Science experiments are awesome. With all the ooohs and ahhhs going around, I sometimes feel like I'm performing magic, which is just so cool. One thing you have to keep in mind, though, is that generally science experiments are short, and in my experience, to do science as an activity, you have to have a few experiments planned. So, when we decided to do the Crystal Ball Bubble and Boo Bubbles at my son's Halloween class party, I knew we had to plan a few more science experiments to fill the time. I decided to put a Halloween twist on the familiar and basically foolproof, expanding balloon experiment, and this is what I came up with...
Here is what you'll need...
The first thing you want to do is fill about 1/3 of each of the three bottles with vinegar (#1). Then, pour baking soda into your first glove (about 2 tbsp works for me). Take your rubber band, and wrap it around your fingers (#2). Pull the end of the glove through the rubber band (#3), and carefully place it on top of your first bottle (#4). Make sure you don't let any of the baking soda spill into the bottle prematurely. Repeat with the second glove. Now, blow up your balloon and draw the ghost face on it (#5). Deflate the balloon, and using your other (dry) funnel, pour baking soda into it (#6). Fill the balloon approximately 1/2 way (about 2 tbsp). Cover the top of your third bottle with the balloon.
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At this point, this is what you should have... I recommend executing this experiment outside as the glove's hold on the bottle is not as tight as the balloon's, and this can get quite messy...
Lift your balloon, and let the baking soda fall into the vinegar. While the balloon is expanding, lift the gloves one by one. Make sure you have a tight hold around the glove while it's expanding as some of the mixture will most likely spill out. You'll have to play with the amounts of vinegar and baking soda, as well as the size of your bottle, to get a 'perfect' reaction (one that doesn't spill yet completely inflates the gloves). In my opinion, as long as you do this outside, watching the mixture partially flow out of the bottle is part of the fun, but maybe that's just me...
How Does It Work?
Baking soda and vinegar create an acid-base reaction. When they're mixed, they create a gas called carbon dioxide. Gasses need room to spread, so the carbon dioxide fills the bottle, and then moves into the balloon/gloves inflating them.
Ready for More?
While we're on the topic of ghosts, make sure to check out my Ghost Marbles post for another awesome Halloween science experiment. I just did this experiment at my daughter's class this morning. Since it's no longer Halloween, I tweaked the experiment just a bit, and used a picture of a turkey instead of a Halloween related image. Other than that, I did the experiment just as described in the post, and both the kids (a group of fifteen 4-yr olds) and the teachers were fascinated. So, head over to my Ghost Marbles post if I've inspired your curiosity, and head over to my Halloween Class Party post for more Halloween party ideas.
I hope you had fun with this! Please share your experiences!
See you soon,
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