Combine some fun science and balloons with this easy to set up science experiment for kids. Can you blow up a balloon with soda? What happens when you add salt to soda?
Soda Balloons
Blow up a balloon using only soda and salt. We love fizzing experiments and have been exploring chemistry for kindergarten, preschool, and elementary kids for 10 years now.
Our science experiments are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete, and are fun!
Our supply lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home. Grab some soda and balloons, and see if you can blow up a balloon with a bit of chemistry! What is Chemistry? Find out more!
Also, check out these other fun science experiments with soda…
Soda Balloon Experiment
Put the scientific method into practice with this easy-to-set-up science experiment. Extend the activity by changing one variable. For example, explore what happens if you add the same amount of salt to different types of soda.
WATCH THE SCIENCE VIDEO:
SUPPLIES:
- 2 bottles of soda
- 2 balloons
- Salt
EXPERIMENT SETUP:
STEP 1: Open a bottle of soda and quickly place a balloon over the opening. What happens?
STEP 2: Pour about a half teaspoon of salt into the other balloon.
STEP 3: Attach the salted balloon to the other soda, but without letting the salt fall into the bottle.
STEP 4: Once secure, lift the balloon, allowing the salt to fall into the soda.
What happens? What was the difference between the two bottles? How were they similar?
Soda Balloon Science Information
The fizzy bubbles in the soda are a gas called carbon dioxide. Unopened soda has large amounts of carbon dioxide gas dissolved into the water at high pressure. This process of adding the fizz to soda is called carbonation.
Typically, you can find these gas bubbles coming out of the soda on the sides of the bottle, which is why it becomes flat after a while.
When you open the bottle of soda, the bubbles have room to escape. The balloon grows in size because the carbon dioxide gas is filling it!
What about the second balloon? You would have noticed that when you add salt to the soda, you get a lot of fizzing and foaming! Also, the balloon blows up more quickly and bigger than the first balloon. This is similar to our Mentos and Coke eruption!
You might be surprised to know that what you observe is a physical reaction, not a chemical reaction like baking soda and vinegar.
Adding salt to soda speeds up the process of dissolved carbon dioxide gas forming bubbles and escaping into the air. This is because more bubbles can form on the salt crystals’ surface, pushing the liquid up.
Salt in soda is a great example of a change of states of matter; the carbon dioxide dissolved in the liquid soda moves to a gaseous state.
We love exploring simple chemistry you can do at home or in the classroom that isn’t too crazy, but is still lots of fun for kids! Make sure to check out more fun chemistry experiments!
Turn It Into A Science Fair Project
Science projects are an excellent way for older kids to show what they know about science. They can also be used in all sorts of environments, including classrooms and groups.
Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method, stating a hypothesis, choosing variables, making observations, and analyzing and presenting data.
Want to turn one of these experiments into an awesome science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.
Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started
Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
- Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
- Science Vocabulary
- 8 Science Books for Kids
- All About Scientists
- Free Science Worksheets
- Science Supplies List
- Science Tools for Kids
- Scientific Method for Kids
- Easy Science Fair Projects
- Citizen Science Guide
- Join us in the Club
Printable Science Projects For Kids
If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
- 90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
- Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
- Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
- Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
- My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!
- Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!
- Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics!
