed for this sensory bin are pretty basic. You will need:

• Plastic container. I used a small one like this. 
• White vinegar
• Containers to put your colors in (I used ones like this but any container will work)
• Food coloring - I like to get a pack like this one for craft
• Bicarb soda or baking soda ( same thing, just different names depending on where you live!). You want enough to fill your container.  I used the two bags you can see in the photo.
• Turkey baster like THIS ONE. 

How to set you your fizzing colorful sensory bin

Fill up your container with the baking soda.

Add a few drops of food coloring to each container. You can mix the colors to make new ones if you like (we mixed blue and red to make purple).

Add the vinegar to your food coloring. Don't those colors look inviting!

Let your child have the turkey baster and pick up some of the colors. They may need to be shown how it works but normally get the hang of it quite quickly. For the younger toddlers you can help them with this bit and let them do the squeezing part.

Let them squeeze the colored vinegar into the tub and watch it fizz! Some great questions to ask during this time are:

• What do you think will happen?
• What does it look like?
• What does it smell like?
• Can you hear it making  sound?
• What do you think will happen if we add another color?

Add some more colors!

The children will have heaps of fun choosing different colors and seeing the patterns that it makes.

As you go on the sensory bin will get messier and the colors will mix but that's the fun of it! We actually extended this activity by adding dinosaurs to it at the end (we love these ones). This worked well as by then it was a big brown mess!

If you enjoy this colorful fizzing sensory bin using baking soda and vinegar then I'd love you to share a photo over in our Facebook Group or on Instagram ( use #MyBoredToddler)

If you want to do more toddler activities I'm sure you'll love these:

Sensory Bins for Toddlers 

10+ Fun and Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments

They explode, they erupt, they are messy and boy are they fun! What could cause so much excitement? That’s right, baking soda and vinegar experiments. Go beyond the old baking soda and vinegar volcanoes and discover a world of new experiments to thrill your kids!

Chemistry for Kids – Sodium Bicarbonate and Vinegar Reactions

What you will discover in this article!

Disclaimer: This article may contain commission or affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer I earn from qualifying purchases. Not seeing our videos? Turn off any adblockers to ensure our video feed can be seen. Or visit our YouTube channel to see if the video has been uploaded there. We are slowly uploading our archives. Thanks!

We love science experiments around here, but, often for my own sanity, we keep things easy, by just playing with variations of our favourite physics or chemistry reactions. One of our all time favourites is the simple baking soda and vinegar experiments.

Immediately, I am sure you are thinking of the old fashion Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcanoes we all built as children. We love that experiment too, but you can do lots of other things with this awesome reaction that don’t involve a whole lot of paper mache construction.

A quick note for those not in North American. Baking Soda is also known as Sodium Bicarbonate in many parts of the world.

The Science

These activities explore the popular baking soda and vinegar reaction, which is a simple acid-base chemical reaction. Vinegar or Acetic Acid has the chemical formula CH 3 COOH. Baking Soda, is a base also known as Sodium Bicarbonate or Sodium Bicarb, has the chemical formula ‎NaHCO 3 . During this reaction the products are sodium acetate (CH 3 COONa). Sodium acetate is made of 1 sodium ion, 2 carbon atoms, 3 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. The other products are water (H 2 O) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Carbon dioxide is the gas that causes the bubbling during the reaction.

Here is the chemical formula of this reaction

CH 3 COOH (l) + NaHCO 3 (s) → CH 3 COONa (aq) + H 2 O (l) + CO 2 (g) acetic acid (vinegar) + sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) -> sodium acetate + water + carbon dioxide

Is the reaction endothermic or exothermic?

It takes energy to break the chemical bonds in baking soda and vinegar. When this happens energy is released when the carbon dioxide, sodium acetate, and water are formed. Since more energy was needed to break the baking soda and vinegar apart, the temperature goes down . This is called an endothermic reaction. That means Baking Soda and Vinegar reactions are endothermic.

Now we know the science, let’s dig into some fun experiments!

Here are our top 10 favourite baking soda and vinegar experiments that the kids love doing over and over and over again! The best part, most of these are super easy science experiments. Great for those afternoons when you need a quick, fun project that will appeal to any age.

Measuring Chemical Reactions – Fireworks Experiment

Baking soda and vinegar is the perfect reaction to start learning some basic chemistry principles including how to measure a chemical reaction. In this experiment we have a fun Fireworks inspired reaction (great for July 4th), followed by a deep dive into chemistry as kids learn how to measure a chemical reaction with simple kitchen supplies.

Bottle Rockets

Building Bottle Rockets is such a fun activity for all ages, but especially as a year end celebration or summer camp activity. With this activity we are exploring the pressure and physics caused by a contained baking soda and vinegar reaction. And the results are spectacular!!

Greenhouse Effect Experiment

This powerful experiment demonstrates the heat capturing properties of greenhouse gases. An excellent project to do for Earth Day or as part of a unit study on environmental sciences and climate change. Create the Greenhouse Effect in a jar .

Hatching Dino Eggs

One of our most popular activities with everyone from the very young to the young at heart are these little Dino Eggs. Everyone dreams of hatching their very own dinosaur baby and in this fun activity you make it happen with a fizzy, fun and gorgeous chemical reaction.

Erupting Rainbow Rocks

Erupting rainbow rocks are a gorgeous, colourful science experiment that is so easy to do. Be prepared for lots of squeals of excitement and gasps of wonder as the rainbow of colours magically appear in the fizz!

Erupting Black Hole Science

We love studying space around here, and this is a fantastic activity for your star gazers and aspiring space travelers. Inspired by the first photographs of a black hole, we created this fun and interactive Space STEM Activity – Erupting Black Holes !

Magic Color Changing Oobleck

Imagine changing the colour of something, simply with chemistry. This Colour Changing Oobleck activity was not originally meant to be a baking soda and vinegar reaction, in fact we were simply setting out to test pH. Then we saw those fizzy little reactions as our Oobleck changed colour. Accidental discoveries in science are so much fun!

Baking Soda vs Baking Powder

Got a budding scientist on your hands that wants to run their very own science lab? This is a fantastic activity for kids to put their investigation skills to the test. Make sure you use test tubes and beakers for the best lab experience. Don’t forget the lab coat. Your young scientists will love this investigative activity exploring the differences between baking soda and baking powder .

Balloon Science

Like our bottle rockets, in this activity we are capturing the CO2 gases that result from a baking soda and vinegar reaction. Using our STEM skills we tested different ratios to see how it affects the inflating of our balloons. We have done this experiment for Groundhog Day and Halloween . It is great fun and can be easily adapted for any theme and is super easy to do.

Volcano Slime

After years of failure we finally found success making slime with contact lens solution and baking soda. Well it didn’t take long for the kids to start asking… what would happen if we added vinegar? And our Erupting Volcano Slime was born!

Puking Pumpkin Volcano

Take your fall Halloween celebrations to a new level of “EEEWWWW” with Puking Pumpkin Volcanoes ! This simple activity always delights the kids.

Apple Volcano Experiment

This Apple Volcano is perfect for Back to School and Fall Science. Kids love Apple Science Experiments, and this colorful one is always popular.

Christmas Tree Chemistry

This is a great Christmas STEAM activity , but if you need something for a different time of year, simply switch out your Silicone Molds to change the theme of this activity for any holiday or event. We’ve done it for Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, Dinosaur themed and more. Kids get to decorate their Christmas Tree then make it erupt in a colourful chemical reaction.

Invisible Ink

Another fun use of acids and bases is to make invisible ink . This is such a fun experiment with big wow moments for kids!

Art from Science Galaxy Project

Combine these incredible chemical reactions with a fun art project in this easy activity that is perfect for STEAM club or to celebrate the night skies. We had so much fun making these Galaxy art prints .

Have a great time exploring the amazing reaction between baking soda and vinegar! Your kids are going to have a blast!

Ready to dig into more Chemistry learning in a fun, interactive way? Try our Periodic Table of Elements BINGO game!

Have fun learning and exploring with chemistry!

5 Days of Smart STEM Ideas for Kids

Get started in STEM with easy, engaging activities.

Play of the Wild

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. -Oscar Wilde

Colorful Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment for Kids

Colorful baking soda and vinegar experiment for kids

This colorful baking soda and vinegar experiment for kids is a fun and safe way to introduce children to chemical reactions.  It is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) or STEAM (with Art added) activity for younger ones.  Children love mixing baking soda and vinegar to create a reaction, and this is a way for them to create art that they can then ‘explode’.  They may also use the colourful designs that result on the ground (like Rangoli designs).

