The Erupting Volcano

The Erupting Volcano

Aim: to see which vinegar and baking soda method makes the best volcanic eruption.

Hypothesis: I think the second trial with the warm water will be the most effective.

Method: see each trials directions.

In pairs, you need to build a volcano from paper mache. It must have a measuring stick inserted directly up from the crater opening and a bottle in the volcano's mouth.

• Newspaper
• Base
• Bottle
• Ruler/stick
• Paste

Equipment: 

• Measuring flask
• Medium Beaker
• Stirring rod

Vinegar in the bottle first

For erupting volcano projects using this technique, a liquid mixture is put in the bottle first. Baking soda is added through a funnel, or wrapped in tissue paper and forced in the bottle opening. Hot water is used in some, not in others, and most all use a colouring material of some type to make our simulated lava look more realistic. Here are some of the recipes we tried.

Trial 1

Ingredients:

1. 50ml vinegar 
2. 2 tablespoons baking soda
3. 5 drops of food colouring

• Place the vinegar in the bottle. This can be done before the bottle is put inside the model volcano in case you want to prepare ahead of time, otherwise, a small funnel works just fine. 
• Stir the baking soda and enough jelly chrystals mix to make a pinkish powder. 
• Use a funnel to add it directly into the bottle. The goal is to get the baking soda into the vinegar as fast as you can. Stand back and watch what happens – Erupting Volcano!

Trial 2

1. 200ml warm water
2. 50ml vinegar 
3. 2 tablespoons baking soda
4. 5 drops of food colouring

• Fill the bottle about 2/3 full with very warm water. 
• Add vinegar to the bottle. 
• Mix the baking soda and Jelly together to make the mixture a light pink. When ready for the erupting volcano, add the powder to the vinegar all at once using the funnel. The reaction can be quite fast, so add the soda mix quickly and stand back so everyone can see.

Trial 3

1. 200ml warm water
2. 50ml vinegar 
3. 6 – 8 drops liquid dish soap
4. 2 tablespoons baking soda
5. 5 drops of food colouring

• Add the vinegar and dish soap to the water 
• Mix the baking soda and jelly together until the mixture is pinkish in colour. 
• To initiate the erupting volcano project, add the soda mixture to the vinegar all at once using the funnel. Stand back so everyone can see the erupting volcano.

Let's try it this time with Baking Soda in the bottle first not vinegar......

but there's more...

Salt!

No time to get Mentos? Try this instead …

Trial 7

12 oz. bottle of any diet soda
2 tablespoons salt

Results:

	Height (mm)	Bubbles 1-5	Realistic 1-10
Vinger	5mm	4	1
Trial 2	10mm	3	2
Trial 3	5mm	5	4
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7