Homemade Volcano

CREATE YOUR OWN MINI VOLCANO WITH A PLASTIC BOTTLE, A TRAY, SOME VINEGAR, FOOD COLOURING, WASHING UP LIQUID AND SOME BICARBONATE OF SODA!

EQUIPMENT

• Conical flask (or empty 500ml pop bottle)
• Plastic Tray
• Vinegar
• Red Food Colouring
• Washing up Liquid
• Bicarbonate of Soda

METHOD

1. This demonstration is messy and should be done on a tray
2. All of the ingredients might be found in kitchen cupboards. Bicarbonate of soda can be used for making and also for cleaning
3. Add a few drops of red food colouring to the conical flask
4. Add a squirt of washing up liquid
5. Add some bicarbonate of soda powder
6. Add a small amount of warm water and swirl the flask to mix
7. Slowly pour in the vinegar and watch the ‘volcano’ erupt!

THE SCIENCE

A chemical reaction (in this case acid-base) takes place between the bicarbonate of soda and the vinegar. This produces carbon dioxide (one gas that is produced by volcanoes, even though ours isn’t a real one!). The washing up liquid makes the bubbles last better. The red food colouring add colour to the ‘lava’.