vinegar to baking soda ratio for balloon experiment

Self Inflating Balloon: Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment

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Have you ever tried the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment? This classic science experiment is really one of my favorites. It is an easy science experiment to do and it really is exciting to watch. It creates a self-inflating balloon that kids think is the coolest!

The reaction between the baking soda and vinegar cause the balloon to inflate all on its own! It is a show-stopper experiment for kids.

(See more of my STEM projects for kids.)

How to Do the Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment:

Supplies you will need for this simple science experiment:.

Plastic empty water bottle or soda bottles, cleaned out Large Balloon White Vinegar (acetic acid) Baking Soda (or sodium bicarbonate) Small Funnel Spoon

TIP: Before starting the experiment, you will want to stretch out the balloon to make it more loose and easier to inflate.

Step 1- Pour 1-2 spoonfuls of baking soda into the opening of the balloon, using a funnel. You’ll need to shake it a bit to get it down into the base of the balloon.

Step 2- Use the funnel again and pour some vinegar into the empty plastic bottle until it is about an inch or two deep- maybe a few tablespoons of vinegar. Exact amounts do not matter. Add a few drops of food coloring to change it up if you want- totally unnecessary.

Step 3- Carefully stretch the opening of the balloon around the mouth of the bottle leaving it hanging down until you are ready for the reaction.

TIP: Don’t let any of the baking soda dump into the bottom of the bottle while attaching it.

Step 4- When you are ready to see the chemical reaction happen, lift up the balloon allowing the baking soda to fall down into the bottle.

blowing up a balloon with vinegar and baking soda

This is when the fun starts! Baking soda and vinegar mix to create an awesome chemical reaction. The gas from combining the two will escape as bubbles of carbon dioxide gas that cause the balloon to inflate. It’s impressive. The more gas there is created, the larger the balloon will get.

Your kids, if they are anything like mine, will beg to do the experiment again, then 10 more times! This is really a perfect science project for kids to try on their own.

science project baking soda and vinegar balloon

If you do repeat it, you will need fresh vinegar in the bottle. Once a reaction happens, it is not quite so strong the second time through. The balloon does not usually inflate again unless the vinegar is fresh.My kids were amazed and wanted to do it again and again and again. Stock up on baking soda and vinegar if you are planning this one! Luckily they are both quite inexpensive.

(It’s a good thing they are both so cheap!)

The Science Behind It: Why the Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction Works?

When the baking soda and vinegar reaction happens, it is an acid-base reaction. Vinegar is the acid and baking soda is the base. This reaction between the two causes a gas called carbon dioxide to bubble and foam. This gas having nowhere else to go, expands the balloon making the self-inflating balloon happen.

Here is the chemical equation behind it: Baking soda + vinegar — yields carbon dioxide + water + sodium ion + acetate ion There is more to it than that, but that’s the basic explanation.

Try some variations to see if other reactions work:

Will baking powder work instead of baking soda?

Would lemon juice work instead of vinegar?

Could you do the same thing with an alka-seltzer tablet and soft drinks?

Use the scientific method to investigate different variations on this experiment to see how they work.

Want More Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments?

We love the carbon dioxide reactions that these two substances create.

Check out these other ones we have done:

Easy Bottle Rocket Experiment

Bathtub Bottle Rocket

Film Canister Rocket Experiment

How to Make a Volcano experiment! (This one is fun because when the eruption occurs, the carbon dioxide bubbles pour over like lava!

Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!

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What a great idea! I can’t believe I haven’t heard of this experiment. My girls are 12 and 11 and still love doing at home science projects. Although they use Time4Learning science curriculum it is always fun to do your own.

Thanks for the idea!

Awesome! I’m making a list of simple, fun experiments to do this summer, and I’m adding this one to it! We don’t seem to get to these types of experiments during the regular school year! Stopping by from HHH and new follower! Thanks for sharing your experiment!

My boys loved this experiment too. 🙂

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I do experiments with 4 year old grandson, he loves this one. We did the volcano as well and now he explains what happens to everyone he wants to show it too. Thank you for sharing, it is fun teaching when the things work as well as yours.

fantastic from a grammy

Nice , it is possible to send easy experiments for kids with the help of video

How to Blow up a Balloon With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Last Updated: February 2, 2024 Fact Checked

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Learn how to inflate a balloon in this fun science experiment using these common kitchen ingredients! Balloons inflated this way are filled with carbon dioxide produced by the two ingredients reacting. They do not contain helium, so they will not float.

Inflating the Balloon

Step 1 Pour a little vinegar into a plastic bottle.

You can try this with any kind of vinegar, but the inflation might take longer or require more vinegar to work. Other types of vinegar tend to be more expensive as well.
Vinegar can damage metal containers, potentially adding an unpleasant taste to food and drink stored in that container. If you have no plastic bottles, use a high-quality stainless steel bottle to minimize the chance of this happening. Weakening the vinegar with an equal amount of water might also help, and won't prevent the balloon from inflating. [2] X Research source

Step 2 Use a funnel or straw to put a little baking soda into a limp balloon.

If you don't have a funnel, you can place a plastic straw into a pile of baking soda, put your finger over the top hole of the straw, then poke the straw into the balloon and lift your finger. Tap the straw to get the baking soda to fall out, and repeat until the balloon is at least 1/3 of the way full. [4] X Research source

Step 3 Stretch the neck of the balloon over the top of the bottle.

Shake the bottle gently to mix the two ingredients if there's not much fizzing.

Step 5 Try again with more vinegar or baking soda, if it doesn't work the first time.

Don't go overboard. The bottle should never be more than about 1/3 full of vinegar.

Grasping how the Process Works

Baking soda is another word for the molecule sodium bicarbonate .
White vinegar is a mixture of acetic acid and water. Only the acetic acid reacts with the baking soda.

Although the definition of acid and base can get complicated, you can compare the differences between the original substances and the "neutralized" result to see there are obvious changes. For instance, vinegar has a strong smell and can be used to dissolve grime and dirt. After being mixed with baking soda, it smells much less strongly and is no more effective at cleaning than water is.

NaHCO 3 + HC 2 H 3 O 2 (aq) → NaC 2 H 3 O 2 (aq) + H 2 O(l) + CO 2 (g)
The letters in parentheses show the state the chemicals are in during and after the reaction: (g)as, (l)iquid, or (aq)ueous. "Aqueous" means the chemical is dissolved in water.

Community Q&A

This method can also be used in homemade cardboard or plastic rockets and you can make them go a long way if ingredients are out right. The reason it blows up is because the reaction creates gas, and the pressure builds up. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
You can use lime juice instead of vinegar. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

vinegar to baking soda ratio for balloon experiment

If the balloon is fully inflated and the liquid is still fizzing, the balloon might be about to explode. Decide whether you have time to pull off the balloon, or whether you should just cover your face before it gets spattered! Thanks Helpful 69 Not Helpful 25

Things You'll Need

Baking Soda
Bottle with narrow neck
Funnel (optional)

↑ https://www.cityofsacramento.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/ParksandRec/4thR/4r-SAH2-BakingSodaVinegarBalloonExp.pdf?la=en
↑ https://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/balloon_blowup.html
↑ http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/balloon-gas-chemical-reaction/
↑ https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/balloon-gas-chemical-reaction/
↑ https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/inflate-a-balloon-with-baking-soda-and-vinegar
↑ https://www.cmosc.org/balloon-blow-up-science-experiment/

About This Article

To blow up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar, pour 1–2 inches of white vinegar into a plastic bottle. Next, hold a balloon loosely by the neck, fit a funnel or plastic straw into it, and pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda through it into the balloon. Then, stretch the neck of the balloon over the top of the bottle before lifting the balloon up over the bottle. The baking soda will fall out of the balloon, through the neck of the bottle, and into the vinegar. The 2 ingredients will fizz and react to create carbon dioxide, which will then inflate your balloon! If you want to learn more about the chemical reaction that occurs, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment (Plus Free Worksheet)

It’s like magic!

Kids and balloons go hand-in-hand so why not try a fun science experiment that incorporates a balloon or two? This experiment requires little more than what you already have in your kitchen cabinet. Grab a dash of baking soda, a splash of vinegar, and learn all about acids, bases, states of matter, and chemical reactions! Everyone will be amazed watching a balloon inflate without a single breath being blown.

Fill out the form on this page to grab your free printable recording sheet , and try the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment with your little scientists!

