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Monster Mash

In the Monster Mash Lab, students will build their own colorful monster and then make it bubble, foam, and “melt” using vinegar. The experiment introduces acid-base chemistry as baking soda and vinegar react to produce carbon dioxide gas.

Elementary

density, immiscibility, co₂ gas

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Project Details

Theme

October | Chemistry

Messy Level

3

Suggested Location

Lab

Prep & Classroom Structure

Prep:

  • Prepackage/pre-measure materials

  • Group children into groups of 4


Class flow:

  • Share video to class

  • Summarize and introduce project:

  • Share concept of chemical reaction:

  • Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid. When they mix, they create a chemical reaction that releases carbon dioxide gas, and the dish soap traps that gas in bubbles, making the pumpkin foam and fizz.


Example of project:


Materials

  • Baking soda

  • Salt

  • Hand wash

  • Water

  • food coloring

  • facial expression accessories like eye balls, horns, mouths and noses

  • Vinegar

  • Pipette or syringe

  • Apron & goggles

Project Instructions

  • Add baking soda to a bowl.

  • Mix in a small amount of water until the mixture begins to form a thick, moldable paste.

  • Add a small squirt of dish soap and a few drops of food coloring.

  • Stir until the mixture is evenly colored and thick enough to shape.

  • Form the mixture into a monster shape.

  • Decorate your monster with a face.

  • Fill a syringe or dropper with vinegar.

  • Slowly inject or drip the vinegar onto the monster.

  • Watch as the monster begins to fizz, foam, and “melt.”

  • Add more vinegar to keep the reaction going and observe how the monster changes.


Class Video

Share with teacher:



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