In the movies, you'll sometimes see a mad scientist mixing all kinds of strange chemicals to perform his evil experiments. But in real life, you have all the chemicals you need in your kitchen to perform an explosive -- but perfectly safe -- chemistry experiment.
With your mom or dad's permission, gather these items you'll need for your outdoor experiment:
1. A small sandwich bag
2. A clothes pin
3. Food Coloring
4. 2 tablespoons of baking soda
5. 1/3 cup of vinegar
Measure the vinegar and add it to the small sandwich bag along with 3-4 drops of food coloring.
Twist the bottom half of the baggie, leaving as little air as possible with the vinegar and food coloring. And then place the clothes pin over the twist.
Carefully place the baking soda in the top half of the baggie, making sure none leaks into the bottom half of the bag.
Then, remove the clothes pin and let the baking soda mix with the vinegar mixture.
You should see the bag quickly expand and then explode as the goo spills out of the bag!
When the baking soda and vinegar mix, two new chemicals are formed, carbonic acid and sodium acetate. These then create carbon dioxide bubbles. That's the same chemical that gives soda its bubbles!
Congratulations, you're a (not-so-mad) scientist!
