Science at home - colourful balloons

Colourful balloons

You will need:

• distilled malt vinegar
• bicarbonate of soda
• empty plastic bottle (0.5 l)
• balloon

Method:

1. Pour 75ml of vinegar into the bottle.
2. Add 5 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda into the balloon.
3. Carefully attach the balloon to the neck of the bottle.
4. Put the contents of the balloon to the bottle and observe the reaction.

How does it work?

Research: what gas is released as a result of this reaction?

Science at home - fizzy fountain

Fizzy fountain

You will need:

• empty plastic bottle
• jug
• vegetable oil
• water
• food colouring
• two effervescent tablets (containing citric acid and sodium bicarbonate)

Method:

1. Pour the vegetable oil into the bottle until it’s about three-quarters full.
2. Use a jug to top up the last bit with tap water. The oil will float on the shallower layer of water.
3. Add a few drops of food colouring. For best results, use a few drops of two or three different colours. The colouring will take a few moments to travel through the oil, before slowly mixing with the water.
4. Break the two effervescent tablets in half and drop them into the bottle. They should start to fizz up immediately.
5. Loosely screw the bottle top back on and watch your fizzy fountain start to work.

How does it work?

Research: why does oil and water not mix

The art of crystallisation- part 2

Greetings fellow Scientists!

Today we continued our work on the global project organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry called "The art of crystallisation" (click here to see the post from our last session). 

Our crystals turned out to be stunning! We classified them according to size and shape. Have a look at the photos:

The last part of the project requires entering the results to the global database of the RSC website.

Science at home - investigating air

Investigating air

You will need:

• candle/tea light candle
• shallow dish
• modelling clay/blue tack
• water
• food colouring (optional)
• tall glass or jar
• matches

Method:

1. Put the candle in the dish and secure it in place by pressing modelling clay/blue tack around its base.
2. Then, pour water into the dish around the candle.
3.  Add a few drops of food colouring (optional). This will help you to see the results more clearly.
4. Ask an adult to light the candle. Then place a tall glass or jar over the candle and watch what happens.

How does it work?

Research: air in the atmosphere

The art of crystallisation (part 1)

Greetings fellow Scientists!

The Smarties Science Club is starting 2015 with a challenge organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry. We will be conducting an experiment which will allow us to answer the following question: what are the best conditions for growing the biggest crystals? Have a look at the details:

This is what we have done today:

 Come back next week to see our results!

Science at home - density tower

Greetings fellow Scientists!

Step into the world of Science and try the experiment below yourself!

Density tower

You will need:

• tall glass
• runny honey
• washing up liquid
• water
• vegetable oil/olive oil

Method:

1. Pour some honey into the glass.
2. Then, carefully pour in equal amounts of washing up liquid, water and the oil.
3. You should observe clear four layers.

How does it work?

Research: density.