Preschool Inspirations
Preschool Activities and Learning
Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano Eruption for Kids
May 28, 2014 by Katie T. Christiansen 5 Comments
Need a super simple baking soda and vinegar volcano recipe? This one takes about three minutes to prep (and the kids get to help). It uses six common ingredients, and there is no mess to clean up afterward! If simple and no cleaning is music to your ears, you’re in the right place. We’ve made this five times in the past two weeks, so it’s definitely a loved activity here.
I have always loved making volcanoes with my kids, but they can be time-consuming and require lots of prep. Well, “lots” may be stretching it, but in my world, if it’s not simple, it doesn’t usually happen. The sad truth is that while I’ve thought about making a volcano tons of times, I’ve only made it happen a few. I wanted to change that by making it a super easy process. I hope you absolutely love it!
And if you love these types of science experiments, you can see even more baking soda and vinegar experiments that are simple and so fun! They are also an awesome addition to a preschool curriculum .
Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
How do you make the easiest volcano recipe in the world?
Ingredients
- Plastic cup (We tried a water bottle, but the plastic cup worked much better)
- 3-4 Tbs of baking soda at least (we usually do 4-6 which makes it extra foamy and will do 2-3 eruptions)
- 1 tsp of dish soap
- 1 cup (8 oz) of Vinegar to start with per eruption…then they’ll be asking for more 🙂
Location: an area with pea gravel, sand, or dirt
While you mix the base ingredients, have the kiddos make a mound out of pea gravel (or you could certainly do this with dirt). Once you have a mound, put the cup on top of it, and turn it into a mountain. How easy is that!
We give it a good stir just before adding the last ingredient. Now it’s time for the eruption! Pour in the vinegar until it starts foaming over, pouring it’s lava all over the rocks.
The pictures really don’t do this justice, but our pea gravel mountain was just under a foot tall (30 cm).
Here’s our bubbly red lava taking over the rocks. In the background here, I’ve been hearing “there she blows!”
It is also super fun to mix up the colors a little bit! We can pour the vinegar in about three times before we need to add more baking soda to our solution.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano Video
Want to see it in action? Here’s the video!
Since we can’t get enough of this, here are some more snapshots of our other volcano eruptions.
What does it look like afterward? Here’s a picture of ours once we took away the plastic cup. You can hardly even tell we did anything, and the rocks must be nice and clean with the baking soda and vinegar. If the washable paint doesn’t come off the rocks right away, it will within a few days or the next rain.
If you want to see what this looks like with dirt, check out these fun volcano posts!
Easy Backyard Volcano by Mom with a Lesson Plan
Erupting Volcanoes in Preschool by Teach Preschool
Or if you have the time to make it a little fancier, here are some more great ideas:
Build, Paint, and Erupt Volcano by Fun at Home With Kids
Erupting Volcano Dinosaur Printable from Fun at Home With Kids
Comparing Homemade Volcano Recipes by Still Playing School
How to Build a Volcano by Kids Activities Blog
Ice Volcanoes by Reading Confetti
Messy Play Fun with Shaving Cream from Fun-A-Day!
Erupting an Easy Homemade Volcano by Mom to 2 Posh Lil’ Divas
- Recent Posts
- Rainbow Sensory Bottle - March 3, 2024
- Teaching Neurodivergent Children in Early Childhood Education - January 8, 2024
- Creating Musical Memories: Teaching Music in Preschool - October 6, 2023
September 13, 2016 at 8:32 am
My son tried this Has lots of fun!
February 28, 2018 at 4:38 pm
I like the idea I have to try it thank you Katie from preschool inspirations I love it and it looks fun and cool because I have a science fair at Edison elementary and I think it would be cool thanks
April 29, 2018 at 5:51 pm
Can you do this without the paint too?
May 2, 2018 at 9:19 am
Hi Amanda, it works without paint. It just won’t be colored. Have fun!
[…] sort of guided activity during my break time. For example some fun science experiments. Making a baking soda and vinegar volcano is super easy and fun. It doesn’t take too long either so you can easily do this with your […]
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Notify me of new posts by email.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .
Get access to my VIP Subscriber Library and my weekly resources.
- Grades 6-12
- School Leaders
Win a $1,000 gift certificate of your choice! ✨
Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
How To Make a Baking Soda Volcano With Free Observation Sheet
This experiment will have kids erupting with applause!
