4th of July Baking Soda Experiment

Looking for the perfect July theme for preschoolers and older? Try erupting colorful baking soda and vinegar science for the 4th of July. Here are two ways to set up this simple science activity. Open the kitchen cupboards and let’s get started!

#1: 4th of July Baking Soda and Vinegar With Cookie Cutters

💡Explore all of our 4th of July Activities [here].

Supplies:

• 4th of July Themed Cookie Cutters
• Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Food Coloring
• Eyedropper or Pipettes
• Small Dishes
• Tray

Instructions:

1: Set up your 4th of July science play by placing cookie cutters on a cookie sheet. We stock up at the dollar store!

2: Fill the cookie cutters with baking soda.

3: Add red or blue food coloring to vinegar.

4: Place out a spoon,eye dropper, or pipette. Add drops of the vinegar to the baking soda.

We actually talked about chemical reactions, and he kept saying, “Look, a chemical action, mommy!” I was so excited to hear that from him. He noticed the blue and red colors mixed to make purple (sort of, anyway).

It was hard to resist, so I played a little bit too. Of course, this makes him even happier! He also used the tablespoon scoop to pour the vinegar onto the baking soda to really get it to fizz.

#2: 4th of July Baking Soda and Vinegar With Test Tubes

Now if you don’t have test tubes and a rack, small plastic water bottles work too! We like the test tubes because we can achieve and even better eruption by using them. Water bottles will also give a nice eruption too!

Materials:

• Baking Soda
• White Vinegar
• Food Coloring
• Confetti Stars and/or Glitter {optional}
• Test Tubes and Racks {or small plastic bottles/containers}
• Eyedroppers, Pipettes, or Small Vessels {to pour from}
• Tray {to catch the eruptions}

Instructions:

1: Add a couple teaspoons of baking soda to each test tube. We went with a red, white, and blue theme of course for our 4th of July science activity! One test tube for each color.

2: Fill up three vessels with white vinegar. Add red food coloring to one and blue food coloring to another. We added about 6 drops or so of food coloring to get a nice deep shade of both blue and red.

3: Add glitter and confetti stars if desired! Baking soda science eruptions are always more fun with glitter. We put red glitter in one tube and blue glitter to another.

4: Set out your 4th of July science activity tray and invite the kids to come and experiment with a very simple chemical reaction. I keep extra baking soda and vinegar on hand at all times.

💡Check out more fun baking soda and vinegar experiments.

What Makes Baking Soda Fizz?

Something exciting happens when baking soda comes into contact with an acid, like vinegar! The acid (vinegar) and the base (baking soda) react together to produce carbon dioxide gas.

The carbon dioxide gas is why baking soda starts to fizz and bubble. The gas tries to escape from the mixture, creating bubbles that rise to the surface. These bubbles make a fizzing sound and give the impression of a mini volcano eruption!

So, when you mix baking soda with an acid like vinegar, you get a fantastic fizzy reaction due to the production of carbon dioxide gas. It’s truly an exciting demonstration of a chemical reaction!

More Fun 4th of July Activities

• Fireworks Painting
• 4th of July Fluffy Slime
• Skittles Experiment
• Fireworks in a Jar Experiment
• 4th of July Ice Melt Activity

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