colorful chemistry
Rainbow Volcano Science Experiment
STEM activity for kids
Looking for a fun, hands-on science experiment that will captivate your little learners?
The Rainbow Volcano Science Experiment is an exciting twist on the classic baking soda and vinegar volcano—but with a colorful explosion and a fresh lemony scent!
Instead of using vinegar, this experiment swaps in lemon juice as the acid, creating a fizzing, bubbling eruption that brings the science of acid-base reactions to life.
By combining baking soda and lemon juice, kids will observe carbon dioxide bubbles form, causing their rainbow volcano to erupt in a mesmerizing swirl of colors.
It’s a perfect STEM activity for preschoolers and elementary-aged kids- encouraging hands-on learning, scientific exploration, and creative play!
This easy-to-set-up chemistry experiment for kids is ideal for
✅ Classroom science experiment
✅ Homeschool STEM activities
✅ Outdoor summer learning
✅ Rainy-day indoor experiments
With just a few simple ingredients from your kitchen, you can create a magical, rainbow-colored eruption that will leave kids amazed while teaching them the basics of chemical reactions, color mixing, and scientific observation.
Ready to make your own rainbow volcano? Let’s get started!
teaches
Chemical reaction (mixing base with and acid)
New vocabulary words
Scientific method
Patience and focus
Cause and effect
directions
How to do this
Rainbow Volcano Science Experiment
Place clear cups inside a tray
Put cups in circular shape
Fill cups 3/4 full with lemon juice (can also use vinegar)
Add food coloring to each cup
Colors should be in rainbow order
Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to each cup
Observe the reaction!
Continue adding baking soda until it no longer creates a reaction
Discuss the science behind the experiment
(see below)
What's the Science Behind the
Rainbow Volcano Science Experiment?
When you mix baking soda (a base) with lemon juice (an acid), a chemical reaction occurs. The acid breaks down the sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda and releases carbon dioxide gas. This gas creates all those exciting bubbles and fizzing foam, making it look like a mini volcano erupting!
The carbon dioxide gas gets trapped in the liquid, forming bubbles that rise and expand—just like in a soda bottle! The reaction is similar to the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment, but using lemon juice adds a fun twist (and a much better smell!)
Adding food coloring to the lemon juice makes the eruption even more exciting! As the bubbles form and spill over, they carry the colors with them, mixing and swirling together to create a beautiful rainbow explosion.
This experiment is a great introduction to chemistry and helps kids understand how acids and bases interact in everyday life. Plus, similar chemical reactions happen in nature—like the formation of bubbling hot springs and natural volcanic eruptions!
Try experimenting with different acids (like vinegar or orange juice) or adding dish soap to see how it changes the reaction. Science is all about exploring, so have fun with it!
Chemistry
Chemical reaction
Base
Acid
Carbon dioxide
Gas