How does the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment work?

The baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction between an acid and a base. The baking soda acts as the base and the vinegar as the acid. When the two combine, carbon dioxide (CO2) escapes the container and causes the balloon to blow up.

What does this experiment teach?

This experiment teaches how different states of matter transform when combined. In this case, a solid (baking soda) and a liquid (vinegar) mix to produce a gas (CO2). Since carbon dioxide is the same gas that is released when humans breathe out, students will make the connection between human breath blowing up a balloon and the reaction of this experiment doing the same.

Is there a baking soda and vinegar balloon video?

This video shows how to do the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment, using just a few ingredients.

Materials Needed

To do the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment, you will need:

Approximately 1/2 cup of vinegar
Empty water bottle or similar container
Baking soda
Measuring spoon
Deflated balloon

Our free recording sheet is also helpful— fill out the form on this page to get it.

Baking soda and balloon experiment steps:

1. blow up a balloon just enough to stretch it out a bit. then, use the funnel and measuring spoon to add about a teaspoon of baking soda inside the balloon..

A hand is shown pouring a small cup of baking soda into a blue funnel that is attached to a balloon in this step of the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment.

2. Fill the water bottle or other container about halfway with vinegar.

A few deflated balloons, a clear container with clear liquid, a small bowl with baking soda, and a funnel are shown on the table in this step of the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment.

3. Attach your filled balloon to the container with the vinegar. Make sure the seal is tight!

A hand is seen attaching a purple balloon to the top of a clear container with clear liquid in it.

4. Once you’re all set up, hold the balloon up so the baking soda gets released into the vinegar.

A woman is shown holding a purple balloon that is attached to a clear container.

5. Finally, watch the balloon blow up!

A woman with a shocked expression is seen holding an inflated purple balloon that is attached to a clear container.

Grab our baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment worksheet!

Click the button below to get your worksheet. The worksheet asks kids to guess the correct order of the steps in the experiment. Next, kids must make a prediction about what they think will happen. They can use the provided spaces to draw what happens before and after they add the baking soda to the vinegar. Did their predictions come true?

Additional Reflection Questions

What happened when the baking soda was added to the vinegar?
Why do you think the balloon inflated?
Why do you think the balloon eventually stops blowing up?
What do you think would happen if we used more or less baking soda?

Can this experiment be done for a science fair?

Yes! If you want to do the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment for a science fair, we recommend switching up some of the variables. For example: Does the amount of vinegar matter? What if you run two experiments side by side with different amounts of baking soda? Which balloon filled up faster? Form a hypothesis about how changing the variables will impact the experiment. Good luck!

Looking for more experiment ideas? Check out our big list of science experiments.

Plus, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters for more articles like this., you might also like.

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment

Combine a fizzing baking soda and vinegar reaction with balloon play with this easy-to-set-up balloon science experiment for kids . Find out how to blow up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar. Grab a few simple ingredients from the kitchen, and you have fantastic chemistry for kids.

BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR BALLOON EXPERIMENT

Don’t have vinegar for this experiment? Try a citric acid like lemon juice, and check out our citric acid and baking soda experiment here.

Baking Soda
Empty Water Bottles
Measuring Spoons
Funnel {optional but helpful)

balloon science experiment supplies including baking soda and vinegar

BLOW-UP BALLOON EXPERIMENT SETUP:

Step 1. Blow up the balloon a bit to stretch it out some, and use the funnel and teaspoon to add baking soda to the balloon. We started with two teaspoons and added a teaspoon for each balloon.

Step 2. Fill the container with vinegar halfway.

Step 3. When your balloons are all made up, attach them to the containers making sure you have a good seal!

Step 4. Next, lift up the balloon to dump the baking soda into the container of vinegar. Watch your balloon blow up!

To get the most gas out of it, we swirled around the container to get it all going!

using funnel to fill balloon with baking soda for science activity

Optional Art: Go ahead and use a sharpie to draw emojis, shapes, or fun pictures on your balloons before filling them with baking soda.

balloon baking soda science and chemistry for kids

BALLOON EXPERIMENT TIPS

My son suggested we try different amounts of baking soda in our experiment to see what would happen. Also, will the balloon size grow bigger if more vinegar is in the bottle?

Always encourage your kids to ask questions and wonder what will happen if…

This is also a great way to encourage inquiry, observation, and critical thinking skills. You can read more about teaching the scientific method to kids here.

Make predictions! Ask questions! Share observations!

Balloon baking soda science with happy face drawn on pink balloon

Be cautious with the amount of baking soda you add, as the reaction will get bigger each time. Safety goggles are always great for young scientists!

You could see the difference in the baking soda we put in the balloons! The red balloon with the least baking soda inflated the least. The blue balloon with the most inflated the most.

What else can you do with baking soda? Check out these unique baking soda experiments!

HOW DOES THE BALLOON EXPERIMENT WORK?

The science behind this baking soda and vinegar balloon science experiment is a chemical reaction between an acid and base . The base is the baking soda and the acid is vinegar. When the two ingredients mix, the balloon baking soda experiment gets its lift!

That lift is gas, carbon dioxide, or CO2. As the gas tries to leave the plastic container, it goes up into the balloon because of the tight seal you have created. Check out states of matter experiments !

The gas has nowhere to go and is pushing against the balloon it blows it up. Similar to how we exhale carbon dioxide when we blow up balloons ourselves.

We love exploring simple chemistry you can do at home or in the classroom. Science that isn’t too crazy but is still lots of fun for kids! You can check out more cool chemistry experiments .

Read more about the science behind baking soda and vinegar experiments .

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD FOR KIDS?

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is tested with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity. Sounds heavy…

What in the world does that mean?!? The scientific method should be used as a guide to help lead the process. It’s not set in stone.

You don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As kids develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.

Learn more about the scientific method and how to use it.

Even though the scientific method feels like it is just for big kids…

This method can be used with kids of all ages! Have a casual conversation with younger kiddos or do a more formal notebook entry with older kiddos!

Click here to get your FREE Science Challenge Calendar

MORE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS WITH BALLOONS

Have leftover balloons? Why not try one of these fun and easy balloon science experiments below!

Explore physics with a balloon rocket
Try this screaming balloon experiment
Make a balloon-powered car
Try a pop rocks and soda balloon experiment
Learn about static electricity with a balloon and cornstarch experiment
Bend water with a balloon.

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

42 Comments

Need more info on experiments. Thanks, Miranda

What information would you like?

thanks a lot very funny experiment

Your welcome!

(I was thinking that the pint bottle was going to blow up I got really scared first time I saw a science magic) but I can make smoke come out of my mouth it is very simple

I’m doing a Science Fair Project on this, but I don’t know and how to do the table and graphs, like the data and stuff. Can you help me?

And it’s due May 18, 2016 🙁

this is cool thanks you verry much

Your welcome! Try drawing on the balloons too!

Does the size of the container or size of balloon have any affect on how the balloon will blow up?

Yes, it will because of the space the gas has to fill once the baking soda and vinegar are combined. Great experiment to try different sizes using the same amounts of both vinegar and baking soda.

my team did the balloon inflating thing and it was fun

Is it safe for kids to do this experiment in school

I would think it would be as it is just baking soda and vinegar. You would need to use your best judgement of course. We have never had a balloon explode.

hi this is STEM project . can anyone explain how to connect – T technology E Engineering M mathematics through this experiment . thanks in advance

I will look into my information. Remember a STEM project does not need to contain each of the 4 pillars of STEM but at least two. I can tell you we used math {measuring} and science {chemical reaction}.

Definitely is cool

i love yo stuff

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If we wanted to use this for a science fair project what would the Question asking be?

How much baking soda/vinegar is needed to inflate balloon completely. Or, which acid is better vinegar or lemon juice? Do different shape balloons fill better?

We just did this experiment, but we only used one balloon. My kids are 2.5, 4 and 7 so we have a range of ability levels, but I wanted to add my kids’ favorite part! We took the balloon off the bottle and tied it shut, careful not to lose the gas. And then I blew a balloon up the same size, I asked them which one they thought would hit the ground first as I held them even in the air. Try it out!!

That’s awesome! We will def have to try that. What a great idea!

Where did you find your containers to hold the baking soda and vinegar?

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Wait, Weight, Don't Tell Me!

