Science activities: How to make a baking soda volcano

Ever heard of a Volcano and kept wondering what it is and what causes it? Then, you are in luck as that is precisely what this post is all about.

Hi there!!! Welcome to Makersgeneration: Your go-to platform for learning about cool science project ideas for kids.

In this post, we will not only learn about what a volcano is, we will go as far as modeling our own volcano with regular household items such as baking soda and vinegar. Sounds really exciting right!!? Keep reading to learn how to make a baking soda volcano.

Before we dive right in, let's quickly look at what a real volcano is:

What is a Volcano?

A volcano is a geological feature on the Earth's surface that is formed when molten rock, ash, and gases erupt from deep within the Earth out to the surface. Volcanos often form a hill or mountain as layers of molten rock and ash build up over time from repeated eruptions.

Let's take a look at the various parts of a volcano:

Parts of a volcano:

1. Magma Chamber:

Deep below the surface of the Earth is a section that is super hot enough to melt rocks into a thick pasty liquid called "magma". This area can be referred to as the "magma chamber".

2. Vent:

Near the top of the volcano is a tunnel-like passage called a "vent" This connects the magma chamber out to the surface.

3. Crater:

The opening at the very top end of the main vent is known as the "crater." This is where the volcano can erupt. It's like the volcano's mouth.

What causes a volcano?

When pressure builds up in the magma chamber because of the hot molten rock and gases, an eruption occurs shooting up the magma, gases, and ash through the vent and out of the crater, often creating a fiery display with lava flows, smoke, and ash.

Volcanos can be both helpful and dangerous. They can create new land and make the soil really fertile for plants. But they can also be dangerous when they erupt, so it's essential to be safe and stay away if there's an eruption.

Now that we have a good knowledge of what a volcano is, let's replicate our own volcano with baking soda, to fully understand the science behind it.

Materials we'll need

Tray
Empty plastic bottle (such as a small water bottle or soda bottle)
Scissors
Tape
Aluminum foil
Baking soda
White vinegar
Dish soap (optional, for a foamy eruption)
Red coloring (optional, for a lava-like effect)
Tablespoon

Steps to make a baking soda volcano:

Step 1:

Set up the work surface for your experiment in an area that's easy to clean, like a kitchen table or a tray. This will help contain any spills.

Step 2:

Take an empty plastic bottle and cut off a little portion from the mouth to create a wider opening.

The neck of the bottle is cut off to widen the opening.

Step 3:

Place the bottle in the center of your workspace and secure the base with tape.

Step 4:

Cut a large sheet of aluminum foil, place it over the empty bottle then extend it to the base (forming a conical shape), then secure the foil sheet to the tray with tape. This will act as the body of our volcano.

Volcano body constructed with aluminum foil.

Step 5:

Make a hole on the foil sheet through the opening at the top of the bottle and secure the foil around the opening.

A hole is made on the aluminum sheet for bottle opening.

Step 6:

Pour two tablespoons of baking soda into the bottle with a few drops of dish soap (if desired) and a couple of drops of red food coloring (for a lava-like effect).

Testing!!

Now, let's see how to make a volcano erupt!

Pour vinegar into the bottle with the baking soda mixture. You'll want to use enough vinegar to create a visible reaction but not so much that it overflows immediately.

As the vinegar reacts with the baking soda, it will produce a foamy "eruption" that flows down the sides of the volcano, resembling lava.

Remember to have extra vinegar and baking soda on hand for multiple eruptions, as you will often want to repeat the experiment several times because of how cool it looks!!

How does a baking soda volcano work?

A baking soda volcano works through a chemical reaction between two common household substances: baking soda (alkaline) and vinegar (acid). When these two substances combine, they react in what's known as an acid-base reaction, producing sodium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide gas, which creates the classic "eruption" effect.

Eventually, when the pressure from the carbon dioxide gas becomes too great for the bottle to contain, the gas is expelled forcefully, causing the liquid to foam up and out of the bottle, mimicking a volcanic eruption.

The eruption continues until most of the carbon dioxide gas has been released or until the vinegar and baking soda mixture has been used up. The process can be repeated by adding more vinegar and baking soda to create additional eruptions.

Other cute things to make and hand-crafts for kids

If you are looking for more electronics programming and STEM tutorials to do with your kids, take a look at these other activities:

Newsletter, follow, subscribe, and like the social media

If you like online STEM activities, consider subscribing to the newsletter and social media for updates, and don't miss any STEM events. Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter at the bottom of our website ''www.makersgeneration.net'' for more events, tutorials, and freebies.