Friday, September 6, 2013

Blowing up balloons with baking soda and vinegar

Did you ever make homemade volcanoes as a kid?  I made one in elementary school and remember being amazed by the chemical reaction.

A week ago Chuck and I played around with that classic baking soda and vinegar combination.  But this time, instead of making a volcano, we blew up some balloons.

(Note:  I can't take credit for this idea at all!  I saw in on Pinterest and then found some really clear directions on Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas.)

Materials:
  • Balloon
  • Plastic bottle
  • Funnel
  • Vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • Chopstick (optional)

Directions:
1.  Fill your plastic bottle a little less than half way with vinegar.  (I added some blue food coloring so we could see the reaction better.)



2.  Using the funnel, fill your balloon half way full with baking soda.  (If your baking soda is full of clumps, like mine, a chopstick will help to break those up so the baking soda falls into the funnel.)


3.  Attach the balloon's mouth to the bottle, but don't let the baking soda pour out just yet.



4.  When the balloon is attached the bottle, empty out the baking soda and watch the reaction unfold. The combination of vinegar and baking soda will bubble up, and the gas released from the reaction will blow up your balloon!


Balloon magic!