Build a fun

ke
rocket and ma
fizzy bombs!

Brain
Brain Activator
Activator

Science

WARNING

Not suitable for children under 8 years. For use under adult supervision.
Contains small parts that could be ingested and also sharp edges. Handle with
care. Contains some chemicals which present a hazard to health. Read the
instructions before use, follow them and keep them for reference. Do not
allow chemicals to come into contact with any part of the body, particularly
the mouth and eyes. Keep small children and animals away from experiments.
Keep the experimental set out of reach of children under 8 years old. Eye
protection for supervising adults is not included. Images
are for illustrative purposes only, some parts or colours may
differ. Keep this information for future reference.

Dear parents and guardians

Through play, children develop different cognitive skills. Scientific studies show that
when we are having fun or making discoveries during an experiment, a neurotransmitter
called Dopamine is released.
Dopamine is known to be responsible for feelings like motivation, reward and learning
and that's why experiences are related to positive feelings. So, if learning is a positive
experience, it will stimulate the brain to develop various skills.
Therefore, Science4you aims to develop educational toys that combine fun with
education by fostering curiosity and experimentation.
Find out below which skills can be developed with the help of this educational toy!

Reasoning

ry
la
bu
ca
Vo

Co
nc
en
tra
t io
n

Creativity

Learning

The educational feature is one of the key strengths of our toys. We aim to provide toys
which enable children's development of physical, emotional and social skills.
Find out more about the Brain Activator in Science4you toys at:

www.science4youtoys.co.uk/brain-activator

1st edition, Science4you Ltd.

London, United Kingdom
Author: Ins Martins
Co-author: Flvia Leito
Scientific review: Ana Garcia and Flvia Leito
Revision: Flvia Leito
Project managment: Ana Garcia
Product development: Ins Martins
Design managment: Daniela Silva
Design: Marcos Rebelo
Illustrations: Marcos Rebelo

e 8
4, 7 s
ano

Este manual foi elaborado de acordo

com as metas curriculares das disciplinas de Estudo do Meio, Cincias Naturais e Cincias Fsico-Qumicas dos seguintes anos escolares:
- 1 Ciclo: 4ano;
- 2 Ciclo: 7ano;
- 3 Ciclo: 8ano.

Index
SAFETY RULES
GENERAL FIRST AID INFORMATION
LIST OF CHEMICALS SUPPLIED
DISPOSAL OF USED CHEMICALS
ADVICE FOR SUPERVISING ADULTS
KIT CONTENTS
1. Explosive science
2. The chemistry of the explosions

2.1. Chemical reactions

a) Chemical transformations by the action of heat
b) Chemical transformations by the action of light
c) Chemical transformations by the action of electric current
d) Chemical transformations by mechanical actions
e) Chemical transformations by combination of substances
2.2. Velocity of chemical reactions
2.3. Combustion and explosions

3. Explosive experiments

Experiment 1. The dance of colours

Experiment 2. Chromatography I
Experiment 3. Chromatography II
Experiment 4. Comets of M&Ms
Experiment 5. Fizzy bombs
Experiment 6. Lemon foam
Experiment 7. Magic potion
Experiment 8. Inflate a balloon without blowing
Experiment 9. Explosive bag
Experiment 10. Foam with white egg
Experiment 11. Coloured foams
Experiment 12. Mini bomb of water
Experiment 13. The sound of thunder
Experiment 14. Lava lamp
Experiment 15. The pharaohs snakes
Experiment 16. Explosive geyser
Experiment 17. Firework
Experiment 18. Birthday cake sparklers
Experiment 19. Flour and flame
Experiment 20. Mini-rocket
Experiment 21. Rocket balloon
Experiment 22. Rocket
Experiment 23. Balloon that doesnt pop
Experiment 24. Fireproof balloon
Experiment 25. Pierce a bag of water with a pencil

Kaboom

4
4
5
5
5
6
7
7
7
8
9
9
9
10
10
11
16
17
18
18
19
19
20
21
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
27
28
29
30
31
31
32
33
34
34
35

SAFETY RULES
- Read these instructions before use, follow them and keep them for reference.
- Keep young children, animals and those not wearing eye protection away from experimental
area.
- Always wear eye protection.
- Store this experimental set out of reach of children under 8 years of age.
- Clean all equipment after use.
- Make sure that all containers are fully closed and properly stored after use.
- Ensure that all empty containers and/or non-reclosable packaging are disposed of properly.
- Wash hands after carrying out experiments.
- Do not use any equipment which has not been supplied with the set or recommended in the
instructions for use.
- Do not eat or drink in the experimental area.
- Do not allow chemicals to come into contact with the eyes or mouth.
- Do not replace foodstuffs in original container. Dispose of immediately.
- Throw away any food used during the experiments.
- The dyes included in this kit can stain. Keep away from clothes and delicate fabrics.

GENERAL FIRST AID INFORMATION

- In case of eye contact: Wash out eye with plenty of water, holding eye open if necessary.
Seek immediate medical advice.
- If swallowed: Wash out mouth with water, drink some fresh water. Do not induce vomiting.
Seek immediate medical advice.
- In case of inhalation: Remove person to fresh air.
- In case of skin contact and burns: Wash affected area with plenty of water for at least 10
minutes.
- In case of doubt, seek medical advice without delay. Take the chemical and its container with
you.
- In case of injury always seek medical advice.
Write the telephone number of the local poison centre or hospital in the space below.
They may be able to provide information on countermeasures in case of poisoning.

In case of emergency dial

USA 911 | UK 999 |
Australia 000 | Europe 112
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of Science4you Ltd., or as expressly permitted
by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Any unauthorised use of this book, or any violation of this
books rights, allows Science4you Ltd., to be fairly compensated in legal terms, and not excluding criminal liability for those who are responsible
for such violations.

LIST OF CHEMICALS SUPPLIED

Chemical substance

Chemical formula

CAS number

Citric acid

C6H8O7

77-92-9
Warning

Hazard Statement:
H319: Causes serious eye irritation.
Precautionary Statement- Prevention:
P264: Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
Precautionary Statement- Response:
P305 + P351 + P338: IF IN EYES: rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if
present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
P337+P313: If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.

Irow powder

Fe

7439-89-6
Warning

Hazard Statement:
H228: Flammable solid.
Precautionary Statement- Prevention:
P210: Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. No smoking.

Salt
(Sodium chloride)

NaCl

7647-14-5

Sodium bicarbonate

NaHCO3

144-55-8

DISPOSAL OF USED CHEMICALS

When you need to dispose of chemical substances, it is necessary to make

reference to national and/or local regulations. In any case you sure never throw
chemicals into sewers and garbage. For more details please refer to a competent
authority. For disposal of packaging make use of the specif collections points.

