The great baking soda and vinegar experiment

In the last few years we’ve done a number of activities using baking soda and vinegar. When combined, these two ingredients create a chemical reaction that fizzes and bubbles, much to the delight of my children. We’ve taken advantage of the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar to do some balloon magic, some exploding colors, some magic leprechaun rocks, and some fizzy painting.

Having done all of these activities, my kids are now well aware of what happens when baking soda and vinegar combine. So I decided to set up an activity I call “The Great Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment” to put their understanding to the test.

Note: For more awesome science experiments your kids will love, see my Science Activities for Kids page. 

I set out trays with six different white powders and six different liquids. Then I challenged my kids to determine which two powders were baking soda and which two liquids were vinegar.

The powders I used were:

• baking soda
• salt
• rice flour

The liquids I used were:

• vinegar dyed with two different colors of liquid watercolor paints (Ours are from Discount School Supply, but you can also find other brands on Amazon.)
• water dyed with four different colors of liquid watercolor paints

The idea was for them to experiment with different combinations of powders and liquids to see which would have a fizzing chemical reaction, and which would not.

They were really keen on the idea, and got right to work pouring and scooping the powders and liquids.

After several attempts at mixing different powders and liquids, the kids achieved their first fizzing reaction.

There were squeals of excitement when the bubbles appeared. So now they could confirm the red liquid was vinegar and powder #2 was baking soda.

Then the kids continued adding new powders and new liquids. Eventually, they added the green liquid to powder #5 and got another fizzing reaction. Mission accomplished.

Then my kids just played around, adding new powders and new liquids to make a beautiful concoction.

And they made a bit of a mess too. But the mess was of no concern, since it was all in the name of fun and learning. 🙂

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!

• Steve Spangler Science Kits
• Tinker Crate Hands-On Experiments
• Discover Boxes from Green Kids Crafts

Find more great science activities on my Science Activities for Kids page and my Science Activities Pinterest board. 

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