Bubble Bomb

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Learn about chemical reactions by making a Bubble Bomb, a plastic bag you can pop with the power of fizz. The bubbles in the Bubble Bomb are filled with carbon dioxide, a gas that forms when vinegar (an acid) reacts with baking soda (a base). The activity includes suggestions on "Some Other Things to Try" and "Baking with Bubbles," which asks learners to check recipes that 'rise' (like bread) and figure out which ingredients cause the rising. You can do the Bubble Bomb activity with very young learners if an older educator does the mixing and exploding.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 4 - 11
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • water
  • measuring cup
  • zipper-lock plastic sandwich bags
  • paper towel
  • tablespoon baking soda
  • vinegar

Keywords

Subjects

  • Physical Sciences
    • Chemistry
      • Chemical Reactions
      • Acids and Bases

Informal Categories

  • Food and Cooking
  • Toys

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • hear
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Murphy, Pat ; Klages, Ellen ; Shore, Linda

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, The Exploratorium, 1998