ADVICE FOR SUPERVISING ADULTS

- Read and follow these instructions, the safety rules and the first aid information, and keep them for reference.
- The incorrect use of chemicals can cause injury and damage to health. Only carry out those experiments
which are listed in the instructions.
- This experimental set is for use only by children over 8 years.
- Because childrens abilities vary so much, even within age groups, supervising adults should exercise
discretion as to which experiments are suitable and safe for them. The instructions should enable supervisors
to assess any experiment to establish its suitability for a particular child.
- The supervising adult should discuss the warnings and safety information with the child or children before
commencing the experiments.
- The area surrounding the experiment should be kept clear of any obstructions and away from the storage
of food. It should be well lit and ventilated and close to a water supply. A solid table with a heat resistant top
should be provided.

KIT CONTENTS

4
5

9
7

10

11

20
16

Description:
1. Protective goggles
2. Sodium bicarbonate
3. Salt
4. Citric acid
5. Large measuring cups
6. Kaboom paper sheet
7. Funnel
8. Round plastic container
9. Small measuring cups with lids
10. Coloured paper sheets
11. Decorative sticker for the rocket
12. Rectangular plastic container
13. Round filter papers
14. Balloons
15. Plastic spatulas
16. Pasteur pipettes
17. Wooden spatulas
18. Plastic bags with zip-lock
19. Plastic test tubes
20. Iron powder
21. Red food colouring
22. Green food colouring
23. Candle
24. Protective gloves

21 22

18
17

13

12

15

14

23

24

19

Quantity:
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
2
8
1
3
3
4
1
1
1
1
1
1

1. Explosive science

DID YOU KNOW...

That science can also be explosive?

Curiosities

Hello Scientist!
Do you want to know
more about the biggest
explosions in history?

Become a real scientist and discover

the curiosities we have for you in the
following link:

www.science4youtoys.co.uk/
explosive-science
2. The chemistry of the explosions
Chemistry is the main science under an explosion!

Do you know what an explosion is? And how

can it occur?
An explosion is the result of a rapid and
non controled release of energy!

Scientist, look at the

symbol below: its
used to indicate places
where exists danger of
explosion!

DID YOU KNOW...

That an explosion can occur due to an
exothermic chemical reaction?
An exothermic reaction is a
chemical reaction that releases
energy by light or heat.
But how can these chemical reactions
(transformations) occur?
2.1. Chemical reactions
Everyday we are surrounded by lots of chemical
transformations or reactions. In every chemical
reaction there are the reagents (the initial
substances that react) and the products (the
new substances that forms while the reaction
is happening). The products have different
characteristics of those of the reagents.
Chemical reactions can be resumed in a word
scheme like this:

Image 1. This symbol indicates that a substance is in

explosion hazard if it gets closer to a flame, sparkle, static
electricity, heat or if it suffers some kind of friction. It also
indicates the hazard of projection of fragments.

Reagents

Products

But how can we know that

some reaction happened or
its still happening?
Our senses can help us detecting if something
happened or its happening. How? When we
notice, for example:
A colour exchange;
A gas release;
The appearing of a solid;
A special smell;
The formation of a flame;
Temperature changes.
This kind of transformations may occur
by the action of heat, light, eletric current,
mechanical action or by the combination of
substances.
a) Chemical transformations by the action
of heat
This type of transformations occurs, for
example, when the bread bakes. During this
process, some chemical reactions have place!
When bread bakes, the heat is
responsible to transform the
substances. In the oven, bread
gets full of little holes because of the
carbon dioxide that is release when the
baking powder reacts, due
to the action of the
heat.

In Nature, some geological transformations

are also examples of this type of chemical
reactions, e. g. the volcanic eruptions.

Image 2. There are several kinds of volcanic eruptions.

A
volcanic
eruption
is
characterized by the emission
of volcanic materials, during
a volcano activity. These materials can
be liquids (lava), solids (tephra) and/or
gaseous (steam, carbon dioxide, among
others). A volcano is a rupture on the Earth
crust that allows the contact between the
interior and the surface of our planet.
Volcanic eruptions can be from several
types, like effusive or explosive.

DID YOU KNOW...

It was in Mount Tambora, on the island
of Sambowa in Indonesia, that occured
one of the most powerful explosions
ever seen by the humanity?
In 1815, this volcano erupted and the
explosion was heard on Sumatra that
stays at more than 2,600 kilometres (km)
(1.600 mi) away! The ashes that was released, blocked suns entry and so 1816
was the second coldest year ever!

Image 3. Mount Tambora.

Secondary volcanism can also be seen as real

explosions and are examples of chemical
reactions due to heat.
A geyser is an example of secondary
volcanism. Geysers are characterized by
intermittent discharges of water that are
violently ejected and accompanied by steam.
These water jets can reach hundreds of
meteres high.

CO2
Energy

O2

H2O

Image 5. Photosynthesis occurs because of the presence

of light. Legend: CO2 - Carbon dioxide; O2 - Oxygen.

c) Chemical transformations by the action of

electric current

Image 4. Geyser.

Geysers can occur before a volcanic eruption or as a residual

phenomena after the eruption. Geysers can stay active over several
years or decades.

DID YOU KNOW...

There is a place in United States of America
where are more than 10.000 geysers?
It is the Yellowstone National Park.
Fumaroles and thermal springs are
also considered manifestations of
secondary volcanism.
b) Chemical transformations by the action of light
Photosynthesis is an example of this kind
of transformation. This is a process used by
plants (and other organisms) to convert light
energy into chemical energy.

This kind of transformarions occurs, in car

industry e.g. In this type of industry, chemical
transformations by electric current have place.
One example is the chrome plating (technique
of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto
a metal or plastic object). This turns cars more
resistant to corrosion.

Image 6. Car pieces chrome plating.

d) Chemical transformations by mechanical action

These are chemical transformations that
happens, for example, when we light a match
(pressing it on a sandpaper) or when dynamite
explodes! The energy released when there is
some friction or collision can be enough to
start a chemical reaction.
DID YOU KNOW...
That in a violent car crash, the airbags
are activated by mechanical action?
When the vehicle suffers a violent
colision, a chemical transformation
takes place, with a gas release (nitrogen)
that inflates the airbag.

In chemical industry, reactions should be the

fastest possible, so the processes may be the
most economic possible. On the other hand,
in food industry, reactions should be slow because its important to delay food decay.
Image 7. Airbag.

e) Chemical transformations by combation of

substances

So, it is very important to control the

velocity of a chemical reaction.

