BLOW UP BALLOON

Props

· 1 small plastic bottle

· Vinegar

· Baking soda / bicarbonate of soda

· 1 balloon

· Teaspoon

· Paper funnel

Experiment

1. Put 1cm of water in the bottle.

2. Add 2cm of vinegar.

3. Use a paper funnel and put 2 teaspoons of baking soda into the balloon.

4. Put the balloon over the mouth of the bottle without letting the baking soda fall into the bottle.

5. Lift the balloon and pour the baking soda into the bottle.  Shake well and put on the table.

6. Watch the balloon blow up by itself!

Science

· This is a reaction between a base (baking soda) and an acid (vinegar).

· The reaction makes a gas called carbon dioxide or CO2.

· As more gas is made by the reaction, pressure builds up inside the bottle

· The gas fills up the balloon.

CORNFLOUR SLIME

Props

· Corn-flour

· Bowl

· Teaspoon

· Water

· Tablespoon

Experiment

1. Put 4 tablespoons of corn-flour in a bowl.

2. Add water slowly until the corn-flour becomes a thick liquid.

3. Stir the corn-flour slime slowly.  What happens?

4. Stir the corn-flour slime quickly.  What happens?  Is it a liquid or a solid?

5. Put a spoonful of corn-flour in your hand and roll it into a ball.  What happens when you stop rolling it?

Science

· The corn-flour does not dissolve in the water but is suspended in it.

· The corn-flour particles can roll over each other so the mixture seems like a liquid.

· When stirring or rolling adds energy, the particles of corn-flour stick together.  The water between them is pushed out of the way, so the slime seems like a solid.

LAVA LUNACY

Props

· 1 litre plastic bottle

· Funnel

· Vegetable oil

· Water

· Food colouring

· Alka-Seltzer tablets

Experiment

1. Fill bottle 1/3 with water.

2. Add 5 drops of food colouring.

3. Use the funnel to fill the rest of the bottle with vegetable oil.

4. Put ½ of an Alka-Seltzer into the bottle.

5. Watch the lava move!

Science

· Water and oil do not mix because water is denser than oil so it sinks to the bottom.

· The food colouring mixes only with the water not the oil.

· The Alka-Seltzer tablet falls through the oil and reacts with the water.

· The reaction makes bubbles of gas called Carbon Dioxide or CO2.

· This gas floats to the top, carrying coloured water with it.

· The bubbles pop and the water sinks back down.

FIZZY FOUNTAIN

Props

· 1 roll of Mentos or Tic Tacs (mint sweets).

· Piece of paper.

· 2 Two litre bottles of lemonade (preferably diet).

· Plastic box.

Experiment

1. Put the bottle of lemonade into the plastic container.

2. Slowly open the lid.

3. Open the packet of Mentos.

4. Fold the paper to make a funnel.

5. Put the funnel into the bottle opening.

6. Pour the Mentos into the funnel and lemonade.

7. Stand back and watch!

Science

· Lemonade has a gas in it called carbon dioxide or CO2.

· The gas is put in the lemonade under pressure.

· The surface tension of the lemonade holds the carbon dioxide or CO2.

· Mentos have gum Arabic in them; it breaks down the surface tension, letting the gas go.

· When the gas leaves the bottle, it takes the lemonade with it.

MILK MAGIC

Props

· ½ pint of whole milk

· Flat plate

· 4 different colours of food colouring

· Washing-up liquid

· Cotton buds

· Dropper

Experiment

1. Pour milk into the plate

2. Add 1 drop of each food colouring, near the middle of the milk

3. Dip a cotton bud in the washing-up liquid

4. Put the cotton bud in the centre of the milk

5. Watch the colours move!

Science

· Milk is made up of water, vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats.

· When the washing-up liquid id added, it makes the fats and the proteins in the mild spread out.

· The changes happen so quickly that the food colouring moves about.

· This is why we use soap for washing the dishes.