Blowing up Ballons the fun Way

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

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)