Wikijunior:Big Book of Fun Science Experiments/Bicarbonate and vinegar
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[edit] Popping Cork
you will need:
- a small glass bottle,
- a cork that fits in the bottle,
- baking soda,
- vinegar,
- piece of paper,
- water.
1) Pour some baking soda in the bottle by folding the paper and putting the baking soda in it and then slowly slide the baking soda into the bottle.
2) Wet the cork in the water so it is wet. Pour some vinegar into the bottle, shove the cork in and stand really far from it!
3) The cork will pop out because baking soda is a chemical, called sodium bicarbonate. When it is mixed with vinegar it makes a gas called carbon dioxide, so the cork flies out!
[edit] Bubbley Bang
What you need:
- water
- measuring cup
- zip-lock bag
- tablespoon
- baking soda
- vinegar
Warning! Only do this experiment outside or somewhere where it doesn't matter if things get wet!
- Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with some water, and pour the mixture into the zip-lock bag.
- Add a tablespoon of vinegar, close the bag, and move away.
- If the experiment has worked, the zip-lock bag should explode.
[edit] Principle
When the vinegar and baking soda come in contact, a chemical reaction occurs. A gas called carbon dioxide is released. When this happens, bubbles form, and pressure builds, because the density of carbon dioxide is much less than the density of the baking soda or vinegar. Eventually this pressure cannot be contained within the container and the weakest part of the container (in this case, the cork) bursts.
This experiment demonstrates an acid-base reaction. Acids and bases are measured on something called the “pH” scale, where anything below a 7 is an acid, anything above a 7 is a base. When the acid and base mix, they create a reaction, which breaks bonds between the molecules of the acids and bases. In some cases, this reaction can produce heat (which is why many cartoons show acids as being able to burn through steel and other materials) or and it always releases some molecule, in this case carbon dioxide.
