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Q:
can you give me some informtion about the bottlt have vineger and the balloon have baking soda and then put the balloon on the bottle’s top finally the balloon will blow up.
- strawberry (age 15)
BCCA, candad
A:
This is a fun experiment to do. When the baking soda and vinegar get
mixed, they cause a chemical reaction. One of the results of that
reaction is carbon dioxide. That's like what we breathe out. The carbon
dioxide is a gas and takes up a lot more room than the solid baking
soda or liquid vinegar. Since there is no more room in the bottle, the
gas fills up the balloon.
Eventually, there will be so much carbon dioxide in the balloon
that the rubber of the balloon will rip. That's when the balloon blows
up.
If you try that at home, be sure to warn people so they aren't
scared if the balloon breaks. Also, don't use too much vinegar or
baking soda, they can make a mess.
Adam
(published on 10/22/2007)
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