A simple chemistry experiment—adding baking soda to vinegar—seems to challenge the law of conservation of mass.

Video Demonstration

Safety goggles
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
Vinegar (standard 5% acetic acid)
Flask or bottle
Measuring cup
Balance scale that reads to at least 0.1 gram
Optional: extra materials to experiment with, such as more balloons, zip-seal sandwich bags, 2-liter plastic bottles, etc.

Assortment of baking and cooking tools including a funnel, measuring cups and spoons, a digital scale, baking soda, and other utensils.

Put on your safety goggles.
Attach a balloon to the end of the funnel.

Pour about 1/2 cup (120 mL) of vinegar into the bottle or flask.

To begin, carefully put the sealed flask onto the scale and write down its starting weight.

You’re about to tip the balloon’s contents into the flask. What do you think will happen? Will the weight go up, down, or stay the same? Why?

Write down the final weight when the reaction is over.

Surprise—your balloon swelled enormously, but the weight actually dropped.

This result is especially confounding if you happen to be familiar with the law of conservation of mass : In any closed system, mass is neither created nor destroyed by chemical reactions or physical transformations. In short, the mass of the products of a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the reactants.

Did you really just violate the law of conservation of mass? You might be dying to know what’s going on, but wait, weight—why not figure it out for yourself?

The answer is below…but to avoid a spoiler, skip down to the Going Further section before reading on.

Alright, here’s the answer: Besides the chemical reaction, the only thing that changed in your sealed system was the volume . When you added the baking soda to the vinegar, the two combined to make carbon-dioxide gas, which inflated the balloon.

The expansion of the balloon changed the weight of your sealed flask because you and your entire experiment are submerged in a fluid: air.

Just like water, air is a fluid, and fluids buoy up objects. The upward buoyant force on any submerged object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by that object—this is known as Archimedes’ principle . By increasing the volume of your sealed flask, you cause it to displace more air, increasing the buoyant force on it and reducing its weight. Here's the thing to remember: Scales measure weight, not mass. The mass stayed the same due to the law of conservation of mass, but because of buoyancy, the weight went down!

Consider possible explanations for the weight change: Did the balloon leak? Did something funny happen to the scale? What else might be going on? Plan an experiment to test your theory, gather equipment, and carry it out.

For an illuminating variation on the original experiment, try combining your chemicals while they’re sealed inside a 2-liter bottle. Getting things to mix only after you’ve sealed the bottle is an engineering design challenge unto itself. Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amounts of 1/2 cup (120 mL) vinegar and 2 teaspoons (10 mL) baking soda.

To confirm Archimedes’ principle, measure the volume of the balloon and use the known density of air (0.001225 g/cm 3 at 15° C at sea level) to calculate exactly the weight of air displaced by your expanding balloon. Does the weight loss of your flask match the theoretical prediction?

This activity is meant to spark more experimentation. Having a variety of supplies on hand will allow for creative investigation into this phenomenon.

This idea was first introduced to us by visiting fellow Eleanor Duckworth of Harvard University.

Related Snacks

Science activity demonstrating how changes in atmospheric pressure feel

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Science project, how to inflate a balloon using baking soda and vinegar.

What is the project about?

Students learn about gas and chemical reactions by discovering how to inflate a balloon using baking soda and vinegar.

What are the goals?

The goal of the project is to demonstrate the power of gas procuded when of baking soda and vinegar are mixed. The goal is for the balloon to be blown up by the gas created.

Materials and Equipment / Ingredients

What materials are required.

Balloon (1 per student)
Small bottle (cleaned glass beverage bottle will work well) (1 per student)
Small funnel (1 per student)
Baking soda (2 tablespoons per student)
Vinegar (4 ounces per student)

Where can the materials be found?

Introduction, research questions.

What do you think will happen when baking soda and vinegar come in contact (what will be produced)?
What do you think will happen to the balloon attached?
Why does the balloon stop blowing up (why does the reaction stop)?

Terms, Concepts and Questions to Start Background Research

For the parent/student, what terms and concepts are required to better understand the project.

The terms carbon dioxide, chemical reaction, reactants, and endothermic should be reviewed.

Experimental Procedure

Using the funnel, add the baking soda to each balloon (two people may be needed for this; one person to hold the balloon open and the other person to put the baking soda inside of the balloon).
Pour the vinegar into the bottle.
Carefully fit the balloon over the bottle opening (be careful not to drop the baking soda into the vinegar yet).
Once the balloon is fitted snugly on the nozzle, hold up the balloon and allow the baking soda to fall into the vinegar.
Observe the chemical reaction and effect on the balloon.
Record observations.

Bibliography / References to related books / Links to related sites on the web

Related learning resources, add to collection, create new collection, new collection, new collection>, sign up to start collecting.

Bookmark this to easily find it later. Then send your curated collection to your children, or put together your own custom lesson plan.

Cool Science Experiments Headquarters

Making Science Fun, Easy to Teach and Exciting to Learn!

Science Experiments

Balloon Blow-up Science Experiment

Can you blow up a balloon without using your mouth? In this simple science experiment, we’re going to show you how to do it with only a few everyday items you probably already have in your home. It makes a great experiment for young children because the set-up is simple and it only takes a few minutes to get to the exciting finale.

In addition to a video demonstration and detailed printable instructions, we also have the scientific explanation of how this simple chemical reaction works making it perfect for older scientists too.

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works

Supplies Needed

Small Soda Bottle
Baking Soda

Balloon Blow-up Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Balloon Blow-up Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to make science easy for teachers and fun for students — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

Balloon Blow Up Science Experiment Instructions

Step 1 – Start with some questions: How do you blow up a balloon? What if I told you that you couldn’t blow air into it, do you think you could still inflate (blow-up) the balloon? Then observe the supplies for the experiments. Do you think they can be use to blow up the balloon? If so how? Write down your hypothesis (prediction).

Step 2 – Using a funnel, pour about a third of a cup of vinegar into the bottle. We used Apple Cider Vinegar, but any type of vinegar will work.

Step 3 – Then insert another funnel into the mouth of the balloon. We recommend using two different funnels. One funnel for filling the bottle with vinegar and one for the balloon. However, you can do the experiment with only one funnel. Just make sure you completely wash and dry the funnel after you add the vinegar and before you put it into the balloon. This is very important.

Step 4 – Place two teaspoons of baking soda into the funnel so it falls into the balloon. When the balloon is filled with the baking soda, carefully remove it from the funnel.

Step 5 – Next, secure the mouth of the balloon over the mouth of the bottle. Take your time doing this and don’t let any of the baking soda fall out of the balloon and into the bottom of the bottle. Take a moment to make some observations. What will happen if we lift up the balloon? Write down your hypothesis (prediction) and then test to see if you were right!

Step 6 – While holding the bottle, lift the end of the balloon and allow the baking soda to drop into the bottle.

Step 7 – What happens to the balloon? Was your hypothesis correct? Wondering what caused the balloon to inflate? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.

Video Tutorial

How Does the Science Experiment Work?

When baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) are mixed together they create a chemical reaction that results in the formation of carbon dioxide gas. Gases do not have a specific shape or volume, rather they expand rapidly filling their container. Gases expand rapidly because their particles move at high speeds in all directions. As the carbon dioxide gas fills the bottle, it has nowhere else to go so it begins to fill the balloon. As the carbon dioxide gas fills the balloon, the balloon inflates. The more gas that is created, the larger the balloon will inflate.

The baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction will continue to inflate the balloon as long as there is still baking soda and vinegar to react. Once the reaction between baking soda and vinegar has stopped, the balloon will slowly begin to deflate.

An acid is a substance that tastes bitter, reacts with metals and carbonates, and turns blue litmus paper red. A base is a substance that tastes bitter, feels slippery, and turns red litmus paper blue.

Other Ideas to Try

Does changing the amount of baking soda and vinegar change the size of the balloon when it inflates? What would happen if you used another acid like lemon juice instead of the vinegar? Would it react the same with the baking soda?

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

Instructions

Using a funnel, pour about a third of a cup of vinegar into the bottle. Tip: I used Apple Cider Vinegar, but any kind of vinegar will work.
Then insert another funnel into the mouth of the balloon. Tip: It is best to have two funnels, one for filling the bottle with vinegar and one for the balloon. If you only have one funnel, it is important that you completely wash and dry the funnel after you add the vinegar and before you put it into the balloon.
Place two teaspoons of baking soda into the funnel so it falls into the balloon. Then remove the balloon from the funnel.
Next, secure the the mouth of the balloon over the top of the bottle. Tip: Don’t let any of the baking soda drop into the bottle…yet!
While holding the bottle, lift the end of the balloon allowing the baking soda to drop into the bottle.
Watch in amazement as the balloon magically inflates!