The classic baking soda volcano experiment has been entertaining kids (and adults) of all ages for decades. But it’s more than just a lot of fun. This experiment also teaches kids about simple chemical reactions and physical properties. The best part? It’s easy to do and uses only a few basic ingredients. Read on to see how to conduct the baking soda volcano experiment, and fill out the form on this page to grab your free recording sheet!
How does the baking soda volcano experiment work?
This experiment involves pouring vinegar mixed with dish soap into a small amount of baking soda. The baking soda acts as a base while the vinegar is an acid. When the base and the acid come together, they create an endothermic reaction that produces carbon dioxide. The dish soap helps to create the foaming effect as the “lava” pours out of the volcano.
What does the baking soda volcano teach?
The baking soda volcano experiment is a great way to demonstrate a chemical reaction between an acid and a carbonate. When the carbonate (found in the baking soda) is exposed to the acids (found in the vinegar), it creates a decomposition reaction that releases carbon dioxide as gas. While this experiment is an example of an acid-base reaction, it’s also a great simulation of a real volcanic eruption.
Is there a baking soda volcano video?
This video shows how to make a volcano erupt using ingredients you can probably find in your kitchen.
Materials needed
To do the baking soda volcano experiment, you will need:
- Baking soda
- Food coloring
- Mini Paper Cups
- Plastic Volcano Form
Our free recording sheet is also helpful—fill out the form on this page to grab it.
Baking soda volcano experiment steps:
1. to start, place a tiny paper cup into the hole at the top of the plastic volcano mold..
2. Once your volcano is set up, pour 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda into the paper cup.
3. Next, add about a half cup of vinegar into a plastic measuring cup.
4. Add a few squirts of dish soap to the vinegar solution.
5. Add some squirts of red and yellow food coloring to the vinegar mixture.
6. Use a plastic spoon to mix all the ingredients in the plastic measuring cup together.
7. Pour the vinegar solution into the small paper cup at the top of the volcano.
8. Finally, watch and enjoy the eruption!
Grab our free baking soda volcano experiment worksheet
Fill out the form on this page to get your free worksheet. The worksheet asks kids to guess the correct order of the steps in the experiment. Next, kids must make a prediction about what they think will happen. They can use the provided spaces to draw what happens before and after they add the ingredients. Did their predictions come true?
Additional reflection questions
- What role does the dish soap play in the reaction that occurs?
- How would it be different if you added baking soda to the vinegar instead of the other way around?
- What do you think would happen if you added a different liquid than vinegar?
- What do you think would happen if you added more baking soda?
Can the baking soda volcano experiment be done for a science fair?
Yes! If you want to do this experiment for a science fair, we recommend switching up some of the variables. For example: Does the amount of baking soda matter? Does the type of dish soap? Form a hypothesis about how changing the variables will impact the experiment. Good luck!
Looking for more experiment ideas? Check out our big list of experiment ideas here.
Plus, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters for more articles like this., you might also like.
16 Red-Hot Volcano Science Experiments and Kits For Classrooms or Science Fairs
Kids will erupt with excitement! Continue Reading
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256
- ABOUT HowToDoEverything
- HOW TO DO EVERYTHING
Crafts , Parenting/Children
How to make a baking powder volcano
Read Next →
How to dry out roses: 4 best methods
How to mend blue jeans: 6 methods
- Health/Life
How to go into labor quicker — but safely!
With this experiment to make a baking powder volcano you bring an erupting volcano into your own four walls. We explain the baking powder volcano experiment step by step and also the chemistry that makes it happen, so have some educational fun !
Baking powder volcano materials:
- Aluminum foil and adhesive tape
- 3 packets of baking soda
- 1-2 packets of red food coloring
- half a glass of vinegar
- half a glass of water
- a large, waterproof pad (eg a tray)
Experiment:
- Stick one of the two glasses centered on the plate with a roll of adhesive tape.
- Lay two sheets of aluminum foil over it so that the plate and glass are covered. Stick the edges of the foil to the bottom of the plate.
- Cuts – as seen in the picture – into the center of the glass opening with the scissors a small hole in the aluminum foil. Cut a cross from there, but only until you reach the inner edge of the glass.
- Bend the four corners of the aluminum foil inwards and glue them to the inner edge of the glass.
- Put the baking soda in the volcano crater. In the second jar, mix water and vinegar with food coloring until the liquid turns dark red. Then add a dash of detergent. Important : Put your baking powder volcano on a waterproof surface at the latest, otherwise lava will run onto the table or the floor! Tilts the red mixture in the aluminum foil crater – already breaks your volcano.
