Ideas for home › A volcano on the kitchen table

A volcano on the kitchen table

Time: 15 minutes · Age: From age 4

This is the home version of our volcano lab. She pours, you hold the cup, and everyone gets a surprise.

What you need

• An empty cup or tub
• 2 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2 drops of dish soap
• Food colouring
• Half a cup of vinegar
• A tray to catch it all

Steps

1. Put the cup in the middle of the tray.
2. Add the baking soda, dish soap and colouring.
3. Ask her: what do you think will happen?
4. Pour in the vinegar all at once and watch.

Why does it erupt?

Vinegar and baking soda react and release carbon dioxide gas. The soap traps the gas in bubbles, so the foam climbs up and over.

Try again with a different amount of vinegar, and see who predicts the result.

Want to try it with the team? See workshops ›