Fizzy Painting
Materials: ★☆☆ Easy to get from supermarket or hardware store
Difficulty: ★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
Safety: ★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required
Categories: Kitchen Chemistry, Materials
Alternative titles: Baking Soda Fizzy Paint, Fizzy Art with Vinegar and Baking Soda
Summary
Baking soda is mixed with liquid colors to create a paint that fizzes and bubbles when vinegar is added. The reaction produces colorful, moving patterns that combine art with an introduction to chemical reactions.
Procedure
- Place cardstock or watercolor paper on a tray or baking sheet.
- In small cups, mix baking soda with a few drops of liquid watercolors or food coloring.
- Add a small amount of water and stir to make a thick, paintable paste.
- Use paint brushes to paint designs and shapes onto the paper.
- Encourage mixing of colors and different brush strokes.
- Fill pipettes with vinegar.
- Drip vinegar onto the painted areas and observe the bubbling and color movement.
Links
Baking Soda Painting with Robin - Marbles Kids Museum:
Fizzy Painting Process Art - ScholarsChoice:
📄 Fizzy Art – Baking Soda Paint - Typically Simple: https://typicallysimple.com/fizzy-art-baking-soda-paint/
📄 Vinegar Baking Soda ~ Paint Experiment - Housing a Forest: http://www.housingaforest.com/vinegar-baking-soda-paint-experiment/
Variations
- Try thicker or thinner baking soda mixtures to compare bubbling effects.
- Create themed artwork such as rainbows, fireworks, or abstract designs.
- Scale up to a larger sheet of paper for group demonstrations.
Safety Precautions
- Safety glasses recommended to protect eyes from splashes.
- Use trays to contain spills and reduce mess.
- Avoid contact with eyes and mouth.
- Wash hands after the activity.
- Adult supervision required for young children.
Questions to Consider
- What causes the bubbling when vinegar is added? (An acid-base reaction produces carbon dioxide gas.)
- Why do the colors spread and mix during the reaction? (Gas bubbles push the liquid pigments outward.)
- How does changing the amount of vinegar affect the reaction? (More vinegar produces more bubbles until the baking soda is used up.)
- Is this a physical change or a chemical change? (Chemical change, because new substances are formed.)
