Volcano in a Bottle Printer Version

Volcano in a Bottle

With lava, ash, and pyroclastic flows, there’s no doubt that volcanic eruptions can be quite spectacular. This simple project won’t produce such stunning—or destructive—results, but it is fun and you probably won’t need to buy any materials.

Materials

• Clear bottle with a slender neck (try a juice, salad dressing, or small pop bottle)
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Dishwashing liquid
• Red food colouring
• Big bowl or pan
• Glass or mug
• Funnel
• Spoon
• Glitter (optional)

Instructions

1. Put the bottle in the middle of the large bowl or pan.
2. Spoon baking soda into the bottle until it covers the bottom. If you want to give your eruption some extra pizzazz, you can also pour some glitter into the bottle. (In the photos, you can see we didn’t add food colouring to the middle bottle, but we did add red glitter.)
3. In a cup, combine 1/4 cup of vinegar, two big drops of dishwashing liquid, and some food colouring.
4. Use the funnel to pour the soapy, red mixture into the bottle.

Volcano in a Bottle Instructions 2

5. Stand back and watch the “volcano” erupt over the sides of the bottle.

A Step Further

• What happens if you don’t add the dishwashing liquid?
• Try adjusting the amount of vinegar and baking soda. What happens if you add more baking soda and less vinegar? Does it make a difference?
• Use papier-mâché to make your volcano look more authentic.

What’s Happening

You are creating a chemical reaction between the baking soda (NaHCO₃) and the vinegar (CH₃COOH). The vinegar reacts with the baking soda, producing carbon dioxide gas (CO₂). The gas expands and heads for the bottle opening, pushing the soapy mixture along with it.