Baking soda and vinegar reaction – A simple version of what happens

When you add vinegar to baking soda (bicarbonate of soda), a chemical reaction occurs. This means they break apart and form new and different substances. Vinegar and baking soda combine to create gas, sodium acetate and water. Sodium acetate is a salt that looks similar to baking soda. You can also try creating a reaction with citric acid. Citric Acid and baking soda combine to create gas, sodium citrate and water.  The release of gas (Carbon Dioxide, CO2) is why they bubble when they are mixed. Vinegar and citric acid are acidic and baking soda is a mild base (alkaline), so they neutralize one another to create a salt and water. All the chemicals are safe to touch (though they will sting if you get them in your eyes).  Once this reaction takes place, it can’t be undone.  Sodium acetate and sodium citrate look similar to baking soda, but they don’t react (bubble) when combined with vinegar.

What you need

• Vinegar or Lemon juice (citric acid)
• Baking soda / bicarbonate of soda
• Food colouring
• Spray bottle or pipette
• Mixing bowls and spoons
• Soap (optional)

To make colorful baking soda, mix food colouring in with approximately 1 spoonful of water for every cupful of baking soda.  The small amount of water will help the food coloring mix evenly into the baking soda.  We had several different bowls and mixed up several colours so that we could make designs on the ground.  We did a bit of a modern/scientific twist on Rangoli designs.  This can also be a fun way for children to learn about Rangoli designs during Diwali or another time.

You could also potentially put food coloring into the vinegar before spraying or dropping it onto your designs.

Questions to ask

• What happens when vinegar is sprayed on the bicarbonate of soda / baking soda?
• What happens if you add vinegar with a pipette?
• What happens if you put more baking soda on top?
• What happens if you put food coloring in the vinegar?
• What happens when you add soap?  What if you try different soaps?
• Is there anything you would like to try?  Is there something you would like to test / experiment with?

What they get from it – Colorful baking soda and vinegar experiment for kids

This is a great early introduction to chemical reactions. Children may potentially see how two substances can create new substances.

Children can create pictures and patterns on the ground using colored baking soda. They could also learn about Rangoli designs and try using baking soda to make their own.

Research shows that people learn best (for long-term memory at least) when they learn through hands-on, practical experiences (Hearns, Miller & Nelson, 2009; Hillman, 2011; Ferri, B.H., Ferri, A.A., Majerich, D.M., Madden, A.G., 2016).  It’s also an opportunity for inquiry-based learning which will encourage children’s curiosity and love of learning (Ambrose et al. 2010; Froyd 2008; Prince & Felder, 2007; Springer, Stanne & Donovan, 1999).

Take it further

You can add in soap to see how that affects the bubbles when the reaction occurs.  Children may want to experiment and see if there is a difference if you use different types of soaps.

Children may also want to play around with baking soda and vinegar to see if they can answer their questions.  They may try freezing baking soda or vinegar.  Additionally, they may also try mixing baking soda with other acids (such as citric acid, Kool-Aid, lemon juice, etc.) to compare reactions.  They may also try seeing if they can use the least amount of vinegar to react with all the baking soda (or vice versa).

You may also want to see my posts such as Baking Soda and Vinegar Painting Experiment for Kids (coming soon), Explosive Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment for Kids , Color pH Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiment , Bicarbonate of Soda and Vinegar Experiment and Valentines STEM Art Projects for Toddlers and Kids .

Older children could test the pH of the baking soda and vinegar at the beginning of the experiment. Then they can test the substance at the end to see if it changes. This may help them start to understand how the substances change in a chemical reaction. I will have a post  (coming soon)  on natural pH indicators .

Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M. C., & Norman, M. K. (2010). How learning works: Seven research-based principles for smart teaching . San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6nGaDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR13&ots=Kg0QTZYsS2&sig=-MfNhVTJDIr4BjQvPyIs1_j2N0o#v=onepage&q&f=false . Accessed 19 February 2020.

Ferri, B.H., Ferri, A.A., Majerich, D.M., Madden, A.G. (2016).  Effects of In-Class Hands-On Laboratories in a Large Enrollment, Multiple Section Blended Linear Circuits Course.  Advances in Engineering Education, 5 (3). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1121997.pdf . Accessed 19 February 2020.

Froyd, J. E. (2008). White paper on promising practices in undergraduate STEM education . Commissioned paper, Board on Science Education, National Academies. Retrieved from https://sites.nationalacademies.org/DBASSE/BOSE/DBASSE_080106#.UUoV5hngJ8g . Accessed 19 February 2020.

Hearns, M.K., Miller, B.K. and Nelson, D.L. (2009).  Hands-On Learning versus Learning by Demonstration at Three Recall Points in University Students. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 30 (4), 169-171. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3928/15394492-20090825-01 . Accessed 19 February 2020.

Hillman, C.N. (2011).  The effects of hands-on learning versus learning by demonstration on memory in community dwelling older adults (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Toledo).  Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/6231/d55fc1c730ec086f012677c54141f466e18e.pdf Accessed 19 February 2020.

Prince, M., & Felder, R. (2007). The many facets of inductive teaching and learning. Journal of College Science Teaching, 36 (5), 14–20.  Retrieved from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/31566398 . Accessed 19 February 2020.

Springer, L., Stanne, M. E., & Donovan, S. (1999). Measuring the success of small-group learning in college-level SMET teaching: A meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 69 , 21–51.  http://archive.wceruw.org/cl1/CL/resource/scismet.pdf . Accessed 19 February 2020.

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments

Fun Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments for Kids

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Fizzy Color Mixing Experiment

Happy birthday Dr. Seuss! Are you celebrating Read Across America Day today? I’ve got a Dr. Seuss inspired kitchen science idea for you. Kids of all ages (toddlers and up) will love our fizzy color mixing experiment. It’s super easy to set up and can entertain for for quite a while. Affiliate links are included in this post.

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss

My kids love a good kitchen science experiment. Their favorite thing to explore is baking soda and vinegar . I set up the fizzy color mixing experiment for them to explore what happens when you mix different colors.

I started by adding washable liquid watercolors to each cup. (You can also use food coloring, but be warned that food coloring has the potential to stain clothes and surfaces.) I have red, yellow, and blue liquid watercolors. I talked to Aiden and Lily about what colors I needed to add to get the rest of the rainbow.

I placed the cups in a large plastic storage bin. You might also want to cover your work surface or place towels down. My kids tend to spill a little so we do this activity on the kitchen floor. Cover the liquid watercolors with a layer of baking soda. I used 1-2 tablespoons.

If your kids don’t watch you do the setup of the activity, they won’t know there are colors under the baking soda. It makes for a fun surprise to see what colors will appear.

Use a squirt bottle, eye droppers, or spoons to add vinegar to the baking soda. To make the vinegar go farther, you can add water to it. This will decrease the fizziness of the reaction but it will still be fun and can help extend the activity.

The more vinegar you add, the more bubbles will appear.

If the fizzing stops, you can add more baking soda and see what happens. Will you get more bubbles? Do you need to add more vinegar?

The Science Behind It

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base and vinegar (acetic acid) is an acid. When combined, they react to form water, a salt (sodium acetate), and carbon dioxide gas. The bubbles produced by the reaction are the carbon dioxide gas escaping the water.

Color Mixing Experiment Variations

• Set up 3 containers of baking soda each with one visible primary color. Color the vinegar. Allow your child to combine the colored vinegar with the baking soda. What colors do you get?
• Can you use the 3 primary colors to create a rainbow?
• How can we get the color brown?
• What happens if we add soap to the mix? (It will foam up.)

Storybook Science

The first week of our Storybook Science series is all about kitchen science – simple ideas that you can do with everyday household supplies. Follow along with the rest of our Storybook Science here . Bloggers will be sharing a new science idea inspired by a children’s book each day of March.

Subscribe to the Inspiration Laboratories newsletter. Each issue has exclusive hands-on science explorations for children, a recap of our latest activities, and special resources selected just for you!

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Buggy and Buddy

Meaningful Activities for Learning & Creating

January 13, 2016 By Chelsey

Exploring Colors with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Combine art and science in this fun and easy activity for kids using baking soda and vinegar.  It’s one of our favorite science experiments for preschool and kindergarten!

Follow our Science for Kids Pinterest board!

I’ve done this art and science activity with all of my after school kindergarten classes, and it always seems to be the one they remember the most! It’s really easy to set up and you only need a few common ingredients. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Check out even more hands-on fun in the video below!

In this science activity, not only will children get to create a chemical reaction, but they’ll also be able to explore color mixing and create some colorful “artwork”!

