purposeful play
Erupting Rainbow Volcano
simple science experiment for kids
The Erupting Rainbow Volcano is a fun, colorful variation of the traditional vinegar and baking soda science experiments.
Instead of using vinegar the Erupting Rainbow Volcano uses lemon juice as the acid.
Not only does using lemon juice provide a new type of chemical reaction for your child to explore-it also smells SO MUCH better than vinegar!
materials
purpose
- Safe way to experiment with chemistry
- Explores cause and effect
- Introduces new vocabulary
- Screen free fun!
- Colorful way to explore science
- Fun alternative to the traditional vinegar-baking soda experiments
- Colorful, exciting chemical reactions
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directions
How to make Erupting Rainbow Volcanoes
Place 6 mini plastic cups inside a tray
Be sure to place a towel or newspaper underneath the tray in case the volcano eruption overflows!
Fill each cup 1/4-1/2 full with lemon juice
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Add a few drops of food coloring to each cup and stir
Add 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda to each cup
Watch the reaction!
Continue experimenting!
Add more baking soda and more lemon juice to continue creating reactions!
Ask your child open ended questions about what they are observing
Introduce new vocabulary words throughout the experiment (see blow)
It’s a chemical reaction
Baking soda is the base
Lemon juice is the acid
When a base and acid are mixed together- a gas called carbon dioxide is formed causing the bubbling reaction
Chemistry
Chemical reaction
Base
Acid
Carbon dioxide
Gas
