The weather was nice today, so the kids and I spent some time outside. While outside, I taught them how to make a bomb. Now, before you freak out and assume I am teaching them how to blow up the neighborhood, let me explain. We homeschool, and in our science class we were discussing the three different states of matter: liquid, solid, and gas.

As you might know, gas is a hard concept to demonstrate for young kids. And the easiest gas to create is C02. My kids have experimented with vinegar and baking soda before in the last, so they understood the idea of bubbles forming and gas being released. However I was looking for something a touch more dramatic. Hence our baking soda bombs. Kids really love making a mess, and this was harmless fun, so why not?

You will need: vinegar, water, food coloring, a tissue, baking soda, a zip top bag, and room to toss your bombs.

Grab your tissue and dump three teaspoons of baking soda and then gently fold it up. Set it aside. Take your empty gallon zip top bag. Add 1/4 cup or so of nice warm water, a few drops of food coloring, and 1/2 cup of white distiller vinegar. Zip the bag almost all the way up, leaving just enough room to drop in your packet of baking soda.

I try to get out as much air as possible before dropping in the baking soda. I want the gas that is created to push the sides of the bag out a lot so that the kids get the concept that it wasn’t there before but is instead being created.

When you are ready, drop in the baking soda. Marvel at the awesomeness while the bubbles are formed, then popped. Watch the bag expand. Just when you think it can’t take any more it is time to give the bag a toss. To the joy of my children, the bag explodes and a nice splash of water comes out! Hold the bag too long though, and you might have it pop in your hands. Perhaps this will be the new trend for hot potato games.
-Stephanie Wright