Balloon Blow-up Science Experiment Steps

Reader Interactions

November 2, 2017 at 11:00 am

Yeah but don’t just eyeball the measurements of things because if you use to much baking soda it will make the baloon spring a leak and all sorts of stuff will fly out and make a big mess.

I speak form experience

Seriously, don’t do this

April 21, 2018 at 10:26 am

I did this experiment and it is perfect!

You need to hold properly the bottle when you mix the baking soda into vinegar.

May 22, 2019 at 8:57 am

We’re doing science experiments at school and this one is brilliant! I loved it a lot.

June 22, 2020 at 11:15 am

I love this experiment! My balloon grew 6 inches!

June 19, 2023 at 11:17 pm

I tried and it worked well – Exited to do such experiment

Science Fun

Baking Soda Balloon Chemical Reaction Science Experiment

Chemical reaction science experiments using baking soda and vinegar are a lot of fun and are great learning opportunities. In this quick and easy experiment, we are going to use an endothermic chemical reaction and the resulting carbon dioxide caused by mixing baking soda and vinegar to inflate a balloon.

Empty plastic or glass bottle
1 cup of vinegar
1/3 cup of baking soda

Instructions:

Use the funnel to add the 1/3 cup of baking soda into the balloon.
Twist the neck of the balloon a few times to keep the baking soda from spilling out and set the balloon aside.
Rinse the funnel and then use it to add the 1 cup of vinegar to the bottle.
Next, carefully stretch the mouth of the balloon over the bottle opening. Be sure to keep the neck of the balloon twisted to keep any of the baking soda from falling into the bottle and reacting with the vinegar.
Once the balloon is securely attached to the bottle, allow the balloon the drape over to one side.
When you are ready, lift the balloon directly over the opening of the bottle and untwist the balloon.
Quickly shake out the baking soda.
Step back and observe.

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How it Works:

Once the baking soda falls from the balloon into the vinegar, an endothermic chemical reaction will begin to occur. Carbon dioxide will be released that will create pressure and inflate the balloon.

Make This A Science Project:

Does the temperature of the vinegar effect the chemical reaction? Test different amounts of vinegar and baking soda. Try different sized balloons. Does the size and shape of the bottle effect the speed at which the balloon inflates. Does the addition of salt to the vinegar effect the chemical reaction and balloon inflation in any way?

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Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students ⋅

How to Blow Up a Balloon With Vinegar and Baking Soda Experiment

Have some latex balloons on hand as you prepare your science experiment.

Test Your Knowledge on Middle School Science

The mixture of vinegar and baking soda can produce a memorable science experiment. The substances can be arranged to "magically" blow up a balloon through the generation of carbon dioxide. Allow children to do some of the steps on their own. Consider doing this experiment outside since it can create a mess.

Pour 2 tbsp. of vinegar and 2 tbsp. of water into the bottle.

Put 2 tbsp. of baking soda into the balloon using the funnel.

Stretch and secure the opening of the balloon over the neck of the bottle while being very careful not to dump the baking soda into the bottle just yet.

Straighten the balloon to an upright position, allowing the baking soda to fall into the vinegar in the bottle. The chemical reaction should blow the balloon up.

Things You'll Need

Dress in old clothes in the event of spills.

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Exploratorium: Balloon Blow-up

About the Author

This article was written by the CareerTrend team, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information. To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more about CareerTrend, contact us [here](http://careertrend.com/about-us).

Photo Credits

Dynamic Graphics Group/Dynamic Graphics Group/Getty Images

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Blow Up a Balloon Using Just Bicarbonate of Soda and Vinegar

January 2019

Blow up a balloon using just bicarbonate of soda and vinegar in this simple science experiment

You will need.

● Clear bottle ● Vinegar ● Balloon ● Bicarbonate of soda ● Funnel

The Experiment

1. Pour 4 tablespoons of vinegar into the bottle. 2. Use the funnel to add 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda into the balloon. 3. Pull the neck of the balloon over the neck of the bottle without releasing any bicarbonate of soda. 4. Lift the balloon so that the bicarbonate of soda falls from the balloon into the bottle and mixes with the vinegar. 5. Watch the balloon inflate on its own.

The Science

The bicarbonate of soda and vinegar react together to make an acid-base chemical reaction which produces carbon dioxide gas. Once the carbon dioxide fills the bottle it expands into the balloon, causing it to inflate.

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Balloon magic with baking soda and vinegar

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Today I’m sharing a very classic activity that uses two household ingredients: baking soda and vinegar.

This balloon demonstration looks like magic but is really just science. It is a great opportunity to talk to kids about chemical reactions if you choose.

Inflating a balloon with baking soda and vinegar is a classic kids’ science activity. Considering that it’s so simple and fun, I can’t believe it took us so long to do this activity!

To make some balloon magic, we gathered the following materials:

Baking soda
Empty water bottles
Measuring spoon

Start by putting the funnel into the balloon. This will make it much easier to get the baking soda inside.

Add baking soda. We added about 4 teaspoons to each balloon. To get your balloons a bit bigger than ours, you could add 1 or 2 teaspoons more.

Next, use a funnel to pour some vinegar into your bottles. I didn’t measure the vinegar, but it was probably 1/3 cup or so, which ended up being much more than we needed.

Then, place the opening of the balloon around the opening of the bottle. Try not to let any baking soda into the bottle as you do this.

Finally, when you are ready for some magic, lift the balloon to allow the baking soda to fall into the bottle.

As soon as the baking soda hits the vinegar, a chemical reaction takes place that produces carbon dioxide. This gas is what inflates the balloon!

And after the oohs and aahs have died down, feel free to repeat the experiment! 🙂

More science activities for kids

More science activities from Gift of Curiosity:

Dancing raisins
Candy experiments
Jumping colors science activity
Make your own glycerin soap
Crystallized snowflakes
Dissecting an apple
What do ants like to eat?
Make your own telescope
The great baking soda and vinegar experiment
Magic inflating balloons

Find more great science activities on my Science Activities for Kids page and my Science Activities Pinterest board.

You May Also Enjoy These Posts

Reader interactions, 12 comments.

September 12, 2013 at 10:25 am

This would be perfect for the 1st grade science fair this year!!

September 12, 2013 at 11:06 am

Oh this is so fun! I want to start a Science Saturday for Brady and I, and this would be great. Also, I saw your comment on the egg-free pie post and I wanted to tell you if you go to the link on the post it will take you to a recipe that does not have either egg or milk. I decided to keep t he milk in since it is not an issue for us, but the other recipe omits milk as well. The Kids with Food Allergies website seems like a good one.

September 12, 2013 at 11:10 am

So much cooler than the old baking soda/vinegar volcano! And the kids get a balloon out of the deal. We will be doing this!

September 12, 2013 at 6:21 pm

We did this activity when I was an elementary school teacher. My class loved it, and it was a great hands-on way to learn!

September 12, 2013 at 9:00 pm

hahhah!! So cool and saves the effort of blowing the balloon! 🙂

September 14, 2013 at 7:31 am

We are doing V week this week and will be doing this for one of our Vinegar experiments! I’m like you and can’t believe I haven’t done this classic with my kiddos yet and know they will love it! Thanks for the good reminder.

September 17, 2013 at 9:16 am

I actually tried this with my four year old a month or so ago (at his repeated requests) and we couldn’t get it to work — I see why now, because I put the baking soda in the bottle instead of in the balloon. Whoops! When I have an empty bottle he’ll be thrilled to try again!

September 20, 2013 at 8:58 am

So fun!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

September 20, 2013 at 9:28 am

Children’s chemistry fun is almost always magical. Especially the look on their faces throughout experiment. Thank you for linking up this week to the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop 🙂

September 21, 2013 at 7:46 pm

I have GOT to do this with my sons. I can just see their chins dropping and their eyes popping! Thanks for linking this up to the After School Linky!