Materials for Exploring Colors Activity

• Tray (I used a set of foil trays like these for my class.)
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Containers to hold the colored vinegar (I used ice cube trays .)
• Pipettes (Super inexpensive, and we use them often- like with our straw rockets and with painting activities )
• Liquid watercolors or food coloring

Directions for Exploring Colors Activity

Prior to the activity we read books about colors. A good one to read right before is   A Color of His Own  by Leo Lionni.

1. Give each child or group of children a tray .

2. Fill the tray with baking soda . (We used one box per tray.)

3. Fill each ice cube tray (or other container) with vinegar . Add liquid watercolors to the vinegar so each child or group has a variety of colors to use.

4. Use a pipette or dropper to place a few drops of the colored vinegar onto the tray of baking soda. Watch what happens!

5. Continue exploring with other colors.

Each group of students was absolutely enthralled with this activity! They loved watching the chemical reactions take place and hypothesized about what would happen as they added different colors.

Once the tray was completely colored (about 25-30 minutes), they stood back and admired their finished creations. They were seriously so excited and asked if they could go around and see how everyone’s turned out!

After cleaning up, we sat down and read I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont. The kids loved how many of the illustrations in the book looked just like their colorful trays.

You can find all kinds of STEM activities in our ebook! Find out more here or buy it now here !

7 Fizzy Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiments

This post may contain affiliate links.

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There is something about baking soda and vinegar science experiments that just never gets old. Kids of all ages enjoy these activities, but in my experience, little ones love them the most. They get so excited when they watch the baking soda and vinegar reaction!

When my kids were little I got into the habit of buying large containers of baking soda and white vinegar. These supplies are pretty inexpensive, especially when purchased in bulk. You might not want to use them in food prep after a while, but they are always good for science experiments.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (water and acetic acid) form carbon dioxide gas when they are mixed together.

These easy science experiments are sure to be a hit! Creating an acid-base reaction is a fun way to learn about chemical reactions.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiments

Tip – I recommend doing all of the vinegar and baking soda science experiments on a baking sheet or outside. The fizzy reactions can get messy quickly!

Classic Volcano

Making a volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. This activity can fit in with a science lesson about chemical reactions, but it can also be a great volcano demonstration in a lesson about volcanos.

You will need:

• Container to hold the baking soda
• Baking soda
• Playdough or clay (if you want to form a classic volcano shape)

First, gather all of your materials. You can use pretty much any container to make the volcano. I used a beaker from my science cabinet, but you could use a drinking glass, a mason jar, a clean can, etc. I have even seen people make a big baking soda and vinegar volcanos using sand buckets! (Definitely do that outside for easy cleanup.)

I recommend putting the volcano in a glass casserole dish to contain the mess.

If you want to form the classic volcano shape, use playdough or clay to add a slope to your container. You can also paint it if you want. Let this harden and dry before adding baking soda or vinegar.

When your volcano is ready, sprinkle baking soda into your container. Different volcanos will need different amounts of baking soda. If you have a small container you will just need a little. If you use a large container you will need a lot.

When everyone is ready, pour the vinegar onto the baking soda. The fizzy chemical reaction happens pretty much instantly.

Fizzy Dinosaur Eggs

This fizzy dinosaur eggs activity from Kim at TheBestIdeasForKids.com is going to be a hit with any young children who love dinosaurs. Kids can help prepare the baking soda eggs and then use the vinegar to make them ‘hatch’ or an adult can prepare the eggs ahead of time.

• Food coloring
• Small plastic dinosaurs (or whatever you want inside of the eggs)
• Squirt bottle or dropper

Get the full fizzy dinosaur egg directions .

Drop Painting

I loved setting my kids up with this activity when they were toddlers – early elementary. It was my go-to activity when I needed them to be engaged at the kitchen table so I could supervise them while cooking. They had a great time and I was able to cook without little hands helping.

• Baking tray or dish
• Cups – one for each color
• Different colors of food coloring
• Dropper or pipette – one for each color

To set up this activity, add a layer of baking soda to a baking dish. Then add vinegar to small cups. I used an assortment of recycled glass jars. Add a few drops of food coloring to each cup. Kids can help mix primary colors to create secondary colors. Put a pipette or dropper in each cup.

Now kids can use the pipettes to drop colored vinegar onto the baking soda. Everywhere that a drop of vinegar hits the baking soda kids will see bubbles in the color of the vinegar.

Some kids like to make a picture using the baking soda as a temporary canvas. Other kids just enjoy the process. Either way, they are having fun experimenting with baking soda and vinegar. This sort of activity when kids are young lays a foundation for understanding chemical reactions when they are older.

Hot ice seems like an oxymoron, but it is actually a really cool science experiment using baking soda and vinegar. This activity has a few more steps than some of the other ideas, but kids will be delighted with the result.

• Baking Soda
• Glass measuring cup
• Glass pie plate
• Refrigerator

Get the full directions for hot ice from PlaydoughtoPlato.com .

Hidden Colors

This hidden colors activity is similar to the vinegar drop painting activity. It uses the same basic supplies, but the order is different.

• Mini-muffin tin
• Vinegar in a cup
• Dropper or pipette

Put a few drops of food coloring in each mini-muffin tin well. Cover it with a thin layer of baking soda. You want enough baking soda to cover the food coloring, but not enough to fill up the muffin tin. When it is ready, kids shouldn’t be able to tell what color is in which spot.

Pour vinegar into a cup and give your child a dropper or pipette.

Kids can slowly add drops of vinegar to each well of baking soda until they can see the color mix in with the carbon dioxide bubbles.

Exploding Bag

I think most kids go through a phase where they like to watch things explode. In my house that happened in the late elementary and early middle school years.

This baking soda and vinegar activity will make kids who love explosions happy.

I think it is a good idea to do this activity outside because it can get messy! The aftermath of a baking soda and vinegar explosion can feel gritty so it is helpful if it is done on a driveway so it can be hosed off.

• Plastic bag with a zip seal
• Permanent markers (optional)

Get the full directions for making an exploding bag at MomBrite.com .

Inflate a Balloon

Watching fizzy bubbles and explosions can be fun, but this baking soda and vinegar experiment helps kids understand that chemical reactions can be useful. They will attempt to inflate a balloon using baking soda and vinegar. Now, this certainly isn’t the most efficient way to blow up a balloon, but it gets kids thinking about science as useful.

• Plastic bottle

Get the full directions at HappyBrownHouse.com .

I hope your kids enjoyed these simple science experiments! Once they have tried a few of these simple baking soda and vinegar activities, let them try making changes to see if the results change. Maybe they can try using lemon juice instead of vinegar and see what happens!

Check out these other science activities for kids!

• How to Grow a Germ Farm
• Rock Cycle Activities for Middle School
• Helpful Science Vocabulary Activities

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Welcome! My name is Jennifer. I am a teacher at heart. Before my children were born I was a public school teacher. Now, I am a homeschooling mom of two.

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Hands On As We Grow®

Hands on kids activities for hands on moms. Focusing on kids activities perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

35 Exploding Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments for Kids of All Ages

Science Toddlers Grade School Kindergartners Preschoolers Experiment Kitchen Resources 3 Comments

Try one of these 35 science experiments that you can do with two simple ingredients you probably already have at home – baking soda and vinegar.

Simple science experiments are great for all ages.

They don’t always go as planned.

But that’s part of experimenting and learning.

Adjust accordingly and try again.

I am more likely to do science experiments that use basic household supplies.

After all, who wants to wait to go shopping before doing a science experiment?

Don’t let the excitement of doing an experiment fizzle away.

Mixing baking soda and vinegar is a blast, so you are sure to enjoy these 35 science experiments for kids.

Before even starting, figure out the best baking soda to vinegar ratio.

We did it and discovered that using 12 parts vinegar to 1 part baking soda resulted in the biggest fizziest explosions.

See the details here: Mega Baking Soda to Vinegar Ratio Experiment

Erupting Volcanoes with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Go with the flow with these erupting baking soda and vinegar volcano experiments.

I hope you lava them as much as I do!

Keep the mess to a minimum by going outside or keeping the volcanoes contained in a baking dish.

