Help help! Volcano... We don’t have any active volcanoes in the UK but you can make your own with baking powder and vinegar. Stand back! This volcano will explode in your kitchen! What you’ll need: • Vinegar • Bicarbonate of soda • Washing up liquid • Food colouring • Small plastic bottle • Balloon • Plate/tray • Clay (optional) • Tablespoon What to do: 1. Put 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda in the plastic bottle. 2. Add a small amount of washing up liquid. 3. Add a few drops of food colouring. 4. If you have time make a volcano shape with the clay around the bottle on a plate or tray. 5. Add vinegar to the bottle and give it a shake 6. …lean or stand back and watch it explode! Variation 1: Place a balloon over the end of the bottle and collect the gas – it is heavier than air. Variation 2: Put a bung in the bottle and watch it fly out. BEWARE – this experiment is great – but it does stink. Don’t use repeatedly!! What's happening? This experiment demonstrates a classic acid base reaction. Carbon dioxide is given off when the vinegar reacts with the bicarbonate of soda. Go back