Fizz and Bubble

Fizz & Bubble!

Skills

observing

communicating

comparing

relating

Materials

a squeeze bottle of vinegar (i.e. a liquid detergent bottle)

baking soda (poured into a bowl)

spoons

small paper or plastic cups

Doing the Activity

Put a spoonful of the white powder in your cup.

Squirt a little of the liquid onto the white powder.

Observe what happens. A chemical reaction is taking place.

Look around at the other experiments at your table OR try your experiment again.

What was the same about the experiments? What was different?

What could make the difference?

Clean out your cup or get another cup to try the experiment again.

Can you find a way to get more bubbles? What's the secret?

Does it matter which you put in first?

Does it matter if you add the liquid slowly or faster?

Talking it over

What do you think the liquid and the white powder are?

What do you think makes the bubbles?

Have you ever seen any other reaction that looks like this?

What's Happening

Chemical reactions occur when two or more substances combine and change into a new substance. Sometimes there is a visible reaction. When you add baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to vinegar (acetic acid), bubbles form which release carbon dioxide. You no longer have baking soda and vinegar, but an entirely new set of chemicals that includes a gas, carbon dioxide.

More Challenges

Try the experiment with baking soda and lemon juice. Try using other white powders. What happens?

Using your knowledge about chemical reactions, see if you can design an experiment that will blow up a balloon without you having to blow!

Activity Source

Sherwood, Elizabeth. More Mudpies to Magnets: Science For Young Children. Maryland: Gryphon House, Inc., 1990.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
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	Fizz & Bubble!
	Skills observing communicating comparing relating
	Materials a squeeze bottle of vinegar (i.e. a liquid detergent bottle) baking soda (poured into a bowl) spoons small paper or plastic cups
	Doing the Activity Put a spoonful of the white powder in your cup. Squirt a little of the liquid onto the white powder. Observe what happens. A chemical reaction is taking place. Look around at the other experiments at your table OR try your experiment again. What was the same about the experiments? What was different? What could make the difference? Clean out your cup or get another cup to try the experiment again. Can you find a way to get more bubbles? What's the secret? Does it matter which you put in first? Does it matter if you add the liquid slowly or faster?
	Talking it over What do you think the liquid and the white powder are? What do you think makes the bubbles? Have you ever seen any other reaction that looks like this?
	What's Happening Chemical reactions occur when two or more substances combine and change into a new substance. Sometimes there is a visible reaction. When you add baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to vinegar (acetic acid), bubbles form which release carbon dioxide. You no longer have baking soda and vinegar, but an entirely new set of chemicals that includes a gas, carbon dioxide.
	More Challenges Try the experiment with baking soda and lemon juice. Try using other white powders. What happens? Using your knowledge about chemical reactions, see if you can design an experiment that will blow up a balloon without you having to blow!
	Activity Source Sherwood, Elizabeth. More Mudpies to Magnets: Science For Young Children. Maryland: Gryphon House, Inc., 1990.