September 23, 2013 at 9:51 am

Oh, I’m definitely going to try this with my girls! They will absolutely love it and it looks like so much fun! I love trying new Science experiments! Thanks for linking up with the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop, you were featured as one of my favorites last week 🙂

September 24, 2013 at 3:11 pm

Awesome child friendly experiment! Thank you! Tilanie

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vinegar and baking soda experiment

The vinegar and baking soda experiment is a classic and exciting science activity that demonstrates a chemical reaction. Discover how to conduct this experiment step-by-step and understand the science behind it.

The vinegar and baking soda experiment is a classic and popular demonstration that showcases the fascinating chemical reaction that occurs when an acid and a base interact. By combining vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), we can observe an exciting display of bubbling and fizzing. This experiment not only captivates the imagination but also serves as a valuable educational tool, allowing us to explore the properties of acids and bases in an interactive and engaging manner.

To conduct this experiment, you will need a few basic materials: baking soda, vinegar, a clear plastic bottle or glass jar, a funnel (optional), and a balloon (optional).

Let's walk through the steps of the experiment:

Begin by selecting a clear plastic bottle or glass jar to serve as the container for the reaction. It's helpful to use a clear vessel, as it allows for better observation of the reaction.
If desired, use a funnel to carefully pour a small amount of baking soda into the bottle, filling it to about one-quarter of its capacity. The funnel helps to prevent any spillage or mess.
Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle, being cautious not to fill it to the brim. Leave some space at the top to accommodate the reaction that will take place. As the vinegar comes into contact with the baking soda, the magic begins.
Observe the reaction as the vinegar and baking soda interact. Almost immediately, you will witness a flurry of bubbles and fizzing. This effervescent display is a result of the chemical reaction occurring between the acetic acid in the vinegar and the sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda.
For an added interactive element, you can stretch a balloon over the top of the bottle or jar before pouring in the vinegar. As the carbon dioxide gas is generated during the reaction, it will inflate the balloon, creating a visual representation of the gas production.

The chemical reaction that transpires between the vinegar and baking soda can be explained by the following equation:

CH3COOH (acetic acid) + NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate) → CO2 (carbon dioxide) + NaC2H3O2 (sodium acetate) + H2O (water)

The reaction between the acid (vinegar) and the base (baking soda) produces carbon dioxide gas, which manifests as bubbles. Simultaneously, sodium acetate and water are formed as byproducts of the chemical reaction.

This experiment serves as an excellent educational tool, particularly for teaching children about chemical reactions and the properties of acids and bases. It provides a hands-on experience that allows them to witness the exciting transformation and understand the principles at play.

By engaging in the vinegar and baking soda experiment, children can develop a deeper appreciation for the world of chemistry. They can learn about the concept of chemical reactions, how different substances interact, and the role of acids and bases in these processes. Furthermore, the visual effects of bubbling and the inflation of the balloon make the experiment even more captivating and memorable.

However, it is important to note that while this experiment is safe and enjoyable, caution should always be exercised. Adult supervision is advised, especially when working with young children. It's crucial to handle the materials responsibly, avoid ingestion or contact with eyes, and clean up any spills promptly.

In conclusion, the vinegar and baking soda experiment provides an exciting opportunity to explore the chemical reaction between an acid (vinegar) and a base (baking soda). Through the combination of these two substances, we witness a captivating display of bubbling and fizzing, accompanied by the production of carbon dioxide gas, sodium acetate, and water. This experiment serves as an interactive and educational tool, allowing children to gain insights into the world of chemistry, understand the properties of acids and

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Mohamed Aslam

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self-inflating balloon on a 2L pop bottle

Self inflating balloon experiment

Have you ever tried to inflate a balloon without using your mouth? In this experiment, you can! Create a self-inflating balloon by mixing vinegar and baking soda in an empty pop bottle to create carbon dioxide gas. If you secure a balloon on top of this bottle, it will capture the gas and blow the balloon up!

Learn how to re-create this simple science experiment at home by reading the post below.

What is the self-inflating balloon experiment?

This is an excellent activity for young scientists – Especially those who love learning outside! Learn why we think science for kids is so important in this post.

Primary Connections explains that when you mix vinegar (an acid) and baking soda (a base) , you create a carbon dioxide gas . Now, as we saw in our volcano experiment with the same chemical reaction, this gas will cause a bubbling eruption that flows out of the container.

But, when you affix a balloon on top of the bottle, the gas has nowhere to go… Except for the balloon! Usually, we are using the air from our lungs to fill a balloon when we blow it up. This air is also a gas. But in this experiment, we are trapping carbon dioxide inside of the balloon to create a self-inflating balloon!

Download a scientific method worksheet before starting

This is totally optional, but you may want to head over to my TpT store and download the Scientific Method worksheet for free. This way, you can emphasize key learning moments while introducing your preschooler to the scientific method. By practicing this, they will become confident in their ability to hypothesize, test, and evaluate experiments!

Plus, if you write down the step-by-step instructions and tuck this away in a folder for later, they can re-create the same activity another time.

materials for the self inflating balloon: 2l bottle, vinegar, baking soda, and a balloon

Making a self-inflating balloon: What you’ll need

All of the materials required for this experiment are common household staples! Since you’ve got to act quickly to capture the gas, this experiment is best suited for older children (or requires adult assistance).

Here are the materials you will need:

An empty 2L pop or water bottle
2 tbsp Baking soda
1 and a half cups vinegar
Either two funnels or a funnel and a spoon

*This amount will blow up the balloon a little bit – I ended up adding more vinegar to see how much I could inflate my balloon!

How to make a self-inflating vinegar balloon

This classic science experiment is super easy. But, be sure to act quickly because as soon as the baking soda falls into the vinegar, the chemical reactions will start!

Here are the step-by-step instructions

Remove the lid from your bottle
Place a funnel into the top of the bottle for the liquid
Pour the vinegar into the bottle first , then remove the funnel
Either place a second funnel in or use a spoon to pour the baking soda in
Quickly and carefully stretch the balloon over the top of the bottle
Watch carefully! The chemical reaction between the two substances will make the balloon inflate

That’s it! The kids will have so much fun watching the self-inflating balloon science… But be careful to take the balloon off before it bursts! Otherwise, you’ll have a huge mess to clean.

That’s all there is to this self-inflating balloon experiment! Pretty simple, hey? With just balloons, baking soda, vinegar, and an empty bottle, you can create a self-blowing balloon in just a few minutes. This happens because the acid (vinegar) and the base (baking soda) create a chemical reaction inside the water bottle. Since the balloon prevents the gas from escaping, the carbon dioxide flows into the balloon, making it appear to magically inflate all by itself.

Have you tried this self-inflating balloon science experiment (sometimes also called a ‘vinegar balloon experiment’)? We would love to hear how it went!

Here are some other science experiments you may enjoy

If you’re into science experiments, you and your kids will love these:

Create a tissue paper butterfly that flaps its wings thanks to static electricity
Explore how the sun moves while creating beautiful shadow art

Fun & Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments for Kids

Krystal DeVille

August 1, 2023

Baking Soda and Vinegar Chemistry Experiments for Kids

One of the simplest but satisfying DIY science experiments is the baking soda and vinegar reaction.

From volcanoes to bottle rockets, this experiment packs a punch. Fun for kids (and adults) of all ages, the baking soda, and the vinegar experiment are fun ways to learn about chemical reactions.

Table of Contents

How Baking Soda & Vinegar Reaction Works – a Simple Explanation

When baking soda and vinegar come together, a chemical reaction occurs. Chemical reactions are a process where two different things come together to make something new.

In this chemical reaction baking soda and vinegar make bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. The chemical reaction is what makes the mixture fizz.

How The Reaction Works – A Complex Explanation

Baking soda and vinegar experiments are an endothermic, acid-base reaction. Baking soda is the base , and vinegar is the acid .

What’s a Base:

In chemistry, a base is a chemical species which donates electrons, takes protons, or releases hydroxide (OH-) ions in an aqueous solution. Bases display specific characteristic properties which may be utilized to help identify them. ( Definition from ThoughtCo.com )

They are usually slippery to the touch (e.g., soap), may taste bitter, react with acids to form salts, and catalyze particular reactions.

What’s an Acid:

An acid is a chemical species which donates protons or hydrogen ions and/or takes electrons . Most acids have a hydrogen atom ensured that may discharge (dissociate) to give a cation and an anion in water.

