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