How to Make an Experiment of the Eruption of an Underwater Volcano

The volcano is a popular science experiment for children, due mainly for its ease of preparation and the very visible method in which it illustrates chemical reactions. A unique take on the volcano experiment is the underwater volcano. This uses the same principal of illustrating chemical reaction, with the additional illustration of showing the buoyancy of liquids. The experiment of the underwater volcano can be prepared with little difficulty.

Things You'll Need

• Tall glass jar
• 4 to 12 cups cooking oil (depending on size of glass jar that you need to fill)
• Modeling clay
• Film canister
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbsps. baking soda
• 1 to 3 cups rubbing alcohol
• Red food coloring
• Blue food coloring

Instructions

1. Build a clay mound at the bottom of a tall glass jar with a wide mouth. Make the clay mound shaped like a mountain with the top tapering out towards the sides of the glass container. The top of the mound should not be any higher than half of the height of the glass container.

2. Place a small, plastic container into the top of the mound. Using a small container like a film canister, press it into the top of the mound until the top of the container is flush with the top of the mound.

3. Mix 3 ozs. of white vinegar with red food coloring. After mixing, fill the small container at the top of your volcano to the top, being careful to not overfill.

4. Fill the glass container with cooking oil to a point several inches above the volcano. Be careful not to dump the oil directly into the top of the volcano, where your vinegar mixture is.

5. Mix rubbing alcohol with a blue food coloring. Use a cup or two of the alcohol, depending on how much room you have in your container after the oil has been added. Slowly pour this alcohol mixture into the glass container.

6. Allow for the liquids to settle. After a few minutes, the alcohol will separate from the oil, rising to the top.

7. Take 1 to 2 tbsps. of baking soda and add a few drops of water and mix and continue to add water until it is a thick paste.

8. Drop the paste straight into the volcano opening. This will cause the eruption.

References

• Curiosity Zone: Make an Underwater Volcano