The chemistry behind the eruption
What happens chemically when the baking powder volcano erupts is that the soda contained in the baking soda reacts with the acid of the vinegar and forms the gas carbon dioxide (CO2). This sparkling gas expands strongly. In addition, it brings the detergent for foaming. The mixed lava quickly becomes too tight in the volcano crater glass, and so it swells out at the top.
The baking powder volcano is similar to a real volcano . The melting rock inside the earth expands and needs more space. So it shoots up and makes its way into the open.
Editorial Team
How To Do Everything
- Beauty/Grooming
- Cars/Motorcycles
- Eco/Natural
- Fake Checks
- Fashion/Style
- Finance/Investing
- Leisure/Sport
- Parenting/Children
- Tech/Software
- Uncategorized
- Skip to primary navigation
- Skip to main content
- Skip to primary sidebar
- FREE Experiments
- Kitchen Science
- Climate Change
- Egg Experiments
- Fairy Tale Science
- Edible Science
- Human Health
- Inspirational Women
- Forces and Motion
- Science Fair Projects
- STEM Challenges
- Science Sparks Books
- Contact Science Sparks
- Science Resources for Home and School
Volcano Experiment – Baking Soda Volcano
March 20, 2018 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment
When you think of great science experiments for kids one of the first that springs to mind is probably a baking soda volcano and vinegar volcano. I remember making one with my little brother in the kitchen when he was about 4 or 5. Baking soda volcanoes and coke floats were our favourite summer activities.
You might also like our 10 science experiments every child should try at least once with a free printable checklist to work through.
A baking soda volcano eruption is a fantastic first demonstration of a chemical reaction as the ingredients are safe ( although do wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from vinegar )
Why does a baking soda and vinegar reaction happen?
If you combine an acid and an alkali they react together to neutralise each other. Vinegar is an acid and bicarbonate of soda is an alkali.
The reaction releases carbon dioxide gas, which is the bubbles you see. If you add washing up liquid ( dish soap ) to your eruption mix the bubbles make the washing up liquid bubble up, giving the appearance of lava erupting from a volcano .
How to make a baking soda volcano
What you need to make a baking soda volcano.
Basically you need the ingredients for the volcano eruption , a jar or small bottle for the eruption to happen in and something to use as the volcano part.
Volcano – sand, snow, modroc etc
Small jar or bottle
Red food colouring
Baking soda
Volcano Instructions
I don’t usually measure an exact amount of each, but a good dollop of baking soda, a squirt of dish soap and a bit of red food colouring mixed with a little water should give you a good eruption. If it doesn’t, add a bit more baking soda.
If you want to make a very quick and easy baking soda volcano a sand volcano is a good option, or a snow volcano !
Volcano Experiment Extension Ideas
What happens if you don’t use the dish soap? Can you predict what might happen before trying it?
What happens if you add extra dish soap?
Volcano Experiment Extra Challenge s
Can you think of an acidic fruit you could use to make an baking soda volcano eruption without adding vinegar?
Create a papier mache volcano ? We love this version from Red Ted Art.
Design a multicoloured volcano? We split our jar in half and poured yellow food colouring into one half and red into the other for this.
What’s your favourite baking soda volcano to make?
What is a volcano?
A volcano is a mountain that contains a magma ( rock so hot it has turned into a liquid ) chamber. The magma chamber is filled with liquid rock. If enough pressure builds inside the chamber the volcano can explode shooting the magma from the top! When magma is on the surface of the Earth we call it lava! This is a volcanic eruption and can cause a lot
Make a model of a famous volcano
Another idea is to make a model of a famous volcano. In my book This Is Rocket Science one of the activities is to make a baking soda Olympus Mons . It’s a great way to learn about chemical reactions, volcanoes and Mars!!
Contains affiliate links
Last Updated on March 2, 2021 by Emma Vanstone
Safety Notice
Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.
These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.
Reader Interactions
March 21, 2018 at 2:44 pm
My kids just love making erupting volcanoes – they are really fascinated by them. Love your challenges and extension ideas – will defo give them a try!
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
How to Make a Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano at Home
- University of Strathclyde
- Ithaca College
Marilyn Nieves / Getty Images
- Pest Control
- Natural Cleaning
- Green Living
- Thrift & Minimalism
- Sustainable Eating
- Working Time: 11 - 30 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes - 2 hours
- Skill Level: Kid-friendly
- Estimated Cost: $3-5
Building a baking soda volcano in your kitchen is a fun science project with the added "wow" factor of an explosion (without really having anything explode).