This kind of transformations takes place, for

example, when vinegar and baking soda (or
other bile salts) are mixed.

But what can influence

the velocity of these
reactions?
Image 8. Chemical transformations by combination of
substances.

DID YOU KNOW...

In science laboratories
this kind of chemical
reactions are quite
common?
2.2. Velocity of chemical reactions
The violence of an explosion depends
on the velocity that the energy is
released with. A tyre, e.g., can explode
if the velocity of the energy released
is very high as opposed to when the
velocity is lower and there is a slow loss
of air.
In our daily life there are some reactions that
should be very quick, but there are others
that need to be very slow!

10

The velocity of a chemical reaction can be

evaluated by the quantity of product that is
formed in a certain time and the opposite as
well. It can also be evaluated by the time that
the reagent takes to be consumed.
DID YOU KNOW...
That the same chemical reaction,
in different conditions, can occur at
different velocities?
There are several factores that can affect
the velocity of a chemical reaction, e.g., the
reagents concentration, the contact surface
area to react that is available, the temperature,
the pressure and the presence of catalysts.
Calalysts are substances that
increases the rate of a chemical
reaction!

2.2. Combustion and explosions

The velocity of a
chemical reaction is
also responsible for
the violence of an
explosion!

Explosions can occur in open or closed spaces

like buildings, gas tanques, among others.
Mechanics, the science that
studies forces and their actions,
is also related to explosions! The
increase of the thermic energy pressure
(increase of the particles movement
[atoms, molecules or ions]), the increase
of the tension in metals (aplied forces) or
the increase of electric energy can also
create an explosion.

DID YOU KNOW...

That an explosion can be a way of
combustion with the formation of a
flame and a rumble?

Image 9. Explosion.

Combustion reactions occur between an

oxidizing and a fuel.
Fuel is the material that burns (e.g. coal,
wood, oil, petrol, gas, ethanol, among others).
Fuels can be solids (wood,
paraffin...), liquids (alchool,
petrol...) or gaseous (natural
gas, hydrogen...).
Oxidizing is the substance that reacts with
the fuel, generally oxygen!
DID YOU KNOW...
That without oxygen there is no flame?

The flame you can see on the stove is the

result of a combustion reaction between
fuel (propane gas, butane gas or natural
gas) and the oxidizing (oxygen).
As you already read,
this reaction can
only take place if this
two components are
present.
In this way we can say that a combustion
reaction can only take place if there is
the simultaneous presence of the fuel, of
the oxidizing and of a heat source - the
combustion initiator! A heat source can be,
for example, when you scrape a match in the
sandpaper. We can also call this an activation
energy!

What is a
combustion
reaction?

11

DID YOU KNOW...

That the colour of a flame indicates its
intensity?
A stove flame is blue and a candle flame is
yellow. A blue colour means that the flame
is more intense than the yellow one.

Image 10. Chemical reaction of lightning a match by

mechanical action.

These three elements make the fire triangle

or combustion triangle.
Fuel

Image 13. The flame of a candle is different of the flame

of a stove.

Rockets also works by combustion

reactions!
Oxygen

Heat

Image 11. The fire triangle.

In the absence of one of these elements,

the chemical reaction dont have place
or stops occurring.

Rockets carry satellites and people into space.

A rocket burns fuel to produce a jet of gas,
and so it needs to transport not only the fuel
but also the oxidizing (because in space there
isnt oxygen). When one of this elements runs
out, the rocket falls down to Earth.

Fuel + Oxygen + Heat

Reagents

Ka boom

Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

Products
Image 12. Combustion reaction.

12

Image 14. Rockets.

DID YOU KNOW...

That the operating of a rocket is an excellent demonstration of Newtons Third
Law?
This is a very important law that says
that every action has a reaction that is
equal but opposite of itself.
Everytime you push a wall,
it pushes you back.

You push
the wall.

The wall
pushes you
back.

Fuel and oxygen are mixed

in the combustion chamber
and the explosion occurs in
this chamber. Because of the explosion,
pressure is made against the walls of
the chamber, except in the lower part.
However, the reaction to the pressure that
is caused by the gas in the explosion is
enough to provide the movement of the
rockets.

DID YOU KNOW...

That combustions can be spontaneous,
rapid or explosive?

An explosion is a combustion that occurs

suddenly when a material is heated,
liberating a large amount of gas and
producing, light and sound!

Humans still not knowing how

to dominate florestal fires,
this is why these are such a
challenge! Chemistry development is
helping to understand how to better
control a florestal fire.
To extinguish a fire we always need to
eliminate one of the elements of the fire
triangle.

Why can we extinguish a fire

with water?

Water is capable of reduce the fuel temperature and so the combustion may stop.
DID YOU KNOW...
That water is not capable of extinguish
all kinds of fire?
Water, however, is not always capable of extinguish a fire. For instance, we should never pour
water in a fire that started in cooking oil. In this
case water will just feed the fire! Do you know
why? Water is denser than oil and so tends to
stay under the oil, where the temperature is
higher. For this reason water automatically is
transformed in steam. As the explosion of the
steam happens, this force will expand the oil,
that will be projected from the cooking pan
and also expand the fire.

13

Fires can be extinguished using

a fire extinguisher or some
fuel, promoting the absence of
oxygen.

To protect metals from corrosion, these can

be painted, varnished or coated with other
metals or other protective materials that are
not easy attacked by humid air.
DID YOU KNOW...
That old buildings made of copper tends
to gain a green layer, that is known as
verdigris?

DID YOU KNOW...

That exists some combustions where
there are no flame production?
This is what happens in metalic oxidations
or in aerobic cellular respiration.

Aluminium, zinc and copper slowly reacts

with atmospheric oxygen and this leads to
the formation of a thin layer of oxide in their
surface that protects these metals from the
air. This oxide layer interrupts the progressive
corrosion of the internal part of the material.

In combustion reactions one of the reagents

is oxygen. In reactions like the iron oxidation,
however, there is no flame.
Iron oxidation:
Reagents: iron, oxygen and water;
Products: hydrated iron oxide (rust).

Image 16. Oxidazed coin with verdigris.

DID YOU KNOW...

That in human body also occurs
combustion reactions?
Image 15. When iron is exposed to air, suffers corrosion
and gets rusted.

Iron rust leads to corrosion because

the iron oxide that is formed does not
protect the metal against the oxygen
from the air.

14

In our cells happens one of the most important

combustion reactions - celullar respiration!
Cellular respiration is a no flame combustion
where oxigen and glucose (the sugar present
in food) reacts to release the energy we need
to survive!

