Baking Soda and Vinegar

The Webelos / AOL Adventure, Adventures In Science, requirement 3g has us completing an experiment with a chemical reaction involving household materials. For this fun activity we will be using baking soda and vinegar.

I usually use a 50/50 mixture. No matter what the combination is, your going to have some type of result. I also enjoy using a thin / tall container to combine the two materials resulting in a little more dramatic reaction. This combination is usually used when your completing your volcano science fair project. Tip: use a cookie sheet under your container so that the chemical reaction does not spill all over the table or floor.

Whats happening when the two material combine?

The first reaction is the acid-base reaction. When vinegar and baking soda are first mixed together, hydrogen ions in the vinegar react with the sodium and bicarbonate ions in the baking soda. ... The carbonic acid formed as a result of the first reaction immediately begins to decompose into water and carbon dioxide gas.

This is a fun activity that can be completed over and over if you have a large amount of scouts in your den. Just rinse out the container and begin again.