Blow up Balloon: This time with Baking soda and Vinegar

Science is Boring when it’s read, but it’s completely fun when you do the experiments with your own hands !

The best way to get your child interested in science is by doing SCIENCE stuff with them……

A lot of science stuff can be done with stuff in our own kitchen. Only thing needed is time and little bit of excitement……

Here I am starting a series called ‘Fun with Science’ and this is my First experiment post for you…..

Blowing Balloons are always fun, but this time let’s give a break to blowing by mouth and give a chance to Vinegar and Baking soda to do the job……..

Materials needed:

• Balloon
• Small bottle (cleaned glass or plastic beverage bottle)
• Small funnel
• Baking soda (3 tablespoons )
• Vinegar (Approx 50 ml)

Start Action:

• Stretch the opening of the balloon slightly and insert small funnel. Add Baking soda to the balloon through the funnel
• Remove funnel slowly to prevent any tear on balloon. Keep the balloon with Baking soda aside. Wash the funnel to get rid of Baking soda
• Take a clean bottle and to it add vinegar with help of the funnel
• Remove the funnel
• Now hold the balloon upright with a little bent to prevent Baking soda from falling off

• Seal the mouth of balloon to the bottle and allow the Baking soda to fall into the vinegar
• Next wait and watch how balloon blows up by itself !

Why does the balloon blow up ?

Adding vinegar to the Baking soda creates a chemical reaction. The Baking soda is a base, while the vinegar is an acid. When the two combine they create carbon dioxide (CO2). The gas rises up and tries to escape through the soft drink bottle. Since the exit is sealed with balloon, the gas escapes into the balloon and blows it up. In case you don’t have any vinegar then you can substitute the vinegar with lemon juice.

Why does the balloon blow up ? Image

My kids loved this experiment. I am sure your kids too would love it….So try it out. Will soon post the next experiment….Till then have FUN!