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Today I’m sharing a very classic activity that uses two household ingredients: baking soda and vinegar.
This balloon demonstration looks like magic but is really just science. It is a great opportunity to talk to kids about chemical reactions if you choose.
Inflating a balloon with baking soda and vinegar is a classic kids’ science activity. Considering that it’s so simple and fun, I can’t believe it took us so long to do this activity!
To make some balloon magic, we gathered the following materials:
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Empty water bottles
- Balloons
- Funnels
- Measuring spoon
Start by putting the funnel into the balloon. This will make it much easier to get the baking soda inside.
Add baking soda. We added about 4 teaspoons to each balloon. To get your balloons a bit bigger than ours, you could add 1 or 2 teaspoons more.
Next, use a funnel to pour some vinegar into your bottles. I didn’t measure the vinegar, but it was probably 1/3 cup or so, which ended up being much more than we needed.
Then, place the opening of the balloon around the opening of the bottle. Try not to let any baking soda into the bottle as you do this.
Finally, when you are ready for some magic, lift the balloon to allow the baking soda to fall into the bottle.
As soon as the baking soda hits the vinegar, a chemical reaction takes place that produces carbon dioxide. This gas is what inflates the balloon!
And after the oohs and aahs have died down, feel free to repeat the experiment! 🙂
Looking for more hands-on activities that incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM)? Then you’ll love STEAM Kids! This book features 52 hands-on activities are helpfully identified by category (science / technology / engineering / art / math) so you know exactly what skills your kids are developing.
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More science activities for kids
More science activities from Gift of Curiosity:
- Dancing raisins
- Candy experiments
- Jumping colors science activity
- Make your own glycerin soap
- Crystallized snowflakes
- Dissecting an apple
- What do ants like to eat?
- Make your own telescope
- The great baking soda and vinegar experiment
- Magic inflating balloons
Don’t have time to gather materials? Want to make science super easy? Check out these monthly subscription services that will send science and creativity kits to your door!
Find more great science activities on my Science Activities for Kids page and my Science Activities Pinterest board.
This would be perfect for the 1st grade science fair this year!!
Oh this is so fun! I want to start a Science Saturday for Brady and I, and this would be great. Also, I saw your comment on the egg-free pie post and I wanted to tell you if you go to the link on the post it will take you to a recipe that does not have either egg or milk. I decided to keep t he milk in since it is not an issue for us, but the other recipe omits milk as well. The Kids with Food Allergies website seems like a good one.
So much cooler than the old baking soda/vinegar volcano! And the kids get a balloon out of the deal. We will be doing this!
We did this activity when I was an elementary school teacher. My class loved it, and it was a great hands-on way to learn!
hahhah!! So cool and saves the effort of blowing the balloon! 🙂
We are doing V week this week and will be doing this for one of our Vinegar experiments! I’m like you and can’t believe I haven’t done this classic with my kiddos yet and know they will love it! Thanks for the good reminder.
I actually tried this with my four year old a month or so ago (at his repeated requests) and we couldn’t get it to work — I see why now, because I put the baking soda in the bottle instead of in the balloon. Whoops! When I have an empty bottle he’ll be thrilled to try again!
So fun!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Children’s chemistry fun is almost always magical. Especially the look on their faces throughout experiment. Thank you for linking up this week to the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop 🙂
I have GOT to do this with my sons. I can just see their chins dropping and their eyes popping! Thanks for linking this up to the After School Linky!
Oh, I’m definitely going to try this with my girls! They will absolutely love it and it looks like so much fun! I love trying new Science experiments! Thanks for linking up with the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop, you were featured as one of my favorites last week 🙂
Awesome child friendly experiment!
Thank you!
Tilanie