Fireworks in a Jar
FIREWORKS SUPPLIES A see through glass/plastic jar Baking soda Vinegar Cooking oil Food colouring (we used red for Canada Day “fireworks”, but you could use red and blue, or whatever colour you like) Water An ice cube tray
FIREWORKS PREP 1. Several hours before the activity, measure about 1 tsp of baking soda into 3 or 4 ice cube compartments on your tray. 2. Fill the remaining space with water and add 4 or 5 drops of food colouring (whatever colour you want) to each. Mix until most of the baking soda is dissolved. Freeze! 3. Pour white vinegar into the see through jar to a depth of approximately 1 inch. Now slowly add cooking oil to a depth of 2 inches.
Activities
CREATING THE FIREWORKS
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To start the reaction, have your child place the ice cubes, one at a time into the jar. As the ice cube drops down through the cooking oil, nothing happens until it hits the vinegar. Then all of a sudden, you get cool spherical coloured bubbles of carbon dioxide (created when the baking soda and vinegar react) rising up through the oil!