Glucose + Oxygen

In fact, combustion is a chemical redox

reaction (reduction-oxidation) with a
big release of energy!

Kaboom

At the kitchen....
Explosive recipes!

Reagents

Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

Products
Image 17. Combustion of glucose.

A part of this energy is stored in our cells; the

rest is released in the form of heat.
Oxygen

F
PO
F
PO

P
POF OF

Glucose

Oxidizing

Fuel
Cell
Water

Energy
Water
dioxide
Image 18. Aerobic cellular respiration.

In explosive combustions, large amounts

of gases and heat are released in a short
period of time.

Kaboom
With the increase of the temperature,
gases tends to expand. When they are in
a closed container, the pressure increases until a rupture point. In this case an
explosion may take place!

Why does corn explodes while we are

doing popcorn? Every kernel of corn is
composed of water and starch. When we
heat them, the water that is inside the
corn, is transformed into steam. As the
temperature increases, the steam starts
to make pressure inside the kernel and
as so, the pericarp (the exterior layer)
breaks. This is why it looks like the corn
explods! The white part we see is the result of the starch expansion.

In Nature...
Sparkles and rumbles!
Lightings are intense and extremely
rapid electrostatic discharges! But how
are these formed? This happens during
an electrical storm between electrically
charged regions of a cloud, between
two clouds or between a cloud and the
ground.

15

- - - +++ +

Image 19. Thunderstorm.

The sound we hear is the result of the

rapid expansion of the air due to the
intense heat derived from the lightning.
Actually, the lightning and the sound
happens at the same time. However,
sound velocity is much lower that light
velocity and this is why we first see the
light and then we can listen to the sound!

Curiosities

plosives?

Hello Scientist!
Do you want to know
more fun curiosities
about fireworks and ex-

So go to the following link and have

fun!

www.science4youtoys.co.uk/
explosive-science
3. Explosive experiments
All experiments labelled
with this symbol, for
OOR
OUTD ENT
IM
having an explosive and
EXPER
spectacular effect, must
be performed outdoors
and under the supervision of an adult!
Scientist, put on your protective goggles and gloves
before each experiment!

16

Apart from the material included in your

kit, what else will you need?
Milk
Washing-up liquid
Toothpicks
Coloured markers
Plastic dish
Teaspoon
Ice cube
Porcelain bowl
Large bowl
Tall glass
Egg (egg white)
Small cloth
Fishing line/thread (2 metres)
Coloured drages (for example M&Ms and
Skittles)
Lemon
Vinegar
Cooking oil
Small and empty plastic bottle
Napkins
Sand
96% Ethanol
Sugar
Matches/lighter
Carbonated soft drink (diet)
Sheet of paper
Plastic card
Cornflour/ wheat flour
Sharpened pencils
Straws
Strainer
Hairdryer
Table tennis ball
Corkscrew
Sticky tape
Skewers
Small Kraft paper bag
Aluminium foil
Cork stopper
Water/warm water from a tap
Table salt
Bicycle pump
Pump adapter to fill in balls
Thick card
X-acto knife
Scissors

Material included in the kit.

Remember to wash thoroughly

the material after each experiment! During an experiment,
do not use the same material for different
reagents. Otherwise you can influence the
experiments.

Colour explosion

Note: you must use a different Pasteur pipette

for each food colouring.
3. Dip the toothpicks tip in the washing-up
liquid, enough to collect only one drop.
4. Place the toothpick with the drop of
washing-up liquid in the middle of a drop of
food colouring.

Experiment 1
The dance of colours
What you will need:
Rectangular plastic container
Milk
Food colourings (red and green)
Pasteur pipette
Large measuring cup
Toothpicks
Washing-up liquid
Steps:
1. Pour a little of milk into the plastic container,
about half the size of the measuring cup. Let
it rest for a few minutes.
2. With the Pasteur pipette, add some drops
of food colourings to the milk. Make sure the
drops remain at the surface and apart form
each other.
How to use a Pasteur pipette:

Scientist, did your colours explode?

ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all food products used.
Explanation:
Milk is a liquid made up of water, fat and
proteins. When you put the food colouring
on its surface, it doesnt get mixed with the
milk. If you put the toothpick with a drop of
washing-up liquid in the drops of colourings,
they move far apart and create an explosion of
colours! This happens because the washing-up
liquid breaks all the bonds between the milk
molecules and also breaks the surface tension,
mixing the molecules and creating the colour
explosion that you can see! Surface tension
happens because the molecules of milk on
the surface suffer a great attraction among
them. Inside the liquid, all molecules of milk
have the same attraction forces, but in all
directions. The molecules of milk at the surface
only suffer the attraction of molecules on the
side and underneath, as for on top there is
only air. As the number of molecules that are

17

attracted is lower, there is compensation, a

greater attraction force at the surface, forming
a kind of film.

Experiment 2
Chromatography I
What you will need:
Round filter paper
Coloured markers
Water
Absorbent paper (napkins)
Steps:
1. With the markers draw small dots on the
filter paper, in a circular scheme, as you can
see in the image below.

2. Make a small roll with a sheet of absorbent

paper and dip its tip in water.

possible with the chromatography technique

to break it down into its primary colours. This
happens because the basic colours have
different weights and, this way, they remain
in different positions on the paper when the
water cant drag them anymore.
Experiment 3
Chromatography II
What you will need:
Round filter paper
Pasteur pipette
Large measuring cup
Water
Plastic dish
4 Coloured drages (Skittles, for example)
Steps:
1. Place the round filter paper on a plastic dish.
Now, put 4 drages of different colours on the
filter paper, at opposite sides.

3. Press the tip of the wet absorbent paper

against the centre of the filter paper in order
to wet it.
2. Pour water into the large measuring cup
and with the Pasteur pipette add drops of
water over each drage.
Observe what happens to the small dots
of different colours that youve drawn on
the paper!
Explanation:
This process is called chromatography. Chromatography is a physical-chemical method
used to separate homogeneous mixtures.
The separation of its components is possible
because they present different weight, mass
and density.
When it is a complex colour (secondary), it is

18

What happened, scientist?

ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all the food products used.

Explanation:
When you add water to the coloured drages,
the colour of their coating starts to dissolve
and moves to the filter paper. Such as in
experiment 2, you can use chromatography
to find out how your sweets were coloured:
if only a colouring was added or if the colour
resulted from a combination of different
colourings.
If you used Skittles, youll see that the
drages will eventually disappear.
Scientist, do you know why this happens?
The sweets are made of sugar and sugar is
easily dissolved in water.
Experiment 4
Comets of M&Ms
What you will need:
Rectangular plastic container
Warm water from a tap
Ice cube
Coloured drages (for example, M&Ms)
Steps:
1. Fill in half the rectangular plastic container
with warm water from a tap. Ask an adult for
help so you dont get burnt.
2. Place the ice cube in one of the containers
ends.
3. Place 1 coloured
drages in the water
near the ice cube,
such as shown in the
image.
Can you see the tail of the comet
appearing?