It's great for a rainy day, a summer afternoon, or any time you're trying to show your kids just how cool science can be. Here's how it's done:
What You'll Need
Ingredients/materials.
- 3 to 7 cups Warm water
- Red food coloring
- 5 drops Dishwashing detergent
- 2 tbsp Baking soda
- 2 cups White vinegar
Supplies/Tools
- Empty soda bottle (2-liter or 20-ounce depending on how big you want your volcano)
- Baking pan or large tray
Instructions
Create your baking soda volcano.
Place the plastic bottle inside a baking pan or large tray and mold your volcano around it.
For a quick and easy alternative, reach for play dough and let the kids use their creativity to mold the volcano. If you have more time—or would like to keep the kids entertained longer—use paper-mache or clay (try making these fun materials using dryer lint ), or make your play dough with a few simple ingredients.
Simple DIY Play Dough Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups of flour
- 2 cups of salt
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cups lukewarm water
Mix all ingredients together until you get a moldable consistency—smooth and firm.
Keep in mind that clay and paper-mache will need time to dry, but they should create a sturdy structure that will also be fun to paint.
Whichever technique you choose to create your volcanic cone, be sure to keep the bottle opening free of material. Use the bottle cap or cover the opening with tape to prevent any material from getting in the bottle.
Load Your Baking Soda Volcano
Using the funnel, fill the bottle two-thirds full with warm water and a few drops of food coloring.
Add the dishwashing detergent and baking soda to the liquid in the bottle and give it a gentle stir.
Prepare for the Explosion
Before adding the final ingredient, ensure you're wearing protection over your eyes. Keep your face away from the volcano as the mixture may shoot up quite a bit, especially if you use a smaller bottle.
As precisely as possible (without using the funnel), pour the vinegar into the bottle and prepare for your miniature-sized volcanic eruption.
Baking soda and vinegar mixed together produce carbon dioxide gas , which bubbles up (with the help of detergent) and forces the "lava" to erupt.
Variations of the Baking Soda Volcano
The same ingredients can be used for a few versions of this volcanic experiment.
In this simple variation, you'll mix the baking soda with water to make a slurry which will be added at the end (you'll need a clean plastic cup and a spoon to mix it).
You'll also use a smaller bottle, so the explosion will seem bigger. Be sure to place your volcano in a large tray to contain the mess or make this an outdoor activity. Eye protection is especially important.
- Mold your volcano around a 20-ounce soda bottle. (Follow step 1 above to create your volcano structure.)
- Mix 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of warm water, a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent, and a few drops of food coloring. Add this mixture to the bottle in your volcano.
- In a clean plastic cup, combine 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of water. Use a spoon to mix the slurry thoroughly.
- As quickly as possible, add your baking soda slurry to the bottle and watch your volcano explode.
Give these two homemade volcano experiments a try and see which one creates a cooler explosion! To turn this experience into a complete science lesson, check out Why Do Volcanoes Erupt?
- Make a Small Wind Turbine That Kids Can Help Build
- Natural Dyeing Guide: How to Dye Fabric Using Food Scraps
- 8 Art Supplies You Can Make at Home
- Making Soap: 5 Tips for Homemade Soap
- 25 Things to Do With Old Candle Jars
- How to Make Macrame Plant Hangers for Your Home
- How to Clean Your Solar Lights With Eco-Friendly Materials
- Make Pretty Robin's Eggs With a Simple Cabbage Dye
- Learn How to Make Disposable and Reusable Baby Wipes at Home
- 9 DIY Projects That Reuse Your Old Glass Bottles
- Make a Water Powered Flashlight
- How to Make a Spice Painting
- How to Make Your Own DIY Fire Logs Out of Recycled Newspaper (Video)
- How to Make Rose Water
- How to Make an Orange Pomander
- How to Make an Elderberry Tincture
How to Make a Baking Soda Volcano
Step-By-Step Instructions for a Classic Science Fair Project
busypix / Getty Images
- Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
The baking soda and vinegar volcano is a classic science project that can help kids learn about chemical reactions and what happens when a volcano erupts . While it's obviously not the real thing, this kitchen equivalent is cool all the same! The baking soda volcano is also non-toxic, which adds to its appeal—and it only takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Did You Know?
