demonstrations:big_dry_ice_bubble

Big Dry Ice Bubble

Materials: ★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty: ★★☆ Can be done by science teachers
Safety: ★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely

Categories: Dry Ice

Alternative titles: Dry Ice Bubble

Summary

A bowl of water with dry ice is sealed with a soapy film that stretches into a giant bubble. As fog from the dry ice fills the bubble, it grows larger until it bursts.

Procedure

  1. Place a piece of dry ice into a large bowl and pour in some water.
  2. Mix dish soap with water to create a bubble solution.
  3. Soak a strip of cloth in the soapy solution.
  4. Wipe the soapy cloth around the rim of the bowl.
  5. Drag the cloth across the top of the bowl to create a soap film sealing the opening.
  6. Step back and watch the bubble inflate with fog until it pops.

Dry Ice Bubble - mr_JDog75:


📄 Science Kids: https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/dryicebubble.html

Variations

  • Try using a smaller cup or a much larger bowl to change bubble size.
  • Add food coloring to the bubble solution for a visual effect.
  • Use different soap-to-water ratios to see how it affects bubble growth.

Safety Precautions

  • Only adults should handle dry ice.
  • Always wear heat resistant gloves when touching dry ice to avoid skin burns.
  • Work in a well-ventilated space to prevent carbon dioxide buildup.
  • Students must not remove dry ice from the demonstration area.

Questions to Consider

  • Why does dry ice skip the liquid phase and turn directly into gas?
  • How does the soap film hold the gas inside the bubble?
  • How does temperature affect the speed at which dry ice sublimates?