• Create an erupting apple volcano as seen on Little Bins for Little Hands. Then check out these 40 easy apple activities for kids to experiment, create, and learn for more apple themed learning.
• Scoop out the insides of a watermelon for a watermelon volcano shown on Natural Beach Living. And then enjoy a yummy snack when done.
• Fill a tray with plastic egg volcanoes found on Little Bins for Little Hands.
• Repurpose a salt shaker for a salt shaker volcano as seen on Science Kiddo. Wrap the baking soda in tissue paper, toss it in the vinegar, and quickly put the lid on to create a geyser of baking soda and vinegar.
• Practice colors with a color changing volcano shown on Preschool Inspirations. A video is available to watch this active volcano.
• Use small containers for a rainbow volcano found on Messy Little Monster. Pair this activity with a frozen rainbow science experiment for kids .
• Be wowed with a colorful volcano as seen on Hello Wonderful. Making a sensory bin with this erupting volcano is a hands-on creative idea.
• Build a homemade volcano shown on Fun With Mama. A plastic or glass bottle and some sand work great.
• Construct a ketchup volcano found on Kindergarten Worksheets and Games. Ketchup has vinegar in it, so technically, this is another vinegar and baking soda experiment. Plus it’s red like lava!

Dancing with Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments

You put a little boogie in a tissue to make it dance.

But how do you make apple seeds , popcorn seeds, raisins, rice, gummy worms, and candy dance?

Try these baking soda and vinegar experiments! What else can you make dance?

• Use the apple seeds from the erupting apple volcano experiment for dancing apple seeds as seen on J Daniel 4’s Mom.
• Become a magician with dancing popcorn seeds found on Little Bins for Little Hands. Abracadabra!
• Experiment with dancing raisins shown on Science Sparks. Do raisins sink or float?
• Add color to a dancing rice experiment as seen on Green Kid Crafts. Do all kinds of rice dance?
• Cut gummy worms in quarters and soak them in baking soda for this dancing worms experiment as seen on Playdough to Plato. Does it matter how long you soak the worms in baking soda?
• Start a conversation with these dancing candy hearts found on Kindergarten Worksheets and Games. What other candy can you make dance?

FREE Science Experiments Download!

Creating Art with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Don’t draw the line with baking soda and vinegar experiments just yet. Create some fizzy, popping art work!

• Mix together some baking soda paint as seen on Housing a Forest. Spread this thick, goopy paint on to cardboard or thick paper with a spatula.
• Create some fizzy art found on Typically Simple. No pipette, no problem! Try using a medicine syringe or a turkey baster.
• Explore space with fizzy galaxy art shown on The Pinterested Parent. It’s a beautiful out-of-this world creation.
• Play with a fizzy painting as seen on Rainy Day Mum. Messy but fun!
• Make rainbow art found on The Best Ideas for Kids. The colors might all mix together in the process, but that’s okay!
• Build a textured fizzling volcano as seen on The Craft at Home Family. A free template is available.

Experimenting More with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Who knew you could do so many experiments with baking soda and vinegar? Here are even more simple baking soda and vinegar experiments to try at home with kids.

• Assemble a fizzy sensory bin found on Wild Flower Ramblings. Add shells, little rocks, and toy underwater creatures for an ocean theme.
• Experiment with color reaction using baking soda and vinegar! What color does blue and yellow make? Green!
• Learn what ratio of vinegar and baking soda creates the best chemical reaction with a ratio experiment . Chart your results.
• Become a mad scientist in a fizzy potion lab found on Little Passports. Any cup should work.
• Blow up a balloon without using your mouth. Will the filled balloons fall to the ground or rise in the air once they are tied shut?
• Uncover a magic treasure rock shown on Growing a Jeweled Rose. What treasure will you find?
• Compare frozen vinegar with frozen baking soda as seen on Play of the Wild. This is a great hands-on chemistry experiment.
• Build a chemical reaction car found on Left Brain Craft Brain. Does the amount of baking soda and vinegar affect the speed?
• Blast off with a launching rocket as seen on Babble Dabble Do. Does the weight of the rocket affect the distance it travels?
• Play in water with a STEAM boat shown on Tiny Beans. Anchors away!
• Decorate a STEAM sailboat found on 123 Homeschool 4 Me. Does the design of the boat matter?
• Investigate clean and green pennies as seen on Mom Brite. Make pennies sparkle and turn them green with this experiment.
• See a disappearing egg shell shown on Premeditated Leftovers. Simply put an egg in a jar of vinegar and wait a couple of days.
• Watch all of the bubbles form with this disappearing sea shells activity found on Little Bins for Little Hands. A shell in vinegar for a little bit is a clean shell. But left in vinegar for too long, it may disappear!

What is your favorite baking soda and vinegar activity?

About Brigitte Brulz

Brigitte Brulz is a homeschooling mom of two daughters, wife of her high school sweetheart, and author of Jobs of a Preschooler and Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles. She offers free coloring pages and activity ideas on her website at BrigitteBrulz.com .

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Chalk Academy

Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiments: Color Explosion for Kids!

Over the years, our kids have enjoyed dozens of baking soda and vinegar experiments! We regularly use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning, and my kids love these ingredients for special science fun. Color explosions are definitely among their favorite hands-on activities !

Chalk Academy is reader-supported. Some of the links are affiliate links. When you buy something through an affiliate link, we may earn a very small commission at no cost to you. Details here .

Since we’re raising bilingual children , we try to make our non-dominant language, Chinese, as fun as possible. I’ve shared before about how new experiences are the key to making the minority language memorable. During these baking soda and vinegar experiments, try to encourage the minority language while your child is excited and interested!

I’ll share the basic science behind this baking soda and vinegar reaction, relevant Chinese translations, and 4 of my kids’ favorite versions of this activity!

The science behind baking soda and vinegar experiments

Recommended materials, the main chemical ingredients.

• Please note that this is different than baking powder 泡打粉 (pāo dǎfěn) or 发酵粉 / 發酵粉 (fāxiào fěn)
• White vinegar 白醋 (báicù)

Supplemental supplies

• Food coloring 食用色素 (shíyòng sèsù)
• Pipette 滴管 (dī guǎn)
• Containers 容器 (róngqì): Cups 杯子 (bēizi), bottles 瓶子 (píngzi), or shot glasses 酒杯 (jiǔbēi)
• Flat pan 平底锅 / 平底鍋 (píngdǐ guō)
• Digital pH scale or paper pH strips

Baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction

Chemical reactions occur when 2 molecules interact to form new compounds or molecules. If you’re wondering if a chemical reaction is happening, look for changes in:

• Temperature
• State of matter (eg, formation of gas [bubbles] or solid [precipitate])

In this activity, baking soda (eg, sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO₃) is interacting with vinegar (eg, combination of water [H 2 O] and acetic acid [CH₃COOH].

Before adding food coloring, I suggest exploring the properties of baking soda and vinegar alone!

For older kids who are learning about acids and bases, you can use pH strips to compare baking soda and vinegar. Acids have a proton (hydrogen ion, H+) that they want to get rid, while bases want protons.

When baking soda (solid 固体, base 碱) dissolves in vinegar (liquid 液体, acid 酸), protons are being exchanged. During the chemical reaction, carbon dioxide gas is released, causing visible bubbles and audible fizzing! Water is also left behind, which is why the leftover liquid doesn’t keep bubbling when the reaction is over.

If you’re curious about the chemical equation, check out this article from Thought Co ! Also check out Thomas Gray’s Elements Trilogy (3-book series) to learn about elements, molecules, and reactions with your kids!

Questions to explore during baking soda and vinegar experiments

Factors that increase chemical reaction rates.

• Concentration

How much baking soda and vinegar do you need?

I think this question in and of itself would be great to explore with your kids rather than me giving the answer we discovered! 🙂

Explore different volumes of vinegar and baking soda to see how the concentration affects the reaction!

Should you add baking soda or vinegar first?

We have experimented with pouring baking soda into vinegar as well as vinegar into baking soda. Again, this would be a great experiment to try with your kids so that your family can compare the reactions!

We found that pouring vinegar into baking soda results in instant bubbling and fizzing, while the reverse took a little longer. Why did this happen? The pressure and speed of the liquid vinegar hitting the baking soda accelerated the chemical reaction. On the other hand, the lightweight baking soda reached the liquid vinegar at a lower speed and pressure.

Other scientific questions

• Does the temperature of the vinegar affect the reaction?
• Does stale versus fresh baking soda affect the reaction?
• What is the pH of each food dye, and how does it affect the reaction?

Science activity vocabulary in Chinese and English

For parents like me who are learning Chinese with their kids , here are key words and phrases in simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Hanyu Pinyin, and English.

If you have younger kids, focus on common verbs (guess, pour, explode), adjectives (color, wet, dry), and nouns (eg names of materials). For older and/or more fluent kids, introduce science terms with the activity.