- The cool red lava is the result of a chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar.
- In this reaction, carbon dioxide gas is produced, which is also present in real volcanoes.
- As the carbon dioxide gas is produced, pressure builds up inside the plastic bottle, until—thanks to the detergent—the gas bubbles out of the mouth of the volcano.
Volcano Science Project Materials
- 6 cups flour
- 2 cups salt
- 4 tablespoons cooking oil
- plastic soda bottle
- dishwashing detergent
- food coloring
- baking dish or another pan
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
Make the Chemical Volcano
- Start by making the cone of your baking soda volcano by mixing 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (add more water if needed).
- Stand the soda bottle in the baking pan and mold the dough around it to form a volcano shape. Be sure not to cover the hole or drop dough inside the bottle.
- Fill the bottle most of the way full with warm water and a bit of red food coloring. (You can do this prior to sculpting the cone as long as you don't take so long that the water gets cold.)
- Add 6 drops of detergent to the contents of the bottle. The detergent helps trap bubbles produced by the chemical reaction so you get better lava.
- Add 2 tablespoons baking soda to the liquid in the bottle.
- Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle, and then watch out...It's eruption time!
Experiment With the Volcano
While it's fine for young explorers to tackle a simple model volcano, if you want to make the volcano a better science project, you'll want to add the scientific method . Here are some ideas for different ways to experiment with a baking soda volcano:
- Make a prediction about what happens if you change the amount of baking soda or vinegar. Record and analyze the effect, if any.
- Can you think of ways to change the volcano to make the eruption go higher or last longer? This might involve changing the chemicals or the shape of the volcano. It helps to record numerical data, such as the volume of liquid, the height of the "lava," or the duration of the eruption.
- Does it affect your volcano if you use a different kind of chemical to color the volcano? You could use tempera paint powder.
- Try using tonic water instead of regular water to get a volcano that glows under black light.
- What happens if you substitute other acids instead of vinegar or other bases instead of baking soda? (Examples of acids include lemon juice or ketchup; examples of bases include laundry detergent and household ammonia.) Use caution if you decide to substitute chemicals because some mixtures can be dangerous and may produce hazardous gasses. Never experiment with bleach or bathroom cleaners.
- Adding a bit of food coloring will result in red-orange lava! Orange seems to work best. Add some red, yellow, and even purple, for a bright display.
- Take Your Volcano Science Project to the Next Level
- Baking Soda and Vinegar Chemical Volcano
- Fizzy Sparkling Lemonade Made With Science
- 5 Types of Science Fair Projects
- Fizzy Sherbet Powder Candy Recipe
- Middle School Science Fair Project Ideas
- Elementary School Science Fair Projects
- Chemistry Science Fair Project Ideas
- You've Got Ingredients for a Chemical Volcano
- Ketchup and Baking Soda Volcano
- Equation for the Reaction Between Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Lemon Fizz Science Project
- How to Make a Homemade Volcano That Smokes
- How to Make a Volcano Using Pop Rocks
- 8th Grade Science Fair Project Ideas
Science Fun
Baking Soda And Vinegar Volcano Kitchen Science Experiment
In this fun and easy kitchen science experiment for kids, we’re going to use baking soda and vinegar to create an erupting volcano.
- Measuring cup
- Baking soda
- Liquid dish soap
- Red food coloring
- Baking pan or plastic bin
- Plastic water bottle
Instructions:
- Fill the plastic water bottle about halfway full with baking soda.
- Add a squirt or two of dish soap to the bottle.
- Pile the sand up around the plastic water bottle to make it look like a volcano. Be sure to leave the mouth of the bottle open and unobstructed.
- Measure out ½ cup of vinegar.
- Add a drop or two of red food coloring to the vinegar.
- Pour the vinegar into the plastic water bottle and observe.
EXPLORE AWESOME SCIENCE EXPERIMENT VIDEOS!
How it Works:
The baking soda is a base and the vinegar is an acid. When the acid and base combine, an endothermic reaction occurs and releases carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide gas rushes toward the bottle opening and also causes the dish soap to foam. The gas and foam quickly fill the bottle an erupt from the top and causes a cool looking “lava flow” down the side of your volcano.
Make This A Science Project:
Try different amounts of vinegar. Try different amounts of baking soda. Try different sized and shaped bottles.
EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!
SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO!
previous experiment
Next experiment.
