demonstrations:dry_ice_bubbles

Dry Ice Bubbles

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 Boo Bubbles

Summary

A homemade dry ice bubble generator creates fog-filled bubbles that can be bounced on fabric or gloved hands without popping. The bubbles release a burst of fog when they finally break.

Procedure

  1. Fill a plastic container halfway with warm water.
  2. Attach a rubber tube to the side near the top of the jar so fog can escape through it.
  3. Drop several pieces of dry ice into the jar and loosely cover the top with a lid to direct fog through the tubing.
  4. Mix dish soap with a small amount of water in a container to make bubble solution.
  5. Dip the free end of the tubing (or funnel attachment) into the bubble solution to coat it.
  6. Cover the jar with the lid while lifting the tubing out of the solution to form a fog-filled bubble.
  7. Gently release the bubble and watch it fall, bounce, or burst with a puff of fog.

The Sci Guys: Science at Home:


Dry Ice Boo Bubbles - Sick Science!:


📄 Playful Science: Dry Ice Bubbles - Not Just Cute: https://notjustcute.com/2014/01/30/playful-science-smoky-dry-ice-bubbles/

Variations

  • Bounce bubbles on different fabrics to see which work best (towels, knit gloves, shirts).
  • Make giant Boo Bubbles using a larger bottle and hose dipped into bubble solution spread across a table.
  • Play “volleyball” with bubbles by bouncing them between two people wearing gloves.

Safety Precautions

  • Always use adult supervision when handling dry ice.
  • Wear heavy gloves when touching dry ice to avoid severe burns.
  • Wear safety goggles to protect against shards when breaking dry ice.
  • Never seal dry ice in an airtight container - it can explode from gas buildup.
  • Perform in a well ventilated area.
  • Never put dry ice in your mouth or store it in a freezer.
  • Keep dry ice in a ventilated container such as a Styrofoam cooler with a loose lid.

Questions to Consider

  • Why are fog-filled bubbles heavier than regular bubbles?
  • Why do the bubbles bounce on some fabrics but not others?
  • How does sublimation make dry ice turn directly into gas instead of liquid?