Important words/phrases

• Solid 固体 / 固體 (gùtǐ)
• Liquid 液体 / 液體 (yètǐ)
• Gas 气体 / 氣體(qìtǐ)
• States of matter 物质状态 / 物質狀態 (wùzhí zhuàngtài)
• Physical form 物质形态 / 物質形態 (wùzhí xíngtài)
• Chemical reaction 化学反应 / 化學反應 (huàxué fǎnyìng)
• Color explosion 颜色爆炸 / 顏色爆炸 (yánsè bàozhà)

Important sentences

• Today, we’re going to do an experiment! 今天，我们要做一个实验！ / 今天，我們要做一個實驗！(Jīntiān, wǒmen yào zuò yīgè shíyàn!)
• We need these materials. 我们需要这些材料。/ 我們需要這些材料 。(Wǒmen xūyào zhèxiē cáiliào.)
• Can you guess what will happen? 你能猜会发生什么吗？/ 你能猜會發生什麼嗎? (Nǐ néng cāi huì fāshēng shénme ma?)
• Baking soda is a solid. 小苏打是固体。 / 小蘇打是固體。(Xiǎo sūdǎ shì gùtǐ.)
• Pour the baking soda here. 小苏打应该倒在这里。 / 小蘇打應該倒在這裡。(Xiǎo sūdǎ yīnggāi dǎo zài zhèlǐ.)
• Vinegar is a liquid. 醋是液体。 / 醋是液體。 (Cù shì yètǐ.)
• Pour the vinegar here. 醋要倒在这里。/ 醋要倒在這裡。(Cù yào dào zài zhèlǐ.)
• It’s okay if you spilled. 如果你洒了, 没关系。/ 如果你灑了，沒關係。(Rúguǒ nǐ sǎle, méiguānxì.)
• Please use this towel to wipe the table. 请用这条毛巾擦桌子。/ 請用這條毛巾擦桌子。(Qǐng yòng zhè tiáo máojīn cā zhuōzi.)
• Try it again. 再试一次。/ 再試一次。(Zài shì yīcì.)
• Red 红色 / 紅色 (hóngsè)
• Orange 橙色 (chéngsè)
• Yellow 黄色 / 黃色 (huángsè)
• Green 绿色 / 綠色 (lǜsè)
• Blue 蓝色 / 藍色 (lánsè)
• Purple 紫色 (zǐsè)
• Pink 粉红色 / 粉紅色 (fěnhóng sè)
• Brown 棕色 (zōngsè)
• Black 黑色 (hēisè)
• White 白色 (báisè)
• Wow! So cool! 哇! 非常酷！(Wa! Fēicháng kù!)
• It’s bubbling! 冒泡了！ (Mào pàole!)
• Hear the fizzing sound? 听到嘶嘶声吗？/ 聽到嘶嘶聲嗎？(Tīng dào sī sī shēng ma?)
• It formed a gas. 它变成了气体。/ 它變成了氣體。 (Tā biàn chéngle qìtǐ.)
• This color explosion is a chemical reaction! 这种颜色爆炸是化学反应！/ 這種顏色爆炸是化學反應！ (Zhè zhǒng yánsè bàozhà shì huàxué fǎnyìng!)
• This is fun! 这个很有趣！/ 這個很有趣！(Zhège hěn yǒuqù!)
• Let’s do this again! 让我们再做一次! / 讓我們再做一次! (Ràng wǒmen zài zuò yīcì!)

Try this : Positive Affirmations to Tell Our Kids Everyday (English / Chinese Printable)

4 fun baking soda and vinegar color activities for kids!

Here are 4 favorite ways that we have explored baking soda and vinegar with a color explosion twist! Adult supervision required.

Bubbly rainbow fountains!

• First, pour vinegar into small cups. 首先，把醋倒进小杯子里。/ 首先，把醋倒進小杯子裡。(Shǒuxiān, bǎ cù dào jìn xiǎo bēizi lǐ.)
• Add a few drops of food coloring. 加几滴食用色素。/ 加幾滴食用色素。 (Jiā jǐ dī shíyòng sèsù.)
• Pour baking soda into a flat pan. 把小苏打倒进平底锅里。/ 把小蘇打倒進平底鍋裡。 (Bǎ xiǎo sū dǎdǎo jìn píngdǐ guō lǐ.)
• Scoop baking soda into the cups. 把小苏打倒进醋里。/ 把小蘇打倒進醋裡。 (Bǎ xiǎo sū dǎdǎo jìn cù lǐ.)

The kids had fun watching the cups overflow if they scooped a “full spoon” of baking soda rather than a fraction of a spoon.

Although regular spoons were used in the above photo, measuring spoons would be a more scientific way to compare reactions!

Rainbow fizz!

Here’s another variation of the baking soda and vinegar reaction!

• First, pour baking soda into a flat pan. 首先，把小苏打倒进平底锅里。/ 首先，把小蘇打倒進平底鍋裡。 (Shǒuxiān, bǎ xiǎo sū dǎdǎo jìn píngdǐ guō lǐ.)
• Pour vinegar into small cups. 把醋倒进小杯子里。/ 把醋倒進小杯子裡。(Dào jìn xiǎo bēizi lǐ.)
• With pipettes, squirt vinegar into baking soda. 用滴管把醋滴进小苏打里。/ 用滴管把醋滴進小蘇打裡。(Yòng dī guǎn bǎ cù dī jìn xiǎo sūdǎ lǐ.)

This time, colored vinegar was squirted into the baking soda with pipettes . We noticed that the bubbling occurred instantly, no matter how much vinegar was added. Since the pipettes have numbers, we could compare number of milliliters and visible bubbling.

Bubbly blocks!

To experiment with temperature, we froze blocks of baking soda in an ice cube tray! Mix 1/2 cup of water and 1 cup of baking soda and divide equally in the ice cube tray. If you want to add food coloring, just add a few drops of the desired color to each cube!

Rainbow surprise!

Another favorite is this mystery colors spinoff that was inspired by various activity moms including Busy Toddler ! As you can imagine, this is the messiest but most exciting version of the baking soda and science activity. My kids had fun squirting food coloring at the bottom of each muffin cup and hiding it with baking soda. Then the best part: squirt vinegar for fizzy color surprises!

Have you tried these fun baking soda and vinegar science experiments?

If you try these fun science activities, please let us know in the comments below! What age(s) are your kid(s) and how did it go? We’d love to hear about your learning experience!

More bilingual science resources for kids

• Recommended Human Anatomy Toys | Science Gifts for Kids
• Chinese and English science books for kids
• Magic School Bus Picture and Chapter Books

Dr. Betty Choi is a Harvard-trained pediatrician and mother on a mission to connect families through language and play. Chalk Academy was inspired by her trials and triumphs with relearning a heritage language and raising bilingual children in a monolingual community. Dr. Choi's advice has been featured in PBS, Parents, Healthline, The Atlantic, and VeryWell.

AMAZING!! This helped me a lot with my science project. Thx for the ideas!

You’re welcome, Stephanie! So glad it was helpful!

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Happily Ever Mom

Playful Learning and Family Fun

Rainbow Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

FUN Activities

We love to experiment with baking soda and vinegar!

It’s such a fun way to bring science to life!  We’ve played with baking soda “dough” to make  fizzy cupcakes  and we’ve explored art and science with  ice on the light table , but this was the first time that we tried dying baking soda to make a fizzy rainbow .

And, let me tell you, it was gorgeous!!

When I was a preschooler teacher, I saved   any baking soda and vinegar experiment for rainy days.  My kids would sit and experiment with the trays for over an hour.  Have you ever met a preschooler??  They don’t sit still long!  You can imagine why I saved this for when we were stuck inside!!

Supplies for Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

• Baking Soda
• Syringes (or eye droppers)
• Food coloring

How to Make Rainbow Colored Baking Soda

The only “hard” part about this baking soda and vinegar experiment is mixing the colors.  Here’s exactly how we dyed the baking soda:

• Scoop 4 BIG spoonfuls of baking soda into a bowl
• Add 2-3 drops (or more if you’d like) of food coloring
• Pour a small amount of water into the bowl (like a teaspoon or two)

Note: I added a drop of food coloring to the water to help brighten the color of the baking soda!

There will be little clumps of baking soda from the moisture, but the baking soda shouldn’t be wet.

Then, I put out a jar of vinegar with some syringes for my three-year-old to experiment and to play!

Don’t you think it looks gorgeous??

Come on over to our Facebook page and share your favorite way to explore science with your little one!

