Balloon Blow-up Science Experiment

Items Needed

 Small Bottle
 Balloon
 Baking Soda
 Vinegar
 Funnel
 Teaspoon

Instructions

1. Using a funnel, pour about a third of a cup of vinegar into the bottle.
2. Then insert another funnel into the mouth of the balloon
3. Place two teaspoons of baking soda into the funnel so it falls into the
balloon. Then remove the balloon from the funnel.
4. Next, secure the mouth of the balloon over the top of the bottle. Tip: Don’t
let any of the baking soda drop into the bottle…yet!
5. While holding the bottle, lift the end of the balloon allowing the baking soda
to drop into the bottle.
6. Watch what happens.
Why this happens:

The science, behind this balloon baking soda experiment, is the chemical reaction
between the base {baking soda} and the acid {vinegar}. The gas produced from the two
ingredients is carbon dioxide or CO2. As the gas tries to leave the plastic container, it goes
up into the balloon because of the tight seal you have created. Because the gas has
nowhere to go and is pushing against the balloon it inflates it!

Fill one balloon using this cool chemical reaction and tie it off. Next, blow up a balloon
using your own carbon dioxide to about the same size or as close as possible. Hold both
balloons at arm’s length from your body. Let go! What happens? Does one balloon fall at a
different speed then the other? Why is this? Although both balloons are filled with the
same gas, the one you blew up is not as saturated with pure CO2 as the one blown up with
baking soda and vinegar.

CO2 is heavier than air. So, this balloon will be heavier than the balloon that you have
blown and when you drop it, it will land quicker to the ground.