Did you know you can create a chemical reaction that will make a water bottle “volcano” erupt? When an acid (vinegar) mixes with a base (baking soda), carbon dioxide is created, which creates gas bubbles. Chemical reactions are a form of energy (how things change and move). Here’s how to try it:

Materials:

• • 8 oz water bottle
  • Water
  • Vinegar
  • Food Coloring
  • Dish soap
  • Baking Soda
  • Spoon
  • Plastic Plate

Step One

Place a water bottle on a plastic plate and fill it ⅓ of the way with water. Add vinegar to the bottle until it is half full with liquid.

Step Two

Choose a food coloring color and place two drops in the bottle; add a squirt of dish soap to the bottle if you like.

Step Three

With a plastic spoon, fill the bottle with baking soda.

Step Four

Collect observations as you watch the volcano erupt. Now you know that the liquid acid and powder base combining created energy in the form of carbon dioxide gas! This energy created pressure in the bottle, which caused the carbon dioxide bubbles to rise up and escape from the top of the bottle, just like a volcanic eruption!

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