Hands-On Science: Fun Experiments to Try

Science is all about exploring the world around us! These simple experiments use common household items to demonstrate cool scientific principles. (Always ask an adult for help when needed!)

Classic Baking Soda Volcano

Demonstrates a chemical reaction producing carbon dioxide gas.

• Materials: Small bottle or cup, baking soda, vinegar, dish soap (optional), red food coloring (optional), tray or container to catch overflow.
• Procedure: Place the bottle in the tray. Add a few spoonfuls of baking soda, a drop of dish soap, and food coloring. Quickly pour in vinegar and watch the "eruption"!
• The Science: Vinegar (acetic acid) reacts with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to create carbon dioxide gas, which causes the mixture to bubble up.

Homemade Lava Lamp

Shows principles of density and convection.

• Materials: Clear bottle or jar, water, vegetable oil, food coloring, Alka-Seltzer tablet.
• Procedure: Fill the bottle mostly with oil, then add water (it will sink). Add a few drops of food coloring (it will mix with the water). Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into pieces and drop one in.
• The Science: Oil is less dense than water, so they don't mix. The Alka-Seltzer reacts with water to create CO2 bubbles, which carry colored water blobs up through the oil. As the gas escapes, the water sinks back down.

Walking Water

Illustrates capillary action.

• Materials: Several clear cups, water, paper towels, food coloring (different colors).
• Procedure: Line up cups, filling every other cup about halfway with water. Add different food coloring to each water-filled cup. Fold paper towels lengthwise and place one end in a cup with water and the other end in an empty cup next to it. Repeat for all cups.
• The Science: Water travels up the paper towels through capillary action (the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces against gravity) and mixes in the empty cups, creating new colors.

Egg in a Bottle

Demonstrates air pressure.

• Materials: Hard-boiled egg (peeled), glass bottle with an opening slightly smaller than the egg, paper strip, matches or lighter (ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED).
• Procedure: (Adult performs this part) Light the paper strip and drop it into the bottle. Quickly place the peeled egg on top of the bottle opening, sealing it.
• The Science: The burning paper heats the air inside, causing it to expand. Some air escapes. When the flame goes out, the air cools and contracts, creating lower pressure inside the bottle than outside. The higher outside air pressure pushes the egg into the bottle.