Blowing Up a Balloon with Baking Soda and Vinegar

When baking soda inside a balloon is released into vinegar in a bottle, an acid-base reaction produces carbon dioxide gas. The gas expands and inflates the balloon without using air from your lungs.

1. Use a funnel to add baking soda into a balloon.
2. Partly fill a plastic water or soda bottle with vinegar.
3. Stretch the balloon opening over the bottle’s mouth, keeping the baking soda inside the balloon.
4. Lift the balloon upright so the baking soda falls into the vinegar.
5. Observe the fizzing reaction and watch as the balloon inflates with carbon dioxide gas.

Baking Soda + Vinegar Balloon Experiment! - Education.com:

📄 Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloons - One Little Project: https://onelittleproject.com/baking-soda-and-vinegar-balloons/

• Adjust the amounts of vinegar and baking soda to test how gas production changes.
• Add food coloring to the vinegar for a colorful reaction.
• Compare balloons filled with carbon dioxide to those filled with air - drop them and see which falls faster.

• Perform the experiment over a sink or tray to catch spills and foam.
• Do not overfill with baking soda and vinegar, as the balloon may pop.
• Avoid touching your eyes after handling vinegar or baking soda. Wash hands afterward.
• Use supervision with younger children handling balloons and liquids.

• What type of chemical reaction occurs between vinegar and baking soda?
• What gas is produced, and how do you know?
• Why does the balloon inflate without anyone blowing into it?
• Why does a carbon dioxide–filled balloon fall faster than an air-filled balloon?
• How could you design an experiment to measure the exact amount of gas produced?