demonstrations:fizzy_painting

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

  1. Place cardstock or watercolor paper on a tray or baking sheet.
  2. In small cups, mix baking soda with a few drops of liquid watercolors or food coloring.
  3. Add a small amount of water and stir to make a thick, paintable paste.
  4. Use paint brushes to paint designs and shapes onto the paper.
  5. Encourage mixing of colors and different brush strokes.
  6. Fill pipettes with vinegar.
  7. Drip vinegar onto the painted areas and observe the bubbling and color movement.

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.)