Area of Science: Chemistry
Meant for Grade 4-6 (age 8-10).
This experiment is barely edible.
An adult should be present.
Create quite a fizzle by mixing baking soda/sodium bicarbonate - a base with vinegar/acetic acid. Well.. it's theoretically 'edible' but I wouldn't recommend tasting it (yuck!).
1. Baking Soda - Make certain the box says 'soda,' and not 'powder.'
3. A container to hold your reaction. In 4th grade we made a plaster of Paris volcano with a well in the middle to hold the 'reagents.'
4. paper towels, depending on the extent of mess you plan to make.
Though the reagents are harmless, it might be a good idea to take precautions to make sure the stuff bubbling off doesn't get in your eyes.
How to do the experiment:
1. In a container place some of the baking soda.
2. Pour in some vinegar
3. Watch what happens.
The above reaction represents an acid base reaction, specifically:
baking soda acetic acid acetate ion | | | NaHCO3 + CH3COOH --> CO2 + H2O + Na+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq) (aq = aqueous, or in solution) to break it down further:NaHCO3 ↔ Na+(aq) + HCO3-(aq)
CH3COOH ↔ H+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq)
H+ + HCO3- ↔ H2CO3 (carbonic acid)
H2CO3 ↔ H2O + CO2
The acetic acid neutralizes the basic sodium bicarbonate. Note that carbon dioxide is given off in the process, creating the fizzes, pops and crackles.