Explanation:
The ice cube cools down the water around it.
Cold water is denser than hot water and so
it sinks.
It is the waters movement that allows
spreading the colour dissolved from the
drages, creating a tail of a comet!

Production of CO2
and effervescence

Experiment 5
Fizzy bombs
What you will need:
Round plastic container
Small measuring cup
Food colouring (green or red)
Pasteur pipette
Sodium bicarbonate
Large measuring cup
Wooden spatula
Citric acid
Plastic spatula
Table salt

You will
need
protective
gloves

Steps:
1. Measure 5 millilitres (ml) of citric acid with
the measuring cup. Now, transfer it into the
large measuring cup.
2. With the Pasteur pipette, add 5 drops of
food colouring of the colour you like the most.

5x

ATTENTION: when you complete the

experiment, throw away all food products
used.

19

3. Ask an adult for table salt and add one

plastic spatula of salt to the cup.
4. Mix well with the wooden spatula.
5. Measure 5 ml of
sodium bicarbonate with
the small measuring cup.
Now add it to the large
cup and stir with the
wooden spatula.
6. The mixture of your fizzy bomb must be
dry but slightly sticky. If it is too dry add some
droplets of water.
7. With your gloves on, wet your hands and
collect small amounts of the mixture to create
little balls with your hands. Create two little
balls and place them in the round container.
Leave a space between them so they dont get
stuck to each other.

DID YOU KNOW...

That this type of reaction is very
common among medicines and fruit
salts?
Experiment 6
Lemon foam
What you will need:
Rectangular plastic container
Large measuring cup
Small measuring cup
Washing-up liquid
Food colouring (green or red)
Plastic spatula
Wooden spatula
Pasteur pipette
Sodium bicarbonate
Lemon

8. Let them dry overnight.

Steps:
1. With the plastic spatula add 5 spoons of
sodium bicarbonate to the large measuring cup.

9. When dry, test your fizzy

bombs by putting them in
water!

2. Now, add 3 plastic

spoons of washing-up liquid
to the large measuring cup.

Tip: you can also save them for further

experiments Experiments 14 and 20.
Scientist, do you know why your bomb
is effervescent?
Explanation:
Your bomb is effervescent because when
in contact with water a chemical reaction
between sodium bicarbonate and citric acid

20

happens, giving off carbon dioxide. The

release of the gas is characterised by the
formation of little bubbles inside the liquid
that cause effervescence.

5x

3x

3. Add, with the Pasteur pipette, 2 drops of red

or green food colouring. Stir the mixture with
a wooden spatula. Place the cup in the rectangular plastic container.
4. Squeeze a lemon into the small measuring
cup and add about 25 ml of lemon juice to the
mixture.
What happens, scientist?
Can you create lemon foam?

ATTENTION: when you complete the

experiment, throw away all food products
used.

ATTENTION: when you complete the

experiment, throw away all food products
used.

Explanation:
The foam is created by the release of carbon
dioxide when the sodium bicarbonate reacts
with the citric acid from the lemon juice.

Explanation:
The sodium bicarbonate moves slowly in the oil
until reaching the vinegar. Here, it reacts with
the acetic acid of the vinegar, giving off carbon
dioxide. It is this gas that creates the effervescent bubbles that you can see in the potion. As
it is a gas, it bubbles through the liquid of the
solution. Can you hear the sound? This sound is
typical of effervescent chemical reactions!

Experiment 7
Magic potion
What you will need:
Sodium bicarbonate
Small measuring cup
Large measuring cup
Plastic spatula
Cooking oil
Vinegar
Hot water from a tap
Food colouring (optional)
Pasteur pipette (optional)
Steps:
1. Pour 35 ml of hot water and 10 ml of vinegar
into the large measuring cup. Use the small cup
to measure these quantities. You can also add
some droplets of colouring. Ask an adult for
help so you dont get burnt with the hot water.
2. Add about 40 ml of oil to the
mixture.

The oil stays at the surface and you can

see that the vinegar and water are in
different layers.
3. Now, add to the oil, with the plastic spatula,
2 spoons of sodium bicarbonate and see what
happens!
What happened to your potion?
Is it truly magic?

It is a slow reaction so you can observe your

potion for a few minutes.
DID YOU KNOW...
That in the production of
carbonated soft drinks,
the gas is obtained in a
similar way?

Experiment 8
Inflate a balloon without blowing
What you will need:
Balloon
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Plastic spatula
Funnel
Vinegar
Small and empty plastic bottle
Steps:
1. Pour a little of vinegar into the bottle (until
of its volume).
2. Fill in the balloon
with 3 spatulas of
sodium bicarbonate.
Use the funnel to
help you out.

3x

21

3. Attach the balloons opening to the bottles

opening. Be careful not to let the Sodium bicarbonate fall into the bottle.

Experiment 9
Explosive bag
What you will need:
Bag with zip-lock
Sodium bicarbonate
Large measuring cup
Warm/hot water
Vinegar
Wooden spatula
Small cloth

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ATTENTION: this experiment must be

carried out outdoors and with the help of
an adult.
4. Lift the balloon and let the sodium bicarbonate fall into the balloon all at once.
Can you fill the balloon?
Observe how the carbon dioxide fills the
balloon.

Put on your
protective goggles

Steps:
1. With the large measuring cup, pour hot
water into the bag filling in of its volume.
Ask an adult for help so you dont get burnt.
2. Now add the vinegar. The total volume
(water + vinegar) must correspond to half the
size of the bag.

ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all food products
used.
Explanation:
As we have seen before, the reaction
between sodium bicarbonate with an acid
produces carbon dioxide. It is this gas that
allows filling the balloon. If you try changing
the concentration of both chemicals, you will
see that the much greater they are there will
be more production of gas.
Try filling your balloon with different
amounts of sodium bicarbonate and
vinegar! If the reagent provided in your
kit finishes, do not worry! You can find
sodium bicarbonate in any supermarket!

22

3. With the wooden spatula, add 6 spoons of

sodium bicarbonate to the middle of the cloth.
6x

4. Fold the cloth so that the sodium bicarbon

ate remains inside.
5. Now you have to work fast.
Close partially the bag with the zip-lock
leaving enough space to add the cloth with
sodium bicarbonate.

