Burping Bags (an Exploding Science Experiment!)

Burping bags, or exploding bags, is another fun science experiment with vinegar and baking soda!  You can use it as an excellent science activity by itself, an application in color mixing, a sensory experience, or as a writing prompt.  This science project is great fun for toddlers, preschoolers, and older children too!  My kindergartener's journal entry for this day read, "Today, I made a bag pop."

The burping bag (aka the exploding bag) is made when you mix baking soda and vinegar inside the sealed bag.  As they react, carbon dioxide is released.  This gas builds up inside the bag, until it breaks out with a fabulous little "POP!"

Burping bags (or Exploding Bags)

Simple Supplies

• 1/3 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup warm water
• quart sized sandwich baggies
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 1-ply paper towels
• food coloring
• glitter, cake sprinkles, etc.

Easy How-to:

1- Wrap the baking soda into a little paper towel pouch.  Mix the vinegar and warm water together.  (The vinegar/water ratio is not too critical.  You want more vinegar than water.  The warm water speeds up the reaction.)

2- Let your child place food coloring, sprinkles, and other experimental variables into the baggie.  My kids each loved making their own baggie!

3- Add the vinegar/water to the baggie.  Watch how it changes color when it hits the food coloring!

4- Carefully place the baking soda packet inside the baggie and zip it up without getting the baking soda wet.  This is a little tricky, but you can do it!  Make sure you have a tight seal on the zippy!

5- Let your child give it a quick shake and set it on the ground!  It will begin to fill with carbon dioxide quickly, and your children will want to touch it!  Let them...it's okay!

If you can manage to the bag down upright, your explosion may leave a little of the mixture in the baggie after it pops.  If this happens, zip it back up, and let your child squish it, shake it, and play with it!

Even when it explodes everywhere, you can let them play in it!

For more science project fun, check out my collection of over 150 preschool science experiments!  They're great for older kid science too!!

Happy Educating, Carla

I may share at any of these parties!