Our young scientists learned about not just what happens when two items mix, but why. We incorporated the scientific method and engaged students in applying critical thinking skills to various experiments.
Thank you so much for making this very first month of Science Saturdays such a wonderful experience. Today, we focused on asking "what if" questions and coming up with a hypothesis. Below is a quick and easy science activity that you can try at home (we did a modified version of this in class today).
Materials:
2 new Ziplock-type sandwich bags
Measuring spoons
Measuring cup
Drinking glass
2 paper towels
Vinegar
Clear cups
Baking soda
Warm water
Food color
Liquid soap
Latex (or non-latex) glove
Instructions:
Tear a sheet of paper towel into a square measuring approximately 6” by 6”. Pour the baking soda into the center of the paper towel then fold the towel into an envelope with the power inside it. Pour ½ cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of warm water into the sandwich bag. Then, carefully but quickly, add the paper towel envelope to the bag and seal it. Shake the bag a little bit, then place it on the ground and stand back. The bag will inflate and then pop! t.
Next, in one cup, place ½ cup of baking soda. In another cup, place ¼ cup of vinegar. Add food color if desired. Pour the vinegar (the liquid) into the baking soda and observe what happens. Kids can play with this mixture.
As an extension to the above experiment, pour ½ cup of baking soda in a clear cup. In another cup, place ¼ cup of vinegar and a few of drops of liquid soap. Hypothesize what will happen when the vinegar and soap is poured into the baking soda. Conduct the experiment and compare what changed when the liquid soap was added.
Another idea is to pour ½ cup of vinegar into a drinking glass. Add ¼ cup of baking soda to the inside of the glove. Hold the glove by its wrist and shake the powder into the fingers. Carefully attach the glove to the top of the glass so that there is no gap (use tape if needed). Pull the glove upright by its fingers and shake gently, allowing the baking soda to drop into the glass. Stand back and watch as the glove begins to fill up.
Why did that happen?:
When mixed, vinegar and baking soda react to create carbon dioxide, which is a gas. In the first experiment, the carbon filled the bag, causing it to pop. In the last experiment, the carbon gas filled the latex glove much like the air from your lungs would fill it. Vinegar is an acid and the baking soda is a base. When the two are mixed, they create a chemical reaction.
