Experiment: How To Build A Volcano

Materials:
Salt dough
Vinegar
Baking soda
Liquid detergent
Red food coloring
Baking pan
Plastic soda bottle

Procedure:
Make the salt dough by mixing 6 cups flour, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, 2 cups salt, and 2 cups of water in a large bowl. Knead the ingredients until they are firm and smooth. Add more water if necessary.
Place the soda bottle upright in the baking pan. Shape the salt dough around the bottle, making sure that the bottle mouth is clear and the bottle remains empty. Build your volcano however you want, with as much detail as you desire.
Fill the bottle with warm water. Add some drops of red food coloring.
Add 6 drop of liquid detergent into the bottle.
Add 2 tablespoons baking soda.
Pour the vinegar into the bottle slowly, then move away quickly!

Explanation:
The red “lava” that comes out of your volcano is a result of the reaction between baking soda and vinegar. When the two materials combine, they create carbon dioxide gas, which produces the bubbling and fizzing that you see. Carbon dioxide is also created when a real volcano erupts.

[ back to graphics version ]

Forces of Nature: ThinkQuest 2000 (Team #C003603)

http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/experiments-volcanoes01.shtml [ f o r c e s   o f   n a t u r e   :   a c t i v i t i e s ]

Experiment: How To Build A Volcano

Materials:
Salt dough
Vinegar
Baking soda
Liquid detergent
Red food coloring
Baking pan
Plastic soda bottle

Procedure:
Make the salt dough by mixing 6 cups flour, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, 2 cups salt, and 2 cups of water in a large bowl. Knead the ingredients until they are firm and smooth. Add more water if necessary.
Place the soda bottle upright in the baking pan. Shape the salt dough around the bottle, making sure that the bottle mouth is clear and the bottle remains empty. Build your volcano however you want, with as much detail as you desire.
Fill the bottle with warm water. Add some drops of red food coloring.
Add 6 drop of liquid detergent into the bottle.
Add 2 tablespoons baking soda.
Pour the vinegar into the bottle slowly, then move away quickly!

Explanation:
The red “lava” that comes out of your volcano is a result of the reaction between baking soda and vinegar. When the two materials combine, they create carbon dioxide gas, which produces the bubbling and fizzing that you see. Carbon dioxide is also created when a real volcano erupts.

[ back to graphics version ]

Forces of Nature: ThinkQuest 2000 (Team #C003603)

http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/experiments-volcanoes01.shtml