Experiment 10
Foam with white egg

6. Place the cloth with sodium bicarbonate in

the bag and seal it completely.

What you will need:

Large bowl
Tall glass
Small measuring cup
Plastic spatula
Wooden spatula
Sodium bicarbonate
Pasteur pipette
Food colouring (green or red)
Egg (egg white)
Vinegar
Water
ATTENTION: ask an adult for help!

7. Put the bag on the ground and move away

quickly.
What do you observe? Did your bag explode?
ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all food products
used.
Explanation:
You should have observed the bag expanding
until exploding. The sodium bicarbonate
and the vinegar get mixed and an acid-base
reaction happens giving off carbon dioxide.
This gas needs space and, as so, it fills the
bag while being formed, until the bag cant
hold it longer and so then it explodes! Even
if it doesnt explode, you can observe the bag
getting bigger!

Try this experiment with different

amounts of sodium bicarbonate and
vinegar! Will it influence your explosion?

Steps:
1. Carefully separate the egg white from the
egg.
2. Pour half of the egg white into the tall glass
and place the glass in the bowl.

3. With the small measuring cup measure 25

ml of water and pour it into the glass.
4. With the plastic spatula, add 2 spoons of
sodium bicarbonate to the glass. Stir with the
wooden spatula.
5. With the Pasteur pipette add 3 drops of food
colouring to the mixture.

3x

6. With the small measuring cup measure 25

ml of vinegar and pour it into the glass.

23

Scientist, did you create foam?

ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all food products
used.
Explanation:
The egg white isnt only used to make delicious
desserts. It can also work to fixate the gas
formed during an experiment. When you add
the vinegar, a great amount of coloured foam
is formed and overflows the cup. Sometimes,
when turning the cup upside down the foam
does not fall. Do you know why?
The acid from vinegar, called acetic acid,
reacts with the sodium bicarbonate, creating
a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2). The gas
gets stuck in the egg white which causes the
formation of foam.

Experiment 11
Coloured foams

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What you will need:

3 Large measuring cups
Small measuring cup
2 Pasteur pipette
Food colourings (green and red)
Plastic spatula
Sodium bicarbonate
Washing-up liquid
Vinegar
Steps:
1. With the plastic spatula add 2 spoons of
sodium bicarbonate to each large measuring
cup. Add 2 spoons of washing-up liquid to
the cups too.
2. With the Pasteur pipette, add about 5 droplets
of food colouring to each cup. Put each colour in
a different cup and in one of the cups add both
food colourings in order to create a new colour.
Mix the solution with the plastic spatula.

24

3. Measure 25 ml of vinegar in the small cup.

Scientist, what do you observe?

ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all food products
used.
Explanation:
In this experiment you can produce colourful
foams! Foam is created by the release of carbon
dioxide from the solution of washing-up
liquid, when the acetic acid of vinegar reacts
with the sodium bicarbonate (such as what
happened in the previous experiments).
DID YOU KNOW...
That there are minerals which due to their
composition react with acids, creating effervescence?
This kind of characteristic helps us identify the different minerals of a rock. This
identification is very important for the
classification of rocks. For example, calcite is made
up of calcium
carbonate minerals which react easily with
acids, giving off
carbon dioxide.

9.
Small explosions

boom
10.

Experiment 12
Mini bomb of water

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Crease the loose ends of

each side.

14.

What you will need:

Coloured paper sheet
Small measuring cup
Scissors
Water
Steps:
1. Fold the sheet of paper as illustrated below.
1.

2.

3.

5.

11.

Insert each end in the

holes, such as illustrated
below.

15.

Pour water into your

mini bomb. Hold
it from below so it
doesnt get damaged
while filling in. Now,
have fun with your
friends!

6.

Repeat the step on the

other side.

12.

Repeat steps 10 and 11

on the other side.

7.
13.

4.

Blow in to your mini bomb in

order to fill it with air. If you
find it difficult, open a little
8.
Repeat the step on the more the hole using scissors.
right and on the other side.

25

kaboo

Explanation:
With the sheet of paper folded as explained,
it becomes more resistant to withstand the
water. When you throw your mini bomb, the
energy created with the impact, forces the
water to come out and the bomb explodes!

Experiment 13
The sound of thunder
What you will need:
Kaboom paper sheet
Steps:
1. Fold the sheet of paper and then pull
towards you the inwards of the folds, such as
indicated in the first images.
2. Make a fast descendant movement with
your arm and you will hear the sound of
thunder.

om
o
kaboom
b
ka
26

kab
oom

Explanation:
When making this fast and descendant
movement, the air gets compressed in the
fold of the sheet of paper and then it is
released at once, expanding and creating
the boom sound you hear. This is the same
principle behind the sound of thunder or
cannon. When there is thunder, the lightning
heats the air in high temperatures, causing
its fast expansion and the loud sound typical
from thunders. The explosion of a bomb or
the sound of cannons are both caused by the
fast expansion of air.

Experiment 14
Lava lamp
What you will need:
Food colouring (green or red)
Fizzy bomb (experiment 5)
Large measuring cup
Wooden spatula
Funnel
Pasteur pipette
Small and empty plastic bottle
Cooking oil
Water
Note: if you do not have any fizzy bombs
from experiment 5, you must conduct the
experiment first.
Steps:
1. Pour of oil into the bottle.
2. Fill the measuring cup with water. With the
Pasteur pipette add 3 drops of food colouring
to the cup. Stir the mixture with the wooden
spatula.
3. Using the funnel, add the
coloured water to the bottle.

4. Put in the bottle a fizzy bomb

that youve prepared in experiment 5.

Scientist, how does your lava lamp look

like?
ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all food products
used.

Explanation:
Oil floats on water because a drop of oil is
lighter than a drop of water of the same size.
This is to say, oil is less dense than water.
If we have 1 litre of water and 1 litre of
oil we will have more molecules of water
than molecules of oil.
This is to say, there is more matter in
water than in oil for the same volume.
When in contact with water, the fizzy bomb
reacts spontaneously, creating a gas, carbon
dioxide. When this gas is released it drags
along the coloured water to the surface of
the oil. This is the science behind your lava
lamp!
Experiment 15
The pharaohs snakes

What you will need:

Pasteur pipette
Sodium bicarbonate
Plastic spatula
Wooden spatula
Large measuring cup
Small measuring cup
Porcelain bowl
Sand
96% Ethanol
Sugar
Matches

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Put on your
protective goggles

Be careful, ethanol is easily

flammable.
ATTENTION: ask an adult for help in order
to perform this experiment.

