Self-Inflating Balloons
You will need:
- Some air balloons
- 33.8 to 50,7 oz (1 to 1,5 l) empty bottle
- A teaspoon
- A funnel
- Some vinegar
- Baking soda
The experiment: Fill one-third of a bottle with vinegar. Pour 2-3 teaspoons of baking soda in the balloon through a funnel. Put the balloon on the neck of the bottle, and it will start inflating. Filled with carbon dioxide, the balloon won’t be able to fly up. To assist the balloon reaching the ceiling, rub it with any synthetic material to produce a static charge. Then place it near the ceiling.
The explanation: The interaction of soda and vinegar produces carbon dioxide which fills the balloon. And due to the static electricity, the balloon can float on the ceiling for up to 5 hours.
Soft Naked Egg
You will need:
- 2 eggs
- 2 glass jars/cups
- Some water
- Vinegar
The experiment: Put one raw egg in a jar of plain water, and place the second egg in a glass of vinegar. The eggs look exactly the same, right? Put them aside for a few hours. You will see the first results of the experiment in 5-6 hours. In 7-10 days, the second egg will become completely soft, and its shell will disappear. Your kids will be totally amazed!
The explanation: The egg in the vinegar has undergone a chemical change. The eggshell consists of calcium carbonate, and the vinegar, because it’s an acid, will fully dissolve it. This chemical process between the egg and vinegar is called decalcification. It takes place in two stages: first, the eggshell becomes soft, and then it disappears.
Three Layers of Liquid
You will need:
- Some juice
- Vegetable oil
- Alcohol
- A transparent container
The experiment: Pour the juice into the container, and then gently add the vegetable oil along the walls. Color the alcohol if it’s white with red paint, and gently pour it on the oil. The liquids will separate over each other into three layers.
The explanation: These substances have different densities: the less dense substance rises over the denser one. To make the experiment brighter, you can color the liquids.