How about some science fun with a balloon? My seven year old was amazed by this. He had no idea what to expect when we started this self inflating balloon experiment.
Self Inflating Balloon Experiment
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I used a Sharpie to draw a face on our balloon just to give it a little more fun, and to pretend we were growing a monster head with Halloween coming up soon.
Gauge loved this, I don’t know if you can hear him in the video or not, but he says “Did you know this would happen?!” Who know inflating a balloon could be so much fun.
What you need:
- vinegar
- baking soda
- balloons
- water/pop bottle
How to make a balloon self inflate
This is a science experiment simple enough for your kids to do themselves. My almost seven year old did it with very little help from me.
Start by measuring out half a cup of vinegar.
It is very helpful to have a funnel for the next part: pouring the vinegar into a bottle. A funnel means less will get spilled.
We dried off our funnel, and used it to put half a tablespoon of baking soda into our balloon.
Remove the funnel from your balloon, and carefully fit it over the opening of your bottle without spilling any of the baking soda in the bottle. It will cause a reaction before you are ready.
Once you are ready and watching you can flip the balloon up to empty the baking soda into the bottle. The reaction does happen quite fast.
Now you just wait for the reaction. My favorite part of this is that this science experiment uses things you most likely have around your house already.
Self Inflating Balloon
Easy science experiment for kids using things you have in the kitchen.
Materials
- 1/2 cup of vinegar
- 1/2 tsp of baking soda
- balloons
- water/pop bottle
Tools
- funnel
Instructions
- Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar into an old water or pop bottle.
- put 1/2 tbsp of baking soda into a balloon.
- Carefully, put the opening of the balloon over the water bottle.
- Empty the baking soda into the bottle, and into the vinegar and watch the reaction.
We have balloons from parties past “floating” around our house, which is probably why I have been finding activities to do with my kids using balloons. Time to use them up before another birthday, and party theme comes around.
What’s Happening:
The secret lies with vinegar and baking soda, two household staples that, when combined, create carbonic acid. Carbonic acid breaks down into water and carbon dioxide.
This experiment uses the carbon dioxide to fill the balloon, giving the illusion that the balloon is self inflating.
Similar posts you may be interested in:
Heart Pumping Human Body Science Experiment
Homemade Lava Lamp for your Kids
You can also use yeast and warm water. 🙂