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February 21, 2014 at 9:22 pm

Beautiful!!! <3

February 22, 2014 at 12:22 am

So fun and colorful! 🙂

February 22, 2014 at 7:01 pm

Thanks, Heather!! You can never go wrong with fun and colorful!

February 22, 2014 at 7:48 pm

April 24, 2020 at 2:43 am

I am an Early childhood teacher may I know what is the objectives of this experiment.

April 24, 2020 at 11:13 am

Hi there! I was a preschool teacher for years as well! There’s a lot going on in this activity, but I’d say that the main learning objective is to experience and identify cause and effect. For example, when I add vinegar to the baking soda, it causes a reaction. It’s such an easy, hands-on science experiment for preschoolers! Hope that helps, Katie

February 22, 2014 at 10:52 am

Love it – great twist on the classic!

February 22, 2014 at 7:00 pm

Thanks, Natalie! This was so much fun!!

February 24, 2014 at 12:47 pm

So colorful! We love fizzy play activities!

February 24, 2014 at 1:11 pm

Oh, this is a cool project. Thanks for sharing at the After School Link Up

February 26, 2014 at 7:38 pm

Hi! I found your site from Google+ I just love this idea, especially this time of year! I also noticed that you had the book, Saving our Sons on your sidebar. Our son’s story is in that book. <3

February 26, 2014 at 11:05 pm

Thanks so much, Jeanette! I’m so glad you stopped by, we REALLY loved this one!!

February 28, 2014 at 2:11 pm

So pretty! I am featuring this on Afterschool link up next Monday.

February 28, 2014 at 9:41 pm

Thanks so much, Natalie – it really was gorgeous to watch!

March 4, 2014 at 6:10 am

We have another crazy cold day here in South Texas. We have leftover homemade snow. Maybe it’s time to turn it into a rainbow! We need a little bright color in our day. Thanks for the idea.

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Over 6,200 homeschool resources and growing!

Fun & Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiments

Published: July 5, 2022

Contributor: Jeannette Tuionetoa

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

If you have baking soda and vinegar at home, it is all you need for super science fun. These baking soda and vinegar science experiments are easy to do and your kids will love them!

Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments

What is the best thing about vinegar and baking soda science experiments? You have everything you need right in your pantry! These fun and cheap science experiments may be super easy, yet they will still add excitement to your science lessons.

Basic Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments

If you are looking for a simple baking soda and vinegar experiment, try this classic.

Classic Vinegar and Baking Soda Science Experiment

Here are the materials needed for this classic science experiment:

• Baking soda
• Tall and narrow plastic container
• Rimmed tray to make sure it captures any overflows
• Food coloring

Vinegar and Baking Soda Experiment Directions

• Pour baking soda into the plastic container and add a few drops of the food coloring.
• Pour vinegar over the baking soda and drops of food coloring with a medicine dropper.
• Watch in awe as the reaction bubbles up and fizzles over the edge of the container. Add props like Legos or toys to make a whole scene of bubbly, fizzy fun.

Homemade Fizzy Sidewalk Paint

Here are the materials needed for the Homemade Fizzy Sidewalk Chalk Paint science experiment:

• 2 cups of baking soda
• 1 cup of cornstarch

Fizzy Sidewalk Paint Directions

• Grab a squirt or squeeze bottle, muffin tins, and paint brushes.
• Mix the ingredients all together and pour them into the muffin tins. Of course, do this a few times with different colors.
• Grab paint brushes, get outdoors and start your creations.

Baking Soda Vinegar Volcano

I am sure you have seen a baking and soda and vinegar volcano, right? This easy baking soda and vinegar volcano eruption is fun and your kids can do it independently.

This experiment only takes about three minutes to prep . Here are the materials needed for easy baking soda and vinegar volcano eruption for kids:

• Plastic cup
• 4 tbs of baking soda
• 1 tsp of dish soap
• ½ oz to 2 oz of washable paint
• 1 cup  of vinegar (8 oz of vinegar that will start your eruption)

How to Make Your Volcano Erupt

• Have your young children make a mound of gravel and place the cup on top of it with gravel developing it into a mountain shape.
• Combine all the ingredients together.
• Pour the mixture into the cup and then the vinegar when you are ready for eruption.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment for Kids

This is a fun take on a simple experiment. Check out this baking soda and vinegar powered boat .

Baking Soda and Vinegar Powered Boat

Here are the materials needed for Baking Soda and Vinegar Powered Boat experiment:

• Small empty plastic water bottle
• Kitchen paper roll
• Straw vinegar
• Bath or large tub/container

Directions for Baking Soda and Vinegar Powered Boat Experiment

• Pierce a hole in the water bottle for the star to go through it. Tape up the gap to prevent any air from escaping the water bottle.
• Pour vinegar into the plastic bottle and then replace the lid.
• Tap some baking soda on a small piece of kitchen roll.
• Stuff the tissue-wrapped baking soda in the bottle and swiftly cover it with the lid.
• Place the plastic bottle in the water and just watch it zoom away.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction

So, what exactly happens with a baking soda and vinegar reaction? Mixing vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) together cause a chemical reaction that makes salt (sodium acetate), water, and carbon dioxide gas. These experiments are exciting for students to do.

There are two separate reactions when baking soda and vinegar mix. There is an acid base reaction and a decomposition reaction.

Acid-based reaction – Hydrogen ions and vinegar react with the sodium and bicarbonate ions that are in baking soda. The result is two chemicals called carbonic acid and sodium acetate.

Decomposition reaction – The carbonic acid and sodium acetate from the acid-based reaction decompose into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide gas.

Baking Soda And Vinegar Science Experiments FAQ

Here are some common questions people ask when mixing baking soda and vinegar.

What happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar and water?

Mixing baking soda and vinegar and water produces carbon dioxide gas which forms bubbles in the foaming mixture. It forms a fizzing reaction of carbon dioxide that consequently is awesome for cleaning and freshening sinks and drains.

What happens if you mix baking soda vinegar and food coloring?

It is important to listen in when mixing the baking soda vinegar and food coloring to hear the fizz. Mixing these three items develops a fizzy foam full of food coloring colors. Make a rainbow or use your young scientist’s favorite colors for a super cool colourful chemical reaction science experiment.

What science experiments can you do with baking soda?

Here is a list of experiments that can be done with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

• Baking soda paint
• Blow-up balloon science
• Fizzing Dinosaur Eggs
• Fizzing Sidewalk Paint
• Sandbox Eruption
• Slime Volcano

What science experiments can I do with vinegar?

Here is a list of experiments that can be done with vinegar (acetic acid).

• Vinegar and Milk Shapes
• Color Mixing Science Activity
• Vinegar Penny Magic
• Nails, Wire, and Vinegar
• Gas, bubbles, eruption!
• Fizzing Rubber Band Snap Art

In Conclusion

Big kids and even a busy toddler will have a great time enjoying these exciting experiments that are super easy, but loads of learning fun. 

You might also enjoy mason jar science experiments , and easy science experiments for kids.

• Experiments

Jeannette Tuionetoa

Jeannette is a wife, mother and homeschooling mom. She has been mightily, saved by grace and is grateful for God’s sovereignty throughout her life’s journey. She has a Bachelor in English Education and her MBA. Jeannette is bi-lingual and currently lives in the Tongan Islands of the South Pacific. She posts daily freebies for homeschoolers!

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Where Education Meets Fun!

10 Easy Science Fair Experiments for Kids, Parents and Teachers

Welcome to our collection of 10 easy science fair experiments for kids ! These hands-on activities are perfect for sparking curiosity and making learning fun. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or young scientist, these experiments—from erupting volcanoes to DIY lava lamps—are designed to be simple, engaging, and educational. With a little help from an adult, you can dive into the world of science and discover how exciting it can be.

1. Erupting Volcano Experiment

Introduction: Welcome to our exciting science fair project—creating your very own erupting volcano! This experiment is perfect for first and second graders to learn about chemical reactions in a fun and spectacular way. You’ll need an adult to help with some steps, so make sure to have a grown-up nearby!

Objective: To observe and understand the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar that causes a volcanic eruption.

• 1 small plastic bottle (500 ml)
• Baking soda (60 grams)
• Vinegar (200 ml)
• Dish soap (5 ml)
• Red food coloring (a few drops)
• Modeling clay or playdough (enough to cover the bottle and form a mountain)
• A tray or shallow container (to catch the overflow)
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Safety goggles (optional, for extra fun and safety)

Hypothesis: Predict what will happen when you mix baking soda, vinegar, and a few other ingredients in your model volcano. Do you think it will erupt like a real volcano?

