Fizzing Colors

 

What is a chemical reaction and how does it work?

When mixing baking soda and vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs. During the process, you get carbon dioxide from the mixture. You might have heard of carbon dioxide before, it’s a gas humans release after taking in oxygen. During this experiment, you will observe what happens when mixing baking soda and vinegar, and create a colorful explosion.

Chemical Reaction Video

Materials

  • Baking soda

  • Food coloring

  • Vinegar 

  • Plate

  • Spoon or Straw

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Procedure

Step 1

Cover your plate with an even layer of baking soda

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Step 2

Apply various drops of food coloring along your baking soda base

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Step 3

Use a spoon or straw to drip vinegar onto each drop of food coloring

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Step 4

Enjoy the chemical reactions of colorful fizzy eruptions.

 

Science Explanations

K-2nd grade . . .

  • What happens when you add the vinegar to the baking soda? (Answer: a reaction occurs that causes it to fizz.)
  • How many fizzy explosions can you make?
  • How colorful can you make your fizzy explosions? What different colors can you make with the colors you have? (Answer: red=blue=purple, blue+yellow=green, etc.)

3rd-5th grade . . .

  • What happens when you mix the vinegar and baking soda? (Answer: a chemical reaction occurs that causes fizzing.)
  • Why do you think the fizzing occurred? (Answer: elements in both materials exchange atoms, or a basic unit of a chemical substance, and result in carbon dioxide.)
  • Have you ever heard of carbon dioxide? What is it? (Answer: Carbon dioxide is a gas we release after inhaling oxygen. It is also what plants take in to release oxygen back into the air.) NGSS 5-PS1-1 and NGSS 5-PS1-4

Math Extensions

Kindergarten . . .

  • How many different colors of food coloring do you have?
  • As you’re adding food coloring, count how many drops you do.
  • How many of each color did you use? CCSS.MATH.MC.K

Written by Taylor St. Clair Inspired by KiwiCo


1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, KJanice LeeChemistry, Math