The Bees Magic Balloon Experiment

Do you want to see a balloon inflate without having to blow air in it?  Here is a fun experiment you can do at home with your child.
You will need...

 

Small water or juice bottle, emptied and rinsed out

Latex balloon

4 Tablespoons vinegar

2 Tablespoons baking soda

small funnel or paper to make a funnel

First pour the vinegar into the bottle...

Then using a real funnel or paper funnel put the baking soda into the balloon...

 

Then, stretch the balloon over the bottle like this...

 

Then, slowly raise the balloon...

 

so that the baking soda falls out of the balloon and into the bottle...

 

Then watch what happens...

 

Pretty cool isn't it!...

 

Don't worry it won't pop!

So what is the science behind this experiment?  When the vinegar and baking soda combine you get a chemical reaction.   Combined, they produce carbon dioxide which inflates the balloon.  No I didn't know all this on my own.  Bumble's school lesson book helped me...

 

Who knew learning about science could be so exciting?!?