This experiment is sure to amaze both kids and adults, and it is crazy to watch how fast the balloon in this experiment inflates. This experiment is so simple, making it perfect to conduct on a day when you do not have much time to spend on a lengthy science experiment.
What you need:
- Glass jar with a small opening or a plastic water bottle
- 4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- A balloon
- A funnel (optional)
Steps:
- Fill your glass jar or water bottle with 1/4 cup vinegar
- Pour 4 teaspoons of baking soda into the balloon (using a funnel is helpful for this step, but if you do not have one, you can have someone hold open the lip of the balloon while you pour in the baking soda)
- Attach the lip of the balloon to the rim of the glass jar or water bottle
- Hold the top of the balloon upright so the baking soda is released into the vinegar
- Watch the balloon start to quickly inflate as a reaction occurs in the jar
- Make sure to take the balloon off of the rim of the jar if it starts to inflate too much to prevent the balloon from popping
What makes the balloon inflate?
When vinegar and baking soda, also called bicarbonate soda, are combined, they go through a chemical reaction and create the products of carbonic acid and sodium acetate (Vinegar + Bicarbonate Soda —> Carbonic Acid + Sodium Acetate). The product carbonic acid is unstable, and it breaks down into liquid water and carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide causes a build up of pressure in the jar, and rises up to fill the balloon on the jar.