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Conference moira::parenting

Title:Parenting
Notice:Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3
Moderator:GEMEVN::FAIMANY
Created:Thu Apr 09 1992
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1292
Total number of notes:34837

744.0. "baking soda volcano ??" by GRILLA::LALIBERTE (NEI/Systems Engineering) Fri May 20 1994 13:59

    I need ingredients/procedure to duplicate a kindergarten exercise
    for my son.
    
    He came home talking about modeling clay made into a volcano into
    which you put baking soda and soap bubbles to make it 'erupt'...
    we tried it according to his directions and it fizzled out.
    He was very disappointed.
    
    Anyone familiar with this ?  What did I leave out ?
    
    Thanks.
    
    Joanne
    
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744.1You need some acid...LEDS::GRAHAMFri May 20 1994 14:104
    Sounds like you left out the acid in the recipe to form the CO2.  Try
    using some vinegar to get the proper reaction.
    
    						John G.
744.2KOALA::SYSTEMPatty, DTN 381-0877Fri May 20 1994 15:001
    I thought it was baking Powder .... ?? 
744.3BIGQ::MARCHANDFri May 20 1994 15:216
     From what I recall when my kids did it. It was vinegar and baking soda.
    
     Some interesting affects were when they put different food colorings
    in it. 
    
        Rose
744.4Baking soda and baking powderMOIRA::FAIMANlight upon the figured leafFri May 20 1994 17:116
Baking *soda* is just a base, so you have to add an acid (such as vinegar or
lemon juice) to it to get a reaction.

Baking *powder* is a mixture of baking soda and an acid in dry form, so adding
water to it is enough to allow the acid and base to combine and produce the
desired foaming reaction.
744.5This worksSOLVIT::1VOICE::MURTHYFri May 20 1994 17:4712
    My son's "recipe" ...
    
    Dish washing liquid -- 1 spoon
    Vinegar	 	-- 1/2 cup
    color (optional)
    hot water	        -- till the valcano is about 75 % full
    baking soda		-- 1 spoon.
    
    This worked well with his model.
    
    Good luck !
    
744.6Don't take OUR word for it!BARSTR::PCLX31::satowgavel::satow, dtn 223-2584Fri May 20 1994 17:576
Why not make a real life chemical experiment out of it.  You've already tried 
baking soda and soap; now try different combinations of baking soda, baking 
powder, and vinegar or lemon juice.  Also try it with and without soap.  My 
guess is that baking soda and vinegar works best.

Clay
744.7VOLCANO !GRILLA::LALIBERTENEI/Systems EngineeringMon May 23 1994 14:554
    thank you all. we had a very successful weekend with baking soda,
    vinegar and food coloring. he did demos for just about everyone.
    
    very cool stuff in his estimation...thanks again !
744.8Scientific details?APSMME::STEGNERWed Jun 01 1994 23:416
    My son wants to do this for his science fair project.  He has to 
    know *exactly* what's happening and why, what gas is released, and
    so on.  Any chemists out there who could help us out?
    
    Thanks,
    Pam
744.9I am NOT a chemist . . . BARSTR::PCLX31::satowgavel::satow, dtn 223-2584Fri Jun 03 1994 11:3818
and you have to promise not to cite the source, but I'd guess

                                                       ^
CH3COOH      + NaHCO3     -->  NaC2H302 +  H2O   +  CO2|
acetic         sodium          sodium      water    carbon
acid           bicabonate      acetate              dioxide
(vinegar)      (baking
                soda)

The numbers are all subcripts.  The crude thingie by the carbon dioxide is an 
up arrow indicates that carbon dioxide is a gas.

I am positive of the left side of the equation, and I am positive that carbon 
dioxide is the gas.  Not completely certain that sodium acetate is a product, 
but it seems logical.

Clay

744.1064346::STEGNERFri Jun 03 1994 13:161
Clay, you're a peach!  :-)
744.11How to make volcano base??SALEM::JIMENEZWed Aug 03 1994 12:435
    could some one tell me, How to make the base where you are pouring all
    this ingredients in...
    
    Thanks
    
744.12base of volcanoGRILLA::LALIBERTENEI/Systems EngineeringWed Aug 03 1994 13:321
    we used modelling clay.
744.13BIGQ::MARCHANDWed Aug 03 1994 13:4810
    
        I can't remember how much of each but we used, flour, water , and
    salt.    Not very much salt.   Just keep kneading enough water in with
    the flour and a small amount of salt until you feel comfortable that
    it's can be molded. Then make the volcano and let it dry for a day
    or two. Too much water will make it take longer to dry. 
    
         The modelling clay sounds better...
    
       Rose
744.14OASS::BURDEN_Dand a dozen grey attorneysThu Aug 04 1994 11:044
I remember doing this was I was in school - I think we put a paper cup inside
the 'volcano'.

Dave