Chemical Balloon Inflation

Overview:

In this experiment, students will learn how to blow up a balloon using baking soda and vinegar! The combination of the two chemicals baking soda and vinegar, undergoes a chemical reaction which is observed in the experiment.

Time: 

10 minutes

Lesson Materials:

*You can use the document in the link below to either: tailor the experiment to your needs or to have a printable version of this lesson plan*

Chemical Balloon Inflation Lesson Plan

Chemical Balloon Inflation Lesson Video:

Learning Objectives:

  1. Students will be able to understand the basic understanding of the solution of liquid and solid.
  2. Testing the experiment with instructed materials.
  3. Analyzing the experiment.
  4. Observe how chemical reactions can result in phase changes, such as a solid chemical converting into a gas chemical.
  5. Identify how simple chemical reactions are related to their everyday life.

Materials Needed:

  • Vinegar (½ Cup)
  • Baking Soda (teaspoon)
  • Balloon
  • Empty 2 Liter Soda Bottle
  • Food coloring (optional)

Experimental Methods:

  1. Find a place you don’t mind getting messy, and make sure you don’t mind getting clothes messy.
  2. Take off the cap, and pour the vinegar into the bottle. 
  3. Next, pour a teaspoon of baking soda into the balloon.
  4. Put the mouth of the balloon on the bottle.
  5. Then lift the balloon with your hand to let the baking soda drop into the bottle.
  6. Watch the solution bubble, and then the balloon lifts off.
  7. Students will make their own observations before attempting the experiment, Ask any questions they are curious about, think about a hypothesis, predict what will happen, test your prediction, and see the results.
  8. An adult may need to assist children in guiding them with given prompts for the experiment.

Questions to Think About:

  1. What will make the balloon blow up on its own?
  2. What materials can be used instead of the instructed ones?
  3. What would happen if you used another acid like lemon juice instead of the vinegar?
  4. Make a hypothesis for what you will expect to happen?
  5. Does changing the amount of baking soda and vinegar change the size of the balloon when it inflates?
  6. How are vinegar and baking soda going to blow the balloon up?
  7. How much of the chemicals do you need to add to make the balloon explode or fly off the bottle?
  8. How long will it take for the balloon to start blowing up?
  9. Where do you see chemical reactions in the real world? 
  10. Where else do we use vinegar or baking soda?

Chemistry:

Adding certain things to baking soda will make the baking soda chemical break into pieces.When this happens, one of the things the baking soda breaks into is gas. This means that the baking soda mixture will bubble! The gas bubbles let you know it is reaction, or breaking apart and changing into other chemicals.  This chemical reaction is safe to touch with your hands and safe to wash down the sink when you’re done.

Society:

Acid Base reactions happen every day. Sometimes they make things explode, but sometimes they help to make something delicious! For example, when you make a cake or a quick bread, baking soda and an acidic ingredient (like buttermilk) create an acid base reaction. When the gas is formed in the cake batter, it makes little bubbles that make the cake rise. It may not explode, but it’s still pretty great!

References:

Logistics:

STEAM Subjects: 

Chemistry: Vinegar + Baking Soda (Acid Base) Chemical Reactions

Science Vocabulary: 

Chemical Reaction, Combine, Forming, Sodium Acetate, Carbon Dioxide, Gas, Experiment

  1. Baking Soda & Vinegar Experiment with Balloons – Earth Day. Carrots Are Orange.  2020.
  2. Children’s Museum Team. Balloon Blow Ups Science Experiment. CMOSC. 2020.
  3. Vinegar + Baking Soda + Balloons = Fizzy Fun! Socratica Kids. 2016.
  4. Citro, Asia. The Curious Kid’s Science Book. Book. Accessed Oct. 2020.
  5. Chemistry Session. Accessed Oct 2020.