• Place the plastic bottle on the tray. This is your volcano’s “magma chamber.”
• Use the modeling clay or playdough to shape a mountain around the bottle. Leave the top open so you can add your ingredients.
• Get creative with the shape and details of your volcano!
• In a separate cup, mix together 200 ml of vinegar, 5 ml of dish soap, and a few drops of red food coloring to create your “lava.” This will help make the eruption more colorful and bubbly.
• Pour the vinegar mixture into the bottle in your volcano.
• Add 60 grams of baking soda to the bottle and quickly step back to watch your volcano erupt!

Observation: Watch closely what happens when the baking soda meets the vinegar mixture. You should see a foamy and fizzy eruption that looks like lava flowing down the sides of your volcano.

Results: Record what you observed. Was the eruption slow and steady, or quick and explosive? How high did the “lava” flow?

Conclusion: Explain why the reaction happened using simple science. When baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) mix, they create carbon dioxide gas, which builds up pressure until it forces the liquid out in an eruption. This is similar to what happens in a real volcano, where gases build up pressure underground.

Further Experimentation:

Try the experiment again using different amounts of vinegar or baking soda. Does changing the amounts change how your volcano erupts?

This experiment not only teaches you about chemical reactions but also lets you create a mini spectacle at home or at your science fair. Have fun being a young scientist and remember to clean up after your experiment!

2. Floating Egg Experiment

Introduction: Dive into the fascinating world of density with the Floating Egg Experiment! This simple yet intriguing project is perfect for first and second graders to explore how different solutions affect whether an object sinks or floats. This experiment will need a bit of adult help, so make sure you have a grown-up to assist you!

Objective: To understand how the addition of salt to water changes its density and affects the buoyancy of an egg.

• Tap water (about 500 ml)
• Table salt (about 60 grams)
• 1 large clear glass or jar
• Measuring spoons
• Stirring spoon

Hypothesis: Before you begin, think about whether you believe the egg will float in plain water and what might happen when you add salt to the water. Write down your guess.

• Fill the glass or jar with 500 ml of tap water.
• Gently place the raw egg into the glass of plain water and observe what happens. Does it sink or float?
• Remove the egg carefully.
• Add 60 grams of salt to the water. Stir well until the salt is completely dissolved.
• Once the salt is dissolved, gently place the egg back into the saltwater solution. Observe what happens this time.

Observation: Note down what you see. How does the egg behave in plain water compared to the saltwater?

Results: Record your findings. Did the egg float in the saltwater? Was there a difference in how it behaved in the plain water compared to the saltwater?

Conclusion: Explain why the results occurred based on density. In plain water, the egg sinks because its density is higher than that of plain water. When you add salt to the water, it increases the water’s density, making it denser than the egg, which now floats.

You can experiment further by changing the amount of salt added to the water or trying different liquids like sugar water. See how these changes affect the egg’s buoyancy.

This experiment not only teaches you about the principles of density and buoyancy but also shows you how different solutions can change the behavior of objects in water. Have fun experimenting, and remember to ask questions and think about why things happen the way they do!

3. Rainbow Milk Experiment

Introduction: Get ready to create a swirling rainbow with the Rainbow Milk Experiment! This visually stunning project is ideal for young scientists in the first or second grade to explore the effects of soap on milk and food coloring. You’ll need some help from an adult, so be sure to have one nearby!

Objective: To observe how dish soap interacts with the fat in milk, causing movement in the food coloring that creates a rainbow effect.

• A shallow dish or plate
• Whole milk (enough to cover the bottom of the dish)
• Food coloring (various colors)
• Cotton swabs
• A dropper or small spoon

Hypothesis: Think about what you expect to happen when you add dish soap to the milk with food coloring. Do you think the colors will move, mix, or stay still? Write down your guess.

• Pour enough whole milk into the dish to just cover the bottom.
• Carefully add drops of different food coloring to the milk. Place them around the dish but not too close to each other.
• Dip a cotton swab into dish soap, ensuring it’s not dripping but wet with soap.
• Gently touch the soaped swab to the surface of the milk in the center of the dish or near one of the food coloring drops.

Observation: Watch what happens when the soapy cotton swab touches the milk. Look for any movement of the food coloring and how it interacts with the milk.

Results: Record what you see. Describe the movement and mixing of the colors. How did the dish soap affect the behavior of the food coloring in the milk?

Conclusion: Explain the science behind what you saw. The soap breaks the surface tension of the milk and reacts with its fats, creating movement that pushes the food coloring around. This movement shows how substances like soap can change the physical properties of other liquids like milk.

Try the experiment again using different types of milk (like skim or 2%) to see if the fat content affects the reaction. You can also use different detergents or soaps to see if they cause different patterns or movements in the milk.

This experiment is not only a beautiful display of colors but also a great lesson in chemistry and physics, showing how different substances interact in surprising and colorful ways. Enjoy creating your milk art, and don’t forget to clean up when you’re done!

 4. Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket

Introduction: Blast off into the world of chemical reactions with the Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket Experiment! This exciting activity is perfect for first and second graders eager to see science in action. You’ll need some adult supervision, so make sure a grown-up is ready to help with the fun!

Objective: To demonstrate the reaction between baking soda and vinegar and observe how this reaction can propel a homemade rocket.

• 1 small plastic film canister with a tight-fitting lid (or any small container with a pop-on lid that seals well)
• Baking soda (5 grams)
• Vinegar (30 ml)
• Tissue paper
• Safety goggles (to protect your eyes)
• An open space for launching your rocket (like a backyard or park)

Hypothesis: Predict what will happen when baking soda and vinegar mix inside your rocket canister. Think about how it might affect the canister and what the reaction will be like. Write down your prediction.

• Go outside or to a well-ventilated area where you can safely launch the rocket.
• Wrap the 5 grams of baking soda tightly in a small piece of tissue paper. This packet will help delay the reaction, giving you time to close the lid.
• Pour 30 ml of vinegar into the film canister.
• Quickly drop the baking soda packet into the canister with vinegar.
• Snap the lid on tightly and quickly place the canister on the ground, lid side down.
• Step back and watch what happens!

Observation: Observe the canister as the reaction happens. What do you see and hear? How high does the rocket go?

Results: Record the outcome of your experiment. Was the launch successful? How high did your rocket fly? Did it happen as you predicted?

Conclusion: Explain why the rocket moved. The reaction between baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) produces carbon dioxide gas. This gas builds up pressure inside the canister until the lid pops off, pushing the rocket into the air. This is an example of Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Experiment with different amounts of vinegar and baking soda to see if it affects how high your rocket goes. You can also try different sizes of containers to see how they change the reaction.

This experiment is not only a thrilling demonstration of a chemical reaction but also a fun way to learn about forces and motion. Make sure to conduct it in a safe environment and wear your safety goggles to protect your eyes. Enjoy your scientific journey into rocketry!

5. Magnetic Magic – Magnetic Poles and Fields Experiment

Introduction: Explore the invisible world of magnetism with this engaging experiment! Perfect for first and second graders, this activity will help you understand how magnets work, focusing on the poles and the magnetic fields they create. You’ll need some common items from home or school and the help of an adult to guide you through.

Objective: To explore and visualize the magnetic field lines around bar and horseshoe magnets and understand the interactions between the different poles of magnets.

• 1 bar magnet (with North and South poles labeled)
• 1 horseshoe magnet (with North and South poles labeled)
• Iron filings
• A sheet of white paper
• A tray or cardboard to contain any mess
• A compass (optional, for further exploration)

Hypothesis: Before you start, think about what you might see when you sprinkle iron filings around the magnets. What do you think will happen when the North pole of one magnet is near the South pole of another? Write down your guess.

• Place the sheet of white paper on the tray or cardboard to keep your workspace clean.
• Lay the bar magnet and the horseshoe magnet on the paper. Start with them a good distance apart so their fields don’t overlap immediately.
• Gently sprinkle iron filings around and between the magnets. Be careful not to bump the table as the filings align themselves along the magnetic field lines.
• Look at how the iron filings arrange themselves around each magnet. Notice the patterns they form. These lines show the magnetic fields emanating from the poles.
• Slowly move the North pole of one magnet towards the South pole of the other. Observe how the iron filings react. Do the same with like poles (North to North or South to South) and note any differences.

Observation: Record what happens to the iron filings as you move the magnets. How do the patterns change? What does this tell you about how the magnetic poles interact?

Results: Describe the arrangement of iron filings and what it indicates about the magnetic fields. Note any changes when different poles are near each other.