The higher the concentration of hydrogen ions generated by an acid, the greater its acidity and the lower the pH of the solution. ( Definition from ThoughtCo.com )

scale for acid and base chemistry for kids

When baking soda and vinegar are mixed, it releases an unstable substance called carbonic acid. The carbonic acid breaks down into carbon dioxide gas and water. As the gas quickly leaves the water, the substance fizzes.

The process is endothermic, which means the reaction absorbs heat from its’ environment. This energy is what activates the chemical reaction. Endothermic reactions are cold, which is why the baking soda and vinegar mixture becomes cold to touch.

Kids Science Activity With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Now that we have the reason for the reaction with baking soda and vinegar, let’s get into the fun part, science experiments!

Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction

Kid mixing baking soda and vinegar in a glass bottle

This first one will be very straight forward with only a few things needed. Your basically just mixing the chemicals together with different ratios each time and documenting with ratio gives the biggest reaction.

Supplies Needed

Here is what you will need for a successful baking soda and vinegar reaction:

Baking Soda. (This is a big bag of baking soda we used from Amazon)
White Vinegar. (This is the bottle of White Vinegar we used fro Amazon but you should be able to find it easy at a supermarket too)
A Container (I.E., a plastic bottle or a water cup)
Food Coloring (optional, but it can add fun to the experiment. Using different food colorings (Amazon link) is a great way to compare experiments). You can also find this at just about any supermarket as well.
Table Spoon or Measuring Cup (this will depend on your container’s size and how big of a reaction you want to see).

Step By Step Process

Now, here’s how you do it:

Fill your container with baking soda. If your container is on the smaller side, I recommend one tablespoon of baking soda.

If you are using a large container, you could add more baking soda. Experiment with different amounts to find out what creates the most fizz.

Now, you’ll need to add vinegar. The more vinegar, the more explosive the reaction (unless you add TOO much).

A 12 to 1 ratio of vinegar to baking soda is a good place to start. So, if you used one tablespoon of baking soda, add 12 tablespoons of white vinegar.

Watch your creation fizz and bubble! Try experimenting with different ratios of vinegar and baking soda to add to the learning experience.

Notice the reaction times of the baking soda and vinegar when you change the amounts used. How are they similar? How are they different?

Rainbow Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

Making rainbows with baking soda STEM experiment

This experiment was more for my five-year-old daughter but it turned out my eight-year-old son loved it too.

I thought this one was going to get a little messy so we took it outside. It’s also a good idea if your kids are in play clothes just in case they get a little wild with this STEM experiment.

If you’re already going to have everything out from doing the basic experiment from above you might as well do this one too; my kids loved this one!

Baking soda & Vinegar (of course right!?) (Both links go to Amazon)
A baking sheet to spread the baking soda. A baking sheet works well.
Food coloring.
A small dropper like this one from Amazon, bright color droppers.
This is optional because we wanted to see how half the baking sheet would react with Pure Citric Acid. (Amazon link)

Fill the baking tray up with baking soda. Make sure to put a smooth layer covering the pan evenly.

Add droplets of food coloring in different spots. Use different colors to surprise your kids when doing to experiment.

Use a thin layer of baking soda to cover up the food coloring droplets. This layer doesn’t need to be that thick.

Take the baking sheet outside or in a safe area, use the dropper with vinegar to find the area with the food coloring. Kids will find it fun to discover where the different colors are on the baking sheet hiding in the baking soda.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment

This is another fun chemistry science experiment kids will love! Watching a balloon fill up from a chemistry got a big reaction from my kids.

A plastic bottle. We used a water bottle, (16oz).
Baking Soda & Vinegar (Amazon links). A 12 to 1 ratio of vinegar to baking soda is a good place to start.
A balloon of any color.
A funnel to easily fill the ballon with baking soda.

Use the funnel to add baking soda inside the balloon. We also tried it the other way of filling the balloon with vinegar but the kids spilled some vinegar that way.

Fill the plastic bottle with vinegar.

Secure the lip of the balloon on the top of the plastic bottle. Make sure not to spill any of the baking soda in the bottle yet or the chemical reaction will happen before you fully secure the balloon.

My kids had a bit of trouble getting the balloon on so you’ll have to help with this step.

Tilt the baking soda inside the balloon into the bottle of vinegar!

If you’d like to check out another fun kids’ chemistry experiment, click to see our, Exploding Colors Experiment with Baking Soda & Vinegar. Also, our 6 Simple Chemistry Experiments for Kids That You Can Do at Home .

Baking Soda Rocket

This is a fun one my kids really enjoyed. You can see when the rocket took off, and it caught them off guard.

You can build a rocket from stuff you have at home already, but we decided to buy a kit with the rocket already. If you want to check out the baking soda rocket kit, we ended up getting, you can follow this link to see the current price.

The kit will come with instructions but you’re going to set your base on solid grown, away from anything you don’t want messy.

Put vinegar in the bottle. Then add the baking soda. Quickly push the cork down into the opening. Set the rocket down, and a few seconds later, the rocket will take off.

Safety Tips

Remember to use basic safety precautions when trying this experiment. At large amounts, this can be somewhat explosive (in a good way). If you have limited space, try using smaller amounts of each substance.

If you are trying for a HUGE reaction, go outside. Eye protection is highly recommended when performing this experiment, especially at high volumes.

Don’t stand directly over the container – make sure to keep your distance. Have plenty of towels and clean up supplies ready to go.

Questions and Answers About Mixing Baking Soda and Vinegar Together

What Happens When You Mix Vinegar and Baking Soda Together?

When you mix baking soda and vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs. The chemical reaction creates carbon dioxide gas, which causes the mixture to fizz.

What Affects the Rate of the Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction?

Temperature will affect the rate of the baking soda and vinegar reaction. Higher temperatures will cause a faster reaction, while colder temperatures will cause a slower reaction.

Does Baking Soda and Vinegar Get Hot?

No, baking soda and vinegar will actually get cold. This is because it is an endothermic reaction, which consumes energy.

What Is the Chemical Reaction of Vinegar and Baking Soda Called?

The chemical reaction of vinegar and baking soda is called an acid-base reaction. When an acid (vinegar) is combined with a base (baking soda), it creates something new (carbon dioxide gas).

Wrapping Up

We like that these are simple and relatively mess free science experiments you can do at home. There’s a ton of ways of mixing baking soda and vinegar together, but let us know what you and your family found to be the best way down in the comments!

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Blowing up a Balloon with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Science Preschoolers Grade School Kindergartners Balloons Experiment 11 Comments

Blowing up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar probably rates in the top 3 experiments I’ve ever done with the kids .

They got a kick out of this over and over, and over! The only thing that stopped them is that I ran out of baking soda (and we popped a few balloons).

By the way, we’ve tested out the best way to get the best reactions from baking soda and vinegar experiments. Check out the results we had!

Of course, any time you use balloons , always, always supervise the kids.

Blowing up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar - this is so much fun!!

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I’ve seen this done before, but it wasn’t until I read it in the Hands-On Science and Math book (affiliate link) and I shared 10 Hands-On Science & Math Activities that I actually did it with the kids. I don’t know why I put it off! Seriously one of the best ever experiments to do with the kids!

Find 30 oh-so-cool experiments for preschoolers!

What you’ll need to blow up a balloon:

plastic bottle
baking soda

I took care of the prep work for the most part. I put a shot or two of vinegar in each plastic bottle. We had a set up for each of the kids.

I used a funnel to add a tablespoon of baking soda in each balloon. Then tightly secured the balloon onto the top of the bottle without letting the baking soda drop in yet, keep the balloon flopped over so it doesn’t spill into the bottle.

Note: Don’t add too much of either vinegar or baking soda, it could cause the balloon to erupt.

Blowing up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar - gotta try this one.

Then the experiment is ready to go!

The kids each took over from here. They each held tight to the balloon so that it wouldn’t pop off the bottle.

And then gently shook the baking soda out of the balloon and into the bottle.

And then they watched magic happen!

They were blowing up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar!

Gotta try blowing up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar - kids will love this.

Of course, you could get into why that happens. When baking soda and vinegar mix it creates and gives off a gas (Carbon Dioxide) that blows up the balloon. Carbon dioxide is heavier than air though so it will not float in air if you release it. It is not as light as helium.

We repeated the experiment over and over again. We reused the balloons too, but eventually they ripped as I was spilling it over the neck of the bottle, which lost their seal.

The kids get a kick out of blowing up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar! It's crazy cool, easy to do and ranks in the top 3 experiments we've done.

