Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library: Create A Spooky Chemistry Experiment With This Simple Science Project

Press release from the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library:

October 15, 2021

October is the perfect time to explore a spooky chemistry experiment! The balloons in this experiment seem to blow up all on their own. Decorate your balloons with a ghost or jack-o-lantern face before starting to make this even more seasonal. Be sure to talk together about the science behind why this experiment works, and don’t be afraid to explore!

Supplies Needed

• Baking soda (2 tsp per experiment)
• Vinegar (1 cup per experiment)
• Empty water bottles
• Balloons
• Measuring utensils
• Funnel
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

Questions to Ask

• Does the amount of baking soda you mix with the vinegar change the experiment? Try different measurements using supplies from your own kitchen. Does your balloon blow up more or less?
• Does adding something to the reaction change the outcome? Try adding a few drops of food coloring or dish soap next time. This is best observed in a dish or clear cup without the balloon.
• How do you know there has been a chemical reaction? List the things that changed during the reaction such as color and temperature or were produced such as bubbles and gas. All of these indicate that a chemical reaction has occurred.

How it Works

A chemical reaction is occurring inside of your water bottle between the baking soda (base) and the vinegar (acid). This acid-base reaction produces a salt (solid), water (liquid), and carbon dioxide (gas). It’s the carbon dioxide gas that is blowing up your balloon. As the gas is produced, it fills the water bottle. Once the bottle is full, it has nowhere else to go but up into the balloon. The carbon dioxide (CO2) gas that fills up your balloon is the same gas we exhale when we are breathing. It’s also the same gas plants use to produce energy.

Chemical Formula of Baking Soda and Vinegar

C2H4O2 + NaHCO3 → NaC2H3O2 + H2O + CO2
vinegar + sodium bicarbonate → sodium acetate + water + carbon dioxide

This press release was produced by the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.