27

Steps:
1. With the plastic spatula, add to the
large measuring cup, 2 spoons of sodium
bicarbonate and 8 spoons of sugar. Pour a
little of ethanol into the small measuring cup
and add to the large cup 5 drops of ethanol
using the Pasteur pipette. Stir well with the
wooden spatula.
2x
5x

8x

Ethanol

2. Put sand in the porcelain bowl and make a

hole in the middle of it.

3. Add some droplets of water to the hole.

4. Carefully, add 2 to 3 spoons of the mixture
of sugar and sodium bicarbonate to the hole.

Your snakes will start coming out of the

bowl!
Where do they come from?
ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all food products
used.
Explanation:
Sugar is made up of sucrose molecules.
When these molecules suffer a combustion
reaction they create carbon dioxide, water
and carbon. Your snakes are made of carbon
(they are black)! In this experiment, you have
also added sodium bicarbonate that when
heated is transformed into water and carbon
dioxide. It is carbon dioxide that allows your
snakes to grow and to have that structure
full of holes! Ethanol is used to increase the
speed of the combustion reaction, since it is
easily flammable.

5. Add some more droplets of ethanol to the

mixture.

Experiment 16
Explosive geyser

ATTENTION: the next step must be carried

out by an adult. Put on your protective
goggles and keep a safe distance while
you observe the experiment.

What you will need:

Diet soft drink, carbonated
(for example, diet coke)
Sea salt
Test tube
Plastic spatula
Plastic card

6. Ask an adult to light a match and put it over

the sand.

28

Attention: the porcelain bowl must be hot!

Let it cool before touching it.

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Put on your
protective goggles

Steps:
1. With the plastic spatula add salt to the test
tube.

2. Cover the test tube with the plastic card.

3. Open the soft drink bottle.
Now, turn upside down the
test tube together with the
card and use them to cover
the bottles opening.
4. Now, remove quickly the
plastic card and, at the same
time, let go of the test tube so
that the salt can enter in the
bottle.

Observe your geyser!

ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all food products
used.
Explanation:
Soft drinks with gas (carbonated) include a
high quantity of dissolved carbon dioxide, in
equilibrium and under pressure, ready to escape when the pressure at the surface (free
from the solution) decreases.

DID YOU KNOW...

That scientists cant yet define if this is a
chemical or physical phenomenon?
When we let the salt fall in the soft drink bottle,
the bubbles of carbon dioxide are formed so
quickly that they drag the drink outside the
bottle, creating a geyser effect. When we add
the salt to the soft drink we create a kind of
release nuclei of carbon dioxide (which is
dissolved). In fact, we know that when we
place any porous object in a liquid with gas,
we can observe that the carbon dioxide starts
giving off much quicker.

Experiment 17
Firework
What you will need:
Round plastic container
Water
Food colourings (green and red)
2 Pasteur pipettes
Small measuring cup
Cooking oil
Sheet of paper
Steps:
1. Fill half the plastic container with water.
2. Measure 10 ml of cooking oil using the
measuring cup and add it to the container.
3. With the Pasteur pipette add carefully some
droplets of food colouring to the container.
You can start by adding 3 droplets of each
colouring.

This way, when we open the bottle, the gas

tends to escape to the outside. This is why
when you open a soft drink bottle; you can
hear that familiar sound.

29

4. Finally, cover the

container with the
sheet of paper.

Steps:
1. Ask an adult to help you light a candle.

Scientist, observe the firework!

2. Ask your assistant to add with the wooden

spatula a bit of iron powder to the piece of aluminium foil and to fold it in half.

ATTENTION: when you complete the experiment, throw away all food products
used.
Explanation:
Oil floats at the surface of water. When you
add the drops of food colouring to the
container they get stuck for some seconds in
the layer of oil. However, the colouring drops
move from the oil layer to the water layer.
When reaching the water, they explode and
create a firework effect.

3. Now, ask your assistant to carefully add

the iron powder over the candles flame in a
distance of about 10 centimetres (cm). The
powder must be sprinkled slowly over the
flame in order to observe its effect!

And why does this happen?

Water is denser than oil. When the colouring
drops are released from the oil they sink
(because they are also denser than oil) and
pass through the layer of oil. When they
reach the water they are dissolved creating
the fantastic effect of a firework.
Experiment 18
Birthday cake sparklers
ATTENTION: this experiment must be
carried out by an adult. Put on your protective goggles and keep a safe distance
while you observe the experiment.
What you will need:
Candle
Iron powder
Wooden spatula
Aluminium foil
Match/lighter

Attention: Scientist, you must be far away

from the candle in order to see the effect of
the birthday cake sparklers! Remember to
put on your protective goggles.
Explanation:
In this experiment iron combustion happens!
In the combustion, yellow stars are created, this
is to say, iron reacts with oxygen, forming iron
powder.
Iron + Oxygen

Put on your
protective goggles

30

Attention: let your assistant know that the powder mustnt be added
in excess otherwise
the candle will be extinguished. It has to
be sprinkled like magic
powder!

Iron powder (III)

Experiment 19
Flour and flame

seen, the main combustible of our cells (cellular respiration).

Do you think that cornstarch can increase

the flame?
ATTENTION: this experiment must be
carried out by an adult. Put on your
protective goggles and keep a safe distance
while you observe the experiment.
What you will need:
Candle
Cornstarch
Strainer
Teaspoon
Dish
Match/lighter

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In order for combustion to happen there has to

be a good mixture between the combustible
and the oxidant. It is what happens in this
experiment: the cornstarch, as it is sprinkled,
starts a combustion process much quicker,
since the exposed surface is larger. This way, it
can enliven the candles flame!
Scientist, do you still remember the factors that influence a chemical reaction?

Experiment 20
Mini-rocket
Put on your

protective goggles
Steps:
1. Ask an adult to light the candle and place
it on a dish.

2. Now ask your assistant to hold with one

hand the strainer over the candle in a 10 cm
distance and with the other hand, to add a
spoon of cornstarch to the strainer, sprinkling
it over the candle.

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What you will need:

Small measuring cup with lid
Decorative sticker for the rocket
Scissors
Fizzy bomb (experiment 5)
Warm water from a tap
Napkin
Note: if you do not have any fizzy bomb from
experiment 5, you must conduct this experiment first.
Part 1 Personalise you rocket

10 cm

Put the stickers on the rocket as you like!

What happens? Can you enliven the

flame?
Explanation:
Starch is a large molecule that results from the
bonding of smaller molecules of glucose. Glucose is a simple sugar and as we have already

31

Part 2 Build your rocket

1. Hold your rocket and fill it in with about 10
ml of warm water.
2. Cut a piece of a napkin to
cover the rockets opening.

