How to Build a Baking Soda Volcano Science Fair Project

How to Build a Baking Soda Volcano Science Fair Project The baking soda and vinegar volcano is the kitchen equivalent of a volcano. Obviously, its not  the real  thing, but its cool all the same! The baking soda volcano is also non-toxic, which adds to its appeal. It is a classic science project which can help kids learn about chemical reactions and what happens when a volcano erupts. This project takes about 30 minutes to complete. Did You Know? The cool red lava is the result of a chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar.In this reaction, carbon dioxide gas is produced, which is also present in real volcanoes.As the carbon dioxide gas is produced, pressure builds up inside the plastic bottle, until the gas bubbles (thanks to the detergent) out of the volcano. Volcano Science Project Materials 6 cups flour2 cups salt4 tablespoons cooking oilwarm waterplastic soda bottledishwashing detergentfood coloringvinegarbaking dish or another pan2 T baking soda Make the Chemical Volcano First, make the cone of the baking soda volcano. Mix 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (more water may be added if needed).Stand the soda bottle in the baking pan and mold the dough around it into a volcano shape. Dont cover the hole or drop dough into it.Fill the bottle most of the way full with warm water and a bit of red food color (can be done before sculpting if you dont take so long that the water gets cold).Add 6 drops of detergent to the bottle contents. The detergent helps trap the bubbles produced by the reaction so you get better lava.Add 2 tablespoons baking soda to the liquid.Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle. Watch out - eruption time! Experiment with the Volcano While its fine for a young investigator to explore a simple model volcano, youll want to add the scientific method if you want to make the volcano a better science project. Here are ideas for ways to experiment with a baking soda volcano: Make a prediction about what happens if you change the amount of baking soda or vinegar. Record and analyze the effect, if any.Can you think of ways to change the volcano to make the eruption go higher or last longer? This might involve changing the chemicals or the shape of the volcano. It helps to record numerical data, such as the volume of liquid, the height of the lava, or duration of the eruption.Does it affect your volcano if you use a different kind of chemical to color the volcano? You could use tempera paint powder. Try using tonic water instead of regular water to get a volcano that glows under black light.What happens if you substitute other acids instead of vinegar or other bases instead of baking soda? Examples of acids include lemon juice or ketchup. Examples of bases include laundry detergent and household ammonia. Use caution if you substitute chemicals because some mixtures can be dangerous and produce hazardous gasses. Dont experiment with bleach or bathroom cleane rs. Adding a bit of food coloring will result in red-orange lava! Orange seems to work the best. Add some red, yellow, and even purple, for a bright display.