Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Step 1: Grab your balloon and a funnel. Carefully add 2–3 tablespoons of baking soda into the balloon. It might be a little tricky, but a funnel makes it so much easier! Once it’s in, give the balloon a little shake to make sure the baking soda is settled at the bottom.
- Step 2: Take your plastic bottle and pour in about 1/2 cup of vinegar. If you're feeling fancy, this is the time to add a few drops of food coloring, a sprinkle of glitter, or even a tiny drop of essential oil for a nice scent. Just give it a gentle swirl.
- Step 3: Now, carefully stretch the opening of the balloon over the mouth of the plastic bottle. Make sure you get a nice, tight seal! It's important that the baking soda doesn't fall into the vinegar just yet. You want to keep them separate for a moment.
- Step 4: When you’re ready, gently lift the balloon upright. This will allow all that baking soda to tumble down into the vinegar. Watch what happens! You’ll see a fizzy reaction, and as the gas is released, it will start to inflate your balloon. It’s like a science party in a bottle!
Notes
The reaction between the baking soda and vinegar creates carbon dioxide gas, and that gas has to go somewhere – so it fills up the balloon!