Chemical Reaction for Kids

Of all the science experiments that we have done over the last few months, this is one of our favorites.   It produces just the right balance of chemical reaction and silliness. When you can take two ordinary things and mix them and have something unexpected happen, it is amazing!   This experiment uses common household ingredients:   vinegar and baking soda.   To add a little fun, we are going to see what happens when a glove gets involved. Today's experiment is from The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science by Sean Connolly. The experiment is called Frankenstein's Hand and you will soon see why!

Chemical Reaction Experiment

Materials

• 3 Tablespoons of Vinegar
• Drinking Glass
• 2 Teaspoons of baking soda
• Rubber glove

Directions

1.   Pour the 3 Tablespoons of Vinegar into the glass. 2.   Spoon the baking soda into the glove.   Hold the glove by the wrist and shake the powder into the fingers. 3.   Carefully attach the glove to the glass keeping the baking soda in the fingers of the glove. 4.   Pull the glove upright releasing the baking soda into the vinegar. 5.   Watch the bubbles grow. 6.   Admire the results! Why does this happen?   The chemical reaction happens when vinegar’s acetic acid reacts with the baking soda’s sodium bicarbonate to form carbonic acid.   Carbonic acid falls apart into carbon dioxide and water. The bubbles come from the escaping carbon dioxide.   The CO2 has no where to go except up into the glove causing it to inflate and be super cool. A free download of printable instructions are available from Workman Publishing.