About Jamie Reimer

Jamie learned to be a hands on mom by creating activities, crafts and art projects for her three boys to do. Jamie needed the creative outlet that activities provided to get through the early years of parenting with a smile! Follow Jamie on Pinterest and Instagram !

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11 comments.

Regina Boyd says

September 29, 2021 at 4:58 pm

Awesome science experiments I know my 3 year olds will love. Thank you.

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Capturing Parenthood

Baking Soda & Vinegar Balloon Experiment

in Activities , Toddler Zone on July 6, 2017

Did you know that you could get a balloon to magically inflate on its own, with the help of a simple chemical reaction? Yep! You’re going to want to try this simple Baking Soda & Vinegar Balloon Experiment with your kiddos!

My little nugget loves balloons! What kid doesn’t – am I right? And she is well aware that blowing up a balloon typically requires a bit of hot air from mommy or daddy. When we conducted this experiment, she was completely shocked (and a little nervous, at first) when the balloon started inflating all by itself! It didn’t take long for her surprised expression to evolve into a big, smiling grin!

Now, we’ve experimented with baking soda and vinegar before – check out our colorful Fizzing Rainbow post here: http://capturingparenthood.com/fizzing-rainbow/ . But I honestly, never thought to use the chemical reaction to inflate a balloon. That is, until I stumbled across this Balloon Science post over on Little Bins for Little Hands ( http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/balloon-baking-soda-vinegar-experiment-kids/ ).

Baking Soda & Vinegar Balloon Experiment

Empty plastic bottle (I used an Aquafina bottle)
Baking Soda
Latex Balloon

Instructions:

Stretch out the balloon a little bit. Spread the mouth of the balloon open with your fingers (or utilize a funnel, if you have one on hand) and pour a teaspoon (or two) of baking soda into the balloon.
Fill the empty plastic bottle about 1/4 to 1/2-full with vinegar.
While making sure to keep the baking soda down in the top of the balloon, attach the mouth of the balloon to the mouth of the plastic bottle.
When you’re ready, tip the balloon up vertically, so that the baking soda falls into the vinegar.
Let go of the balloon, and watch the balloon inflate, as the baking soda and vinegar combine and create a chemical reaction.

We ended up conducting this quick and easy experiment a few times in a row, because it was just too much fun!

I love watching my little nugget when we do fun science experiments together. The look of wonder and surprise that always crosses her face (along with that big, happy smile) are absolutely priceless!

What are some of your favorite ways to experiment with baking soda and vinegar?

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

This classic science experiment is always a favorite activity for kids. And it’s easy to put together too! You only need baking soda, food coloring, water and vinegar. Kids will loving making this fizzy rainbow.

RELATED: Rain Cloud in a Jar

Rainbow Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

Kids love doing this easy science experiment. Not only is it a fun activity but it’s a great learning exercise too. They also get to practice fine motor work by using a pipette or dropper.

To save steps, you can also do this experiment by using regular baking soda shaped into a rainbow. Then just add a few drops along the arches of the food coloring.

The Science

What happens when you mix vinegar and baking soda?

You see the bubbling and foaming but what is causing this reaction? The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base while the vinegar (acetic acid) is an acid and what you are seeing is an acid/base reaction. Initially, the reaction makes carbonic acid which is unstable and breaks down into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water which is what creates all of the fizzing and bubbles as the gas leaves the water.

Supplies Needed to do a Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

– Baking Soda – we like this large 5 lb bag for activities

– Food Coloring Gel (one in each color of the rainbow) – we like to use this liquid food coloring gel since it’s concentrated and makes the colors really vibrant

– Dropper

– Water

– Vinegar

Watch the Video Tutorial Here!

How to do a fizzy baking soda and vinegar experiment.

1. Start by placing 1 cup of baking soda into a bowl.

2. In a pouring cup, add 3 tablespoons of water. Mix in 1-2 drops of red food coloring into the water. If using regular food coloring, you may need to add more drops to make it more vibrant.

3. Pour the food colored water into the bowl with baking soda and mix until the baking soda is dyed.

It should still be a powdery-like texture and look like the following:

Repeat the above steps for Yellow and Orange.

For Green, Blue and Purple , mix only 1/2 cup of baking soda to 1.5 tablespoons of water (you don’t need as much of these colors to make the rainbow so you can halve the recipe above.

4. Lay out the colors onto a white tray or baking sheet. Protect your table if needed so the food coloring does not go onto your table.

5. Put vinegar in a bowl and then let kids use a dropper to drop the vinegar onto the rainbow.

Kids love seeing the reaction the baking soda and vinegar makes together!

We love how easy this science experiment is to set up. And kids love to use the droppers to make the vinegar/baking soda reaction.

The rainbow version is a lot of fun to try! We hope you enjoy this easy science experiment!

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Vinegar and Baking Soda Reaction Experiments

From creating bubbling volcanoes to exploring the properties of acids and bases, vinegar and baking soda offer fun opportunities for hands-on learning and experimentation.

So grab a bottle of vinegar and a box of baking soda, and get ready to have some fun! We’ll explore some of the many experiments and activities you can do with these two versatile ingredients. Get ready to be amazed by the science behind the fizz!

The Science and Chemistry of Vinegar and Baking Soda

The reaction between vinegar and baking soda is often used in science experiments to demonstrate chemical reactions or to create a gas that can be used to inflate a balloon or make a homemade volcano. It’s a simple and fun way to explore chemistry and learn about the properties of acids and bases., and we’ve done experiments with this chemical reaction a bunch of times.

The chemical equation for combining vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is:

This reaction produces water, carbon dioxide gas, and sodium acetate (CH3COONa). This produces carbon dioxide bubbles, as the production of carbon dioxide gas is what gives the mixture its characteristic fizzing and bubbling. The overall reaction can be written as an acid-base reaction, with the acetic acid (vinegar) acting as the acid and the baking soda acting as the base.

Activities with Vinegar and Baking Soda

Remember to have some paper towels or rags on hand! You can do what you can to try and contain the fizz and the mess, but always expect to be wiping up and prepare before you start mixing.

Make a Volcano

Apple volcano.

During our experiments with apples , we cored out an apple to use as a variation of the classic volcano. We placed the baking soda in the apple and poured the vinegar over it.

Create a fizzy reaction

Inflate a balloon.

Most people fixate on the fizz and foam created when doing this experiment. The byproduct of the vinegar solution is carbon dioxide gas, which is invisible. By sealing the reaction in a closed space, we can “see” the results as the balloon gets inflated. Check it out in our experiments with plastic bottles .

Pro tip: make sure your balloon doesn’t have a hole in it!

Vinegar and Baking Soda Rocket Fuel

If you tried the experiment to inflate a balloon, you saw how the byproduct gas expands and inflates the balloon. What if there was no where for the gas to expand? It’d create increased pressure in a confined space until it stopped expanding – or it’d build up enough pressure to expand further.

Materials needed:

The reaction between baking soda and vinegar produces carbon dioxide gas, which creates pressure inside the corked bottle. This pressure builds up until it’s strong enough to push the cork out of the opening, propelling the bottle upwards. The fins at the bottom of the bottle provide stability and keep the rocket flying straight.

Check this out and more in our post on experiments with plastic bottles.

Explore the properties of acids and bases

As you make small tweaks, note the effects of each. Remember to use the scientific method and make a hypothesis before testing it!

Invisible Ink with Vinegar and Baking Soda

Make a ball.

Science involved: When vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) are mixed together, they undergo a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide gas. This gas gets trapped in the dough-like mixture formed by adding cornstarch, causing the mixture to expand and become bouncy.

Wrap Up – Vinegar Experiment with Baking Soda

Check out our STEM challenges with household products for more quick and easy experiments for kids, and check out our kitchen science experiments!

