How to Make a Science Project With Baking Soda & Vinegar

Although your volcano may only vaguely resemble the real thing, it will teach kids about science.

Several science experiments involve the interaction of baking soda and vinegar; one of the most common is making a volcano that uses baking soda and vinegar as the exploding lava of the structure. This is a fun, visual way to teach kids about what happens when an acid, the vinegar, interacts with a base, the carbon dioxide. Kids can see how you get immediate bubbles of carbon dioxide.

Things You'll Need

• 3-inch tall paper cup
• Paper plate
• Aluminum foil
• Tape
• Metal pan
• 2 tbsp. water
• 1 tbsp. baking soda
• Spoon
• 2 tbsp. vinegar
• Cup, any size

Instructions

1. Tape the paper cup to the middle of the paper plate.

2. Cover the cup and paper plate completely with a sheet of foil. Tape the foil to the underside of the plate.

3. Poke a hole into the foil covering the cup with your finger. Place the foil-covered plate and cup on a large metal pan. The pan will help catch the exploding lava.

4. Measure 2 tbsp. of water. Pour it into the paper cup. Add 1 tbsp. of baking soda. Mix the ingredients together with a spoon.

5. Add 2 tbsp. of vinegar to a separate cup. When ready, pour all of the vinegar into the cup that contains the water and baking soda mixture. Watch the "lava" erupt.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add red food coloring to the water and baking soda before you add the vinegar so that your lava looks more like lava.

References

• Kaboose Crafts: Volcano
• Fact Monster: Volcano