Little chemistry experiment with baking soda
Baking soda – an irreplaceable item in every household. It can be useful both in cooking and in the bathroom, for cleaning and washing. In this article, we’ll learn how to use baking soda for fun – simple chemistry experiments that can be done at home with children.
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. In its solid form, it’s a white powder that you can safely touch and taste. Baking soda dissolves well in water. If you test the pH of such a solution, you’ll find it’s slightly alcaline. That’s why baking soda is used to relieve heartburn — it neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in the stomach:
NaHCO₃ + HCl → NaCl + H₂O + CO₂↑
The carbon dioxide released during thermal decomposition helps baked goods rise:
2NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂↑
Experiment: The Homemade “Volcano”
For this experiment, you’ll need:
baking soda
vinegar
food coloring (optional)
a tray or bowl (to protect the surroundings from “lava”)
a tall container – for example, a measuring cylinder or a tall glass (a vessel with a narrow opening works best)
The ratio of baking soda to vinegar should be 1:1 by weight. If one ingredient is in excess, it just won’t react. Keep in mind that vinegar is a solution of acetic acid.
Procedure:
Put baking soda into the tall container. Mix the food coloring into the vinegar. Then, pour the vinegar into the baking soda in one quick motion.
Now, enjoy the result!
NaHCO₃ + CH₃COOH → CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂↑
The “explosive foam” effect is caused by the carbon dioxide gas that’s released during the reaction.
Experiment: Inflating a Balloon Without Using Your Breath
This experiment also uses the reaction between baking soda and vinegar. This time, however, the carbon dioxide produced will inflate a balloon attached to a bottle or other container.
You’ll need:
baking soda
vinegar
a tall container – e.g., a bottle
a balloon
Put one tablespoon of baking soda into the balloon. Pour vinegar into the bottle. The reaction occurs in a 1:1 ratio, but if one reactant runs out, the other will simply remain unreacted. Keep in mind that vinegar is not pure acetic acid but a diluted solution, so you can use a bit more vinegar by weight than baking soda.
Attach the balloon to the neck of the bottle and, in one quick motion, shake the baking soda from the balloon into the vinegar. The carbon dioxide gas released will lift and inflate the balloon.
These two experiments are extremely simple. They can be done with the help of preschoolers, and since all the ingredients used are safe, they’re perfectly suitable for children.