Written by: Stephanie Dunaieff
Here are a few fun science experiments you can do at home. They are all simple and easy to do. They are great for kids of all ages. We recommend doing the experiments outside.
1) Water and Oil
Take a plastic bottle and fill ¾ of the way with water. Add some food coloring to the water so it is easier to see. Add 3 tablespoons of oil to the bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the oil and water. Watch the oil and water separate and the oil float to the top. The molecules in water and oil are attracted to themselves. This is why oil and water do not mix. Water has a higher density than oil which is why the oil is on top.
2) Diet Coke and Mentos
Take a bottle of Diet Coke stand it up and unscrew the cap. Use a funnel to make sure all of the Mentos go in at the same time. Add about 7 Mentos to the funnel and watch them go into the bottle of Diet Coke.* The Diet Coke should start coming out of the bottle. *Do not look lean over the bottle. Once the Mentos have been dropped in you should back up at least 10 feet.
3) Baking Soda and Vinegar
Put about a cup of baking soda into a container. Pour some vinegar into the container.* Watch it fizz. *Do not look lean over the container. Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid. When the react they form carbonic acid that breaks apart into water and carbon dioxide.
4) Pop Rocks and Soda
Pour a package of Pop Rocks into a balloon using a small funnel. Carefully put the balloon over the mouth of the soda bottle. Make sure the Pop Rocks stay in the balloon. When you are ready dump the Pop Rocks into the bottle. Watch the balloon inflate. The carbon dioxide in the Pop Rocks mixed with the carbon dioxide in the soda rise and inflate the balloon.
5) Hand Soap and Citric Acid
Put about 1/8 of a cup of clear hand soap and ½ cup of water in a container. Add some food coloring so it is colorful. Add a tablespoon of baking soda and mix it in. Lastly add a tablespoon citric acid and mix it together. It turns into fluffy foam. Baking Soda is a base and citric acid is an acid. When they react and then break apart it turns into foam
