Balloon Inflation with Baking Soda and Vinegar

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 Ages: 6-12

Objective: Explore how a chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar can produce carbon dioxide gas, which inflates a balloon.

Materials Needed:

  1. A small plastic bottle
  2. Baking soda (about 2 tablespoons)
  3. Vinegar (about 1/2 cup)
  4. A balloon
  5. A funnel (optional, for easier pouring)
  6. A measuring cup

Procedure:

  1. Prepare the Bottle:

    • Pour the vinegar into the plastic bottle. You can use a funnel to make this easier and to avoid spills.

  2. Prepare the Balloon:

    • Use the funnel to add the baking soda into the balloon. Stretch the balloon a little to make sure the baking soda gets to the bottom. If you don’t have a funnel, you can carefully pour the baking soda into the balloon directly.

  3. Attach the Balloon:

    • Carefully stretch the open end of the balloon over the top of the bottle, making sure not to spill any baking soda into the vinegar just yet.

  4. Combine Ingredients:

    • Once the balloon is securely on the bottle, lift the balloon so that the baking soda falls into the vinegar. The reaction will start immediately.

  5. Observe:

    • Watch as the mixture fizzes and bubbles, and the balloon inflates as carbon dioxide gas is produced.

Explanation:

  • The reaction between baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) produces carbon dioxide gas. This gas creates bubbles in the vinegar and inflates the balloon. The more baking soda and vinegar you use, the more gas is produced, which results in a larger balloon.

Extensions:

  1. Different Amounts:

    • Experiment with different amounts of baking soda and vinegar to see how it affects the size of the balloon.

  2. Temperature Effects:

    • Try using warm or cold vinegar to observe how temperature affects the rate of the reaction.

  3. Balloon Variations:

    • Use balloons of different sizes to compare how the amount of gas affects balloon inflation.

Safety Note:

  • Ensure that children do not ingest the materials and supervise the activity to prevent spills and accidents.

This experiment is a fun and interactive way to understand chemical reactions and gas production, with a visually exciting result 

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