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Easy Vinegar and Baking Soda Balloon Experiment for Kids
Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment
Easy Vinegar and Baking Soda Balloon Experiment for Kids
Easy Vinegar and Baking Soda Balloon Experiment for Kids
Vinegar Baking Soda Experiment
Science experiment with baking soda and vinegar balloon illustration

VIDEO

Old Video 😆#Balloon Experiment #baking soda +Vinegar+Balloon #shorts #SHAZFAZ WORLD
Amazing Balloon, Vinegar, Baking Soda Experiment #shorts #vedantutelugu
Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon trick #scienceexperiment
Balloon, Vinegar and Baking Soda Experiment Videos ||
Baking Soda/Vinegar Balloon Experiment in a mini Soy Sauce bottle 😱 #fail
Rainbow Baking Soda & Vinegar Experiment

COMMENTS

Self Inflating Balloon: Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment
Spoon. TIP: Before starting the experiment, you will want to stretch out the balloon to make it more loose and easier to inflate. Step 1- Pour 1-2 spoonfuls of baking soda into the opening of the balloon, using a funnel. You'll need to shake it a bit to get it down into the base of the balloon. Step 2- Use the funnel again and pour some ...
How to Blow up a Balloon With Baking Soda and Vinegar
1. Pour a little vinegar into a plastic bottle. Choose a plastic water bottle, or another bottle with a narrow neck. Pour 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of vinegar into the bottle, using a funnel if you have one. Use white vinegar, also called distilled vinegar, for the best result.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment With Free Worksheet
Baking soda and balloon experiment steps: 1. Blow up a balloon just enough to stretch it out a bit. Then, use the funnel and measuring spoon to add about a teaspoon of baking soda inside the balloon. 2. Fill the water bottle or other container about halfway with vinegar. 3.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment
Step 1. Blow up the balloon a bit to stretch it out some, and use the funnel and teaspoon to add baking soda to the balloon. We started with two teaspoons and added a teaspoon for each balloon. Step 2. Fill the container with vinegar halfway. Step 3.
Wait, Weight, Don't Tell Me!
Attach a balloon to the end of the funnel. Using the funnel, pour two level teaspoons (10 mL) of baking soda into the balloon (see photo below). (Make sure the funnel doesn't clog, and all the baking soda passes through the neck of the balloon.) Pour about 1/2 cup (120 mL) of vinegar into the bottle or flask.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment
Pour the vinegar into the bottle. Carefully fit the balloon over the bottle opening (be careful not to drop the baking soda into the vinegar yet). Once the balloon is fitted snugly on the nozzle, hold up the balloon and allow the baking soda to fall into the vinegar. Observe the chemical reaction and effect on the balloon.
Balloon Blow-up Science Experiment
Step 4 - Place two teaspoons of baking soda into the funnel so it falls into the balloon. When the balloon is filled with the baking soda, carefully remove it from the funnel. Step 5 - Next, secure the mouth of the balloon over the mouth of the bottle. Take your time doing this and don't let any of the baking soda fall out of the balloon ...
Baking Soda Balloon Chemical Reaction Science Experiment
Instructions: Use the funnel to add the 1/3 cup of baking soda into the balloon. Twist the neck of the balloon a few times to keep the baking soda from spilling out and set the balloon aside. Rinse the funnel and then use it to add the 1 cup of vinegar to the bottle. Next, carefully stretch the mouth of the balloon over the bottle opening.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloons
Instructions. Stretch the opening of the balloon over the end of the funnel. Pour about 1/3 cup of baking soda into the funnel and shake it around a bit until it all falls through the funnel and into the balloon. Rinse all the baking soda off the funnel, and then use the funnel to pour the vinegar into a water bottle.
How to Blow Up a Balloon With Vinegar and Baking Soda Experiment
Pour 2 tbsp. of vinegar and 2 tbsp. of water into the bottle. Put 2 tbsp. of baking soda into the balloon using the funnel. Stretch and secure the opening of the balloon over the neck of the bottle while being very careful not to dump the baking soda into the bottle just yet. Straighten the balloon to an upright position, allowing the baking ...
CO2 Balloon Experiment
Preparation. Pour about 4 tablespoons of vinegar into the bottle. Stretch the end of the balloon over the small end of the funnel, and put a generous scoop of sodium bicarbonate into the funnel so it falls into the balloon. Remove the funnel, and stretch the end of the balloon over the top of the bottle with vinegar in it, but make sure the ...
Blow Up a Balloon Using Just Bicarbonate of Soda and Vinegar
Pour 4 tablespoons of vinegar into the bottle. 2. Use the funnel to add 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda into the balloon. 3. Pull the neck of the balloon over the neck of the bottle without releasing any bicarbonate of soda. 4. Lift the balloon so that the bicarbonate of soda falls from the balloon into the bottle and mixes with the vinegar.
Balloon magic with baking soda and vinegar
Start by putting the funnel into the balloon. This will make it much easier to get the baking soda inside. Add baking soda. We added about 4 teaspoons to each balloon. To get your balloons a bit bigger than ours, you could add 1 or 2 teaspoons more. Next, use a funnel to pour some vinegar into your bottles.
vinegar and baking soda experiment
The vinegar and baking soda experiment is a classic science experiment that involves a reaction between vinegar (acid) and baking soda (base) to produce a fizzy ... a funnel (optional), and a balloon (optional). Let's walk through the steps of the experiment: Begin by selecting a clear plastic bottle or glass jar to serve as the container for ...
Baking Soda + Vinegar Balloon Experiment!
Are you ready to learn about chemical reactions? In this experiment, we're going to learn how to blow up a balloon using baking soda and vinegar!👉 MORE: htt...
Self inflating balloon experiment
Here are the step-by-step instructions. Remove the lid from your bottle. Place a funnel into the top of the bottle for the liquid. Pour the vinegar into the bottle first, then remove the funnel. Either place a second funnel in or use a spoon to pour the baking soda in. Quickly and carefully stretch the balloon over the top of the bottle.
Fun & Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments for Kids
Step Two. Now, you'll need to add vinegar. The more vinegar, the more explosive the reaction (unless you add TOO much). A 12 to 1 ratio of vinegar to baking soda is a good place to start. So, if you used one tablespoon of baking soda, add 12 tablespoons of white vinegar.
Mega Baking Soda to Vinegar Ratio Experiment
Our Mega Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment Results: Adding vinegar to baking soda gives you an immediate reaction. Adding baking soda to vinegar, the reaction is delayed, but then fizzes the same amount. More vinegar is better. A 12 to 1 ratio of vinegar to baking soda caused a fizzing explosion!
Blowing up a Balloon with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Blowing up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar probably rates in the top 3 experiments I've ever done with the kids. ... By the way, we've tested out the best way to get the best reactions from baking soda and vinegar experiments. Check out the results we had! Of course, any time you use balloons, always, always supervise the kids.
Baking Soda & Vinegar Balloon Experiment • Capturing Parenthood
Instructions: Stretch out the balloon a little bit. Spread the mouth of the balloon open with your fingers (or utilize a funnel, if you have one on hand) and pour a teaspoon (or two) of baking soda into the balloon. Fill the empty plastic bottle about 1/4 to 1/2-full with vinegar. While making sure to keep the baking soda down in the top of the ...
7 Baking Soda & Vinegar STEM Activities & Experiments
Allow to dry completely. Paint or decorate volcano as desired. Mix vinegar, dish soap, a few drops of water, and a few drops of red food coloring in a plastic cup. Using a funnel, add the 2 tablespoons ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda to the plastic bottle in the center of your volcano.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment
Start by placing 1 cup of baking soda into a bowl. 2. In a pouring cup, add 3 tablespoons of water. Mix in 1-2 drops of red food coloring into the water. If using regular food coloring, you may need to add more drops to make it more vibrant. 3. Pour the food colored water into the bowl with baking soda and mix until the baking soda is dyed.
Vinegar and Baking Soda Reaction Experiments
Steps: Measure out 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Add the vinegar to a bowl. Slowly add the baking soda to the bowl while stirring continuously. This will create a foaming reaction. Continue stirring until the mixture stops foaming and becomes a paste.

Self Inflating Balloon: Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment

How to Do the Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment:

The Science Behind It: Why the Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction Works?

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment (Plus Free Worksheet)

How does the baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment work?

What does this experiment teach?

Is there a baking soda and vinegar balloon video?

Materials Needed

Baking soda and balloon experiment steps:

2. Fill the water bottle or other container about halfway with vinegar.

3. Attach your filled balloon to the container with the vinegar. Make sure the seal is tight!

4. Once you’re all set up, hold the balloon up so the baking soda gets released into the vinegar.

5. Finally, watch the balloon blow up!

Grab our baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment worksheet!

Additional Reflection Questions

Can this experiment be done for a science fair?

Looking for more experiment ideas? Check out our big list of science experiments.

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment

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Baking Soda Balloon Chemical Reaction Science Experiment

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