What happens when citric acid and baking soda meet water?

Whats more dense; oil

or water? How can you make millions of bubbles without blowing, stirring, or shaking
something? These fun and easy labs are sure to get your students interested in
density, chemical reactions, and making predictions & observations.

Materials You Will Need:
Clear plastic cups (to hold mixtures)
*the soap mixture overflows A LOT. Make sure this is mixed on a plate to catch the
overflowing bubble mixture.
Straws (to blow bubbles with and to stir)
A teaspoon
Water
Liquid Soap
Citric Acid (a powder available at grocery stores in the spice aisle)
Baking Soda
Vegetable Oil
Food coloring (optional)
Magnifying Glass (optional)
Various liquids to test acidity (water, vinegar, OJ, lemon juice, soda, fruit punch)
Paper plates (to catch any overflow from the mixtures. Use every time.)

Students will learn quickly that when a chemical reaction occurs in a liquid, fizz and
bubbles are not far behind! This is because carbon dioxide is being released. Because
they are released in a liquid, we see them as bubbles until they reach the surface and
pop. When baking soda, which is a base, is mixed with citric acid, which is an acid, the
gas is released.

Name:_______________________________________________ Date:___________________________

Baking soda and citric acid are not very exciting when they are mixed together by themselves, but
what happens when water joins the party? A chemical reaction! Seeing is believing, so give it a try!
Fill your cup about half way with water.
Mix in a teaspoon of citric acid until it dissolves. When something dis-
solves, you cant see it anymore.
Scoop a teaspoon of baking soda into the water.
Write down your observations.
1. Where are the bubbles coming from?

2. What do you think is inside of the bubbles?

3. What other fizzy liquids do you know of? What do you think
makes them fizz?
(before the experiment) (after the experiment)
Name:_______________________________________________ Date:___________________________

Baking soda fizzes when it is mixed with something else that has acid in it. Acid is a chemical substance,
it is often a corrosive or sour"tasting liquid. Corrosive substances will damage other substances that
they touch. Test out some liquids and see if they are acidic, or have acid in them. If a liquid is mixed
with baking soda and it fizzes a lot it is a very strong acid. If a liquid is mixed with baking soda and it
does not fizz at all, it is not an acid.
Liquid to Mix with Baking Soda
Really Acidic
A lot of fizz!
A Little Acidic
A little bit of fizz.
Not Acidic
No fizz at all.





1. Which liquid do you think is the most acidic? Why?

2. Which liquid do you think is not acidic? Why?
Name:_______________________________________________ Date:___________________________

Add a few food coloring drops to the oil and water mixture. Stir in 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda
and mix the solution together. Scoop in 1/2 a teaspoon of citric acid and watch what happens.
Fill a cup half way with
vegetable oil.
Pour in a little bit of warm
water.
Observe what happens.
Are the water and oil mixing or separating?
Which one floats on top?
Which one is more dense?
Which one is less dense?
As we have learned, when baking soda comes into contact with an acidic solution, it will fizz up because
a chemical reaction is happening and carbon dioxide is being released. Its the same carbon dioxide
that humans breathe out when they exhale.
When something is dense, it means the stuff it is made out of is tightly packed together. If something
is less dense, the tiny particles are less packed together. That means the particles would be free to
float on top of the things that are more dense.
Use what you have learned about chemical
reactions to explain what happened.
Name:_______________________________________________ Date:___________________________
What is the difference between bubbles blown in plain water than bubbles blown in soapy water.
Can you think of a way to make bubbles without blowing or stirring things together? Lets find out!
Plain Water Soapy Water
Fill your cup half way with water.
Put a straw in the water and blow gently.
Fill your cup half way with water.
Add in a few drops of soap. Stir slowly.
Put a straw in the water and blow gently.
What did you observe?
What did you observe?
Use the soapy water solution and add food coloring drops to the solution if you would
like. In a different cup mix together a teaspoon of citric acid and a teaspoon of bak-
ing soda. What do you predict will happen if you add the baking soda and citric acid
mixture to the soapy water mixture?
(before the experiment) (after the experiment)
1. Which makes more bubbles, blowing or mixing in the powder?

2. Which made bigger bubbles?