3. Place the fizzy bomb

over the piece of napkin.
4. Put the lid on your rocket.
5. Count to 3 and carefully
turn the rocket upside down over a plain
surface!

123!
Can your rocket stay on air?
Explanation:
Once again, when your fizzy bomb gets
in contact with water a chemical reaction
between sodium bicarbonate and citric acid
(components of your fizzy bomb) happens.
This reaction is characterized by the release of
a gas, carbon dioxide, which with the increase
in pressure allows your rocket to be launched.
Experiment 21
Rocket balloon
What you will need:
Balloon
Straw
Scissors
Fishing line or thread (about 2 metres)
Sticky tape

32

Steps:
1. Attach one of the fishing lines ends to a
distant support, for example a chair.
2. Insert the fishing line in the straw.
3. Cut two pieces of sticky tape.
4. Fill the balloon and hold the opening so
the air doesnt come out.
5. Attach the balloon to the straw with the
sticky tape and pull it to the lines end, the
one you are holding, keeping the opening
towards you and the line stretched.
6. Count to 3 and let go of the balloon.
You can also use two fishing lines, one
next to the other and make a race with
your friends!

123!

Explanation:
The balloon is full of air. When you let it go, the
air comes out and pulls the balloon backwards.
This way, the balloon flies to the other end
of the fishing line. The balloons motion was
caused by the force of air, moving the balloon
to the opposite direction of the air because
the air created an opposite force. This force is
called reaction force.
This experiment is explained by a very
important law in Physics, the Law of ActionReaction by Newton. This law explains that
when an object is pushed, it reacts and
pushes in the opposite way!

DID YOU KNOW...

That rockets have reaction engines that
work under the same principle as the
one tested in this experiment?
These engines are powered by
combustibles (fuel) that are burnt and
give off several gases. It is the force of
the flow of the gases that causes the
movement in the reaction engines.
Such as what happens with rockets, the
balloon flew in the opposite direction of
the airs flow.

Experiment 22
Rocket
What you will need:
Water
Pump adapter to fill in balls
Bicycle pump
Thick card
Sticky tape
1.5 L plastic bottle
Cork stopper
Corkscrew
X-acto knife

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ATTENTION: this experiment must be conducted outdoors and with the help of an
adult.
Steps:
1. Ask an adult to make a hole
in a cork stopper, with the
corkscrew, to fit in tightly the
pump adapter. If the adapter
is shorter than the stopper,
ask an adult to cut the stopper in half.

There are 3 laws of Newton!

The 1st Law of Newton or the
Law of Inertia, the 2nd Law of
Newton or the Law of Force/Acceleration and the 3rd Law of Newton or the
Law of Action/Reaction.

2. Ask an adult to
cut 4 pieces of a
thick card with the
x-acto knife that fits
the bottle, such as
shown in the image.

3. With the sticky tape,

glue the card pieces to
the bottle.

33

4. Fill of the bottle

with water. Put the
cork in the bottle
and connect it to the
pump.

5. Lay down the

bottle and start
pumping.

What happened?
Attention: keep away from the bottle so
you dont get wet.
Explanation:
You should have observed that the bottle was
propelled into the air. This happens because
the air and water, when expelled from the bottle, create a thrust (push) force which launches
the bottle into the opposite direction, such as
what happens with rockets.
Will it explode?

Experiment 23
Balloon that doesnt pop
What you will need:
Balloon
Skewers
Steps:
1. Fill the balloon, not too much, and tie a
knot.

34

2. Insert, slowly and without too much force,

the skewer in the darker area of the balloon, the
closest possible to the knot.
3. Carefully, keep on inserting
it until reaching the other extremity. You should pierce the
upper part of the balloon, also
in the darker area.
Does the balloon burst or not? If it does,
do not give up and try it again!
Explanation:
The upper and lower parts of the balloon
(darker areas) are spots with less pressure,
this is to say, where the balloon is less resistant. This way, when you insert the skewer in
these areas it is less likely that the balloon
bursts.

Experiment 24
Fireproof balloon
ATTENTION: ask an adult for help in order
to perform this experiment.
What you will need:
Balloon
Candle
Funnel
Small measuring cup
Cold water
Matches/lighter

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Put on your
protective goggles

Steps:
1. Hold a balloon and with
the help of a funnel pour
some water into it. You
can pour about 1 small
measuring cup of water.

2. Fill the rest of the balloon with air (not too

much) and tie a knot.
ATTENTION: the next step must be carried
out by an adult. Put on your protective goggles and keep a safe distance while you observe the experiment.
3. Ask an adult to light the candle
and hold the balloon over it.

What did happen to the balloon? Does it

take long to burst? Can you see the black
patch from the soot, located on the inferior part
of the balloon which is in contact with the flame?
Explanation:
If we place a balloon filled with air over a
flame, we are expecting that the flame weakens the rubber (from which the balloon is
made of ), the balloon cant stand the pressure and it bursts immediately. However, in
this experiment, when placing the balloon
with water over the flame, it doesnt burst
immediately. Do you know why? The balloon
doesnt burst because the temperature of the
flame is distributed by the elements that are
in contact with it, this way the heat is also
transferred to the water which is a great absorbent of heat. If the balloon doesnt reach
its combustion temperature, which is much
higher than the temperature of ebullition of
water, it doesnt burst.
Experiment 25
Pierce a bag of water with a pencil
What you will need:
Bag with zip-lock
Sharpened pencil
Water

2. Ask someone for help. Your assistant can

hold the bag (from the upper part) or handle
the pencil. You decide!
3. Get a pencil and force it into the
bag (where there is water). Keep
pushing in the pencil until it comes
out on the other side of the bag.
Tip: the secret of this experiment is to
pierce very quickly the bag in both sides,
so that the water hasnt time to fall out
of the bag!
4. You can use 2 or 3 more pencils and repeat the last step
Scientist, can you pierce the bag without
letting any water fall out?
Explanation:
The bag is made of plastic which is often
made of polymers. Polymers are made up of
large chains of molecules and are very flexible.
When you pierce the bag with a pencil, the
molecules of the plastic rearrange around
the pencil creating a kind of air-proof seal,
preventing the water to fall out of the bag.

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Experimen

Hello Scientist!
Find out more 3 experiments that we have for
you:

Experiment 26 - Homemade geyser

Experiment 27 - Does air have force
Experiment 28 - Smoke bomb
We also have a quizz for you to test
your knowledge!

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Steps:
1. Fill with water 2/3 of a bag with zip-lock.

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www.science4youtoys.co.uk/
explosive-science

35

ISBN 978-989-751-983-3

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www.science4youtoys.co.uk