Conclusion: Explain your observations in terms of magnetic poles and fields. Magnets attract when opposite poles are near each other and repel when like poles are close. The iron filings align themselves along the lines of magnetic force, visibly showing the shape of the magnetic fields.

Try using a compass to see how the needle aligns with the magnetic fields. You can also test different materials to see if they are influenced by the magnets, like clips, aluminum foil, or copper wire.

This experiment not only teaches you about magnetism but also lets you see the invisible forces at play. Have fun exploring and always make sure to clean up your space when you are done!

6. DIY Lava Lamp Experiment

Introduction: Ready to light up your curiosity with a colorful DIY Lava Lamp? This experiment is fantastic for young scientists in first or second grade to explore the interactions between oil, water, and effervescent tablets. This safe and simple project is sure to dazzle and teach important scientific concepts with a bit of adult help.

Objective: To understand the effects of density and chemical reactions by creating a homemade lava lamp.

• 1 clear plastic bottle (1 liter)
• Water (about 400 ml)
• Vegetable oil (about 600 ml)
• Food coloring (any color you like)
• Effervescent tablets (like Alka-Seltzer)
• Flashlight (optional, for effect)

Hypothesis: Think about what will happen when you mix oil, water, and the effervescent tablet in the bottle. Predict how the ingredients will interact and what will happen when you add the tablet.

• Fill the clear plastic bottle with 400 ml of water.
• Slowly pour 600 ml of vegetable oil into the bottle, allowing it to layer on top of the water.
• Add a few drops of food coloring to the bottle. The drops will pass through the oil and mix with the water below.
• Break an effervescent tablet into a few pieces.
• Drop one piece into the bottle and watch as the lava lamp effect begins. The tablet reacts with the water to create gas bubbles that rise and fall through the oil.
• Shine a flashlight through the bottom of the bottle to enhance the visual effect, especially in a dim room.

Observation: Watch the bubbles of colored water rise and fall in the oil as the gas bubbles form and pop. Note how the oil and water do not mix.

Results: Describe what you see when the effervescent tablet reacts in the water and how it affects the oil and water mixture.

Conclusion: Explain the science behind the lava lamp. The water and oil separate due to their different densities, with oil being less dense and sitting on top of the water. The effervescent tablet reacts with the water to create carbon dioxide gas, which carries the colored water up through the oil until the gas escapes at the top.

Try using different amounts of oil or water, different colors of food coloring, or different types of effervescent tablets to see how it changes the reaction.

This experiment not only makes for an eye-catching display but also helps understand concepts like density, solubility, and gas formation. Have fun watching your very own lava lamp glow!

 7. Dancing Raisins Experiment

Introduction: Get ready to watch raisins dance in this fun and simple science experiment perfect for young students in first or second grade. This activity demonstrates the principles of buoyancy and gas production in a way that’s both entertaining and educational, with just a bit of adult supervision needed.

Objective: To observe and understand why raisins move up and down in a fizzy liquid due to the formation of gas bubbles.

• 1 clear glass or transparent plastic cup
• Plain water (enough to fill the glass three-quarters)
• Carbonated clear soda (enough to fill the glass)
• Several raisins (4-6)
• A stopwatch or timer (optional, to record the duration of the dance)

Hypothesis: Before starting, predict what will happen when you drop raisins into the soda. Do you think they will sink, float, or dance? Write down your guess.

• Fill the glass three-quarters with plain water and top it off with carbonated soda to make the liquid fizzy.
• Carefully drop 4 to 6 raisins into the glass of fizzy liquid.
• Watch what happens to the raisins for the next few minutes. Observe how they move in the glass.

Results: Record your observations. Do the raisins sink, float, or dance up and down? How long do they continue moving?

Conclusion: Explain the results using the concept of buoyancy and gas production. The carbon dioxide bubbles from the soda attach to the rough surface of the raisins, making them buoyant enough to rise to the surface. Once they reach the top, the bubbles pop, and the raisins sink again. This cycle repeats, causing the dancing effect.

Experiment with different carbonated drinks or try other small, dried fruits or objects like corn kernels or small pasta shapes to see if they also dance. Explore how temperature affects the rate of dancing by using cold versus room temperature soda.

This experiment is a fantastic way for kids to visually grasp scientific concepts and enjoy the magic of simple chemical reactions. It’s perfect for a science fair project or a classroom activity!

8. Color-Changing Carnations

Introduction: Discover how flowers drink water with the Color-Changing Carnations Experiment! This visually stunning activity is perfect for first and second graders to learn about plant biology and capillary action in a fun and colorful way. It’s a simple experiment that requires some adult supervision.

Objective: To demonstrate how plants absorb water and nutrients up through their stems, using carnations and colored water.

• White carnations (several, depending on how many colors you want to test)
• Clear glasses or vases (one for each color)
• Food coloring in various colors
• Scissors (to be used by an adult)

Hypothesis: Predict what will happen when the carnations are placed in colored water. Which colors do you think will show up best in the petals?

• Have an adult trim the stems of the carnations at an angle to allow them to absorb water more efficiently.
• Fill each glass or vase with water and add about 20 drops of food coloring to each, choosing different colors for each container.
• Stir the water to evenly distribute the color.
• Place one carnation in each colored water vase.
• Observe the carnations daily to see how the color travels up the stem and changes the color of the petals.

Results: Record your observations over several days. Note the changes in the color of the petals and how quickly each color appears.

Conclusion: Explain how capillary action works in plants, drawing water and nutrients up through tiny tubes in the stem. The food coloring shows this process visually, changing the color of the carnations’ petals.

Try using different liquids like sports drinks or diluted inks to see if they affect the flowers differently. Experiment with other white flowers to see if they absorb colors faster or slower than the carnations.

9. Invisible Ink

Introduction: Send secret messages with the Invisible Ink Experiment! This project is a fantastic way for first and second graders to learn about chemical reactions and the properties of acids and bases, with just a bit of adult supervision for safety.

Objective: To use a natural acid (lemon juice) to write invisible messages that appear only when heated.

• Spoon or brush
• White paper
• Heat source (light bulb or hair dryer; an adult should handle this part)

Hypothesis: Guess what will happen when you heat the paper that has lemon juice on it. How do you think the message will appear?

• Squeeze lemon juice into a bowl and add a few drops of water.
• Dip the spoon or brush into the lemon juice mixture and write a message on the white paper.
• Allow the paper to dry completely, making the message invisible.
• Have an adult help you heat the paper using a light bulb or hair dryer. Watch as the message slowly appears.

Results: Record what happens when the paper is heated and how clearly the message shows up.

Conclusion: Explain why the lemon juice message appears when heated (lemon juice, being acidic, weakens the paper fibers slightly and caramelizes when heated, making it visible).

Experiment with other natural acids like orange juice or vinegar. Try different heating methods or papers to see which reveals the message most effectively.

10. Homemade Slime Experiment

Introduction: Get ready for gooey fun with the Homemade Slime Experiment! This engaging and tactile project is great for first and second graders to learn about polymers and non-Newtonian fluids. Adult supervision is recommended, especially when handling chemicals.

Objective: To create slime using simple household ingredients and explore its unique properties.

• White school glue (about 120 ml)
• Borax powder (2 teaspoons)
• Water (two cups)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Mixing bowl

Hypothesis: Predict what will happen when you mix glue, borax, and water. What kind of texture do you think your slime will have?

• In a mixing bowl, combine 120 ml of white glue and one cup of water. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired.
• In another container, dissolve 2 teaspoons of borax in one cup of warm water.
• Slowly add the borax solution to the glue mixture, stirring continuously.
• Keep stirring until the slime begins to form and pull away from the sides of the bowl.
• Take the slime out and knead it with your hands until it reaches the desired consistency.

Results: Describe the texture and behavior of your slime. Is it stretchy? Does it bounce?

Conclusion: Discuss the chemical reaction between the glue and borax that creates a polymer, which gives the slime its unique properties.

Try adding different amounts of borax or glue to see how it changes the slime’s properties. Add glitter, beads, or small toys to create different types of slime.

Each of these experiments offers a fun, educational way to engage with basic scientific concepts, perfect for young learners eager to explore the world through science.

That’s a Wrap!

Science is all about curiosity, discovery, and having fun while learning how the world works. Through these 10 experiments, young scientists have not only created colorful reactions and gooey slime but also gained a deeper understanding of important scientific principles. Whether it was watching a volcano erupt, making an egg float, or exploring the magnetic fields, each experiment has shown that science is everywhere—even in the simplest things around us. As you continue to explore and experiment, remember that the journey of discovery is just beginning. Keep asking questions, keep experimenting, and most importantly, keep having fun with science!

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