Friday Fun

Fun with Gas - Make Carbon Dioxide to Blow up a Balloon

Materials
Balloons
Small funnel or a small piece of paper rolled up in a funnel shape
Baking soda
Vinegar
Small clean empty bottle

Directions
Using the funnel, add 3 teaspoons of baking soda to each balloon. Fill each bottle 1/3 full with vinegar. Without dropping in the baking soda, fit the balloon over the bottle opening. Hold up the balloon and let the baking soda fall into the vinegar. Watch as the baking soda mixes with the vinegar to make carbon dioxide gas and blow up the balloon.

What's Going On?
The vinegar mixes with the baking soda to create a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide gas. The gas then blows up the balloon. This is a fun rainy day experiment for the whole family!