- Skip to main content
- Skip to primary sidebar
Fun with Mama
Toddler and preschool activities
Written by Nadia T • Feb 8, 2024 • 8 Comments
FUN Baking Soda Volcano Experiment For Kids
Have you ever tried the Baking Soda volcano experiment? This has been amongst my children’s FAVORITE activities ever. It is simple to put together and you probably already have everything you need in your kitchen. (Minus the sand.) Read on to see how you can create a volcano science experiment for kids
Volcano Science Experiment
Have you ever tried the baking soda volcano for kids? Watching the volcano explore is truly one of the most surprising and exciting moments for a young child. I love that it can be a science experiment for 3-year-olds all the way to 13-year-olds. It doesn’t lose its excitement. I have started doing science experiments for kids from the time my children were 2 years old. The vinegar and baking soda science experiments are always so easy to put together and definitely have that wow factor!
Related : Lemon Volcano Science Experiment for Kids
If you would prefer to purchase a Volcano set you can do that, but it is also very easy to do with materials you probably already have at home. (We’ve done it both ways… at home and purchased, both equally as amazing to see.)
Please note that affiliate links may be used in this post. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
Volcano Experiment Ingredients:
- Sand (it’s in the red dish),
- A glass bottle for the volcano
- Beaker for pouring
- or plastic bottles (I used 1 glass bottle and one pouring cup)
- Red food coloring
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Paper plate or tray – Basically something just to catch the liquid to prevent mess.
You can always find my favorite kids activity supplies here.
Please note: To make the sand mold to your required shape, mix in a little bit of water.
How to make a volcano science experiment
You can watch the video we created to show you how the experiment works.
First, we will learn how to build the volcano
Mix some red food coloring with vinegar.
Then place damp sand (add some water to the sand to make it moldable) on a tray or paper plate around an empty glass bottle/jar/beaker.
Add some bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) to the empty glass bottle using a funnel.
Now you’re baking soda volcano is ready for eruption.
DIY Volcano
Now you are going to learn how to make a volcano erupt.
Pour the red-colored vinegar into the bottle (use a funnel if you need it).
Watch the magic unfold.
When vinegar mixes with baking soda you get the eruption.
Now you have a homemade volcano eruption
Let’s learn the science behind the volcano project
The baking soda and vinegar experiment demonstrates a simple chemical reaction between an acid (vinegar, which contains acetic acid) and a base (baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate). When the two substances are combined, they react to produce carbon dioxide gas, water, and a salt.
Here’s the chemical equation for the reaction:
- Vinegar (acetic acid): CH3COOH
- Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate): NaHCO3
When vinegar (acetic acid) reacts with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), it produces:
CH3COOH + NaHCO3 -> CH3COONa (sodium acetate) + H2O (water) + CO2 (carbon dioxide gas)
The carbon dioxide gas is what causes the fizzing and bubbling reaction you observe in the experiment. The reaction between the acid and the base releases the carbon dioxide gas, which creates bubbles and pushes the mixture upward, resembling an eruption.
This baking soda volcano is one of our favorite science activities for toddlers and preschoolers. It would be wonderful to add to a Dinosaur Theme Activities month.
I hope you learned how to make a volcano erupt with baking soda and that you try it at home or in your classroom.
The baking soda volcano activity makes a great science project for kids at home and should definitely be added to your at home science bucket list.
The volcano science experiment can also be adapted to many different themes and activities. Instead of doing a volcano theme you can incorporate the baking soda and vinegar and do Fizzing Easter Egg Dyeing .
You can find all of our Science Experiments for kids here.
Do you have a science loving kid? Here are more of my favorite science activities for kids:
- Easy Elephant Toothpaste Experiment
- Halloween Science Witch’s Brew Potions
- Pop Rocks and Soda Experiment
Have you tried the Volcano Experiment for kids before? Were your students or children as amazed as mine?
More Fun Baking Soda Science Experiments
The lemon volcano experiment is FUN!
Fizzing Heart Eruptions
Check out this colorful Baking soda and vinegar reaction experiment
Check out the fizzing ice cubes .
Nadia is a mom of 4, with a passion for making childhood education fun through play. She encourages parents to spend quality time with their kids through fun kids activities and enjoys art, traveling, and doing activities with her children.
View all posts from this author
You May Also Enjoy These Posts:
Get easy and instant access to ALL of our printable activities and resources by joining the Fun With Mama printables club.
Get all the details and join here.
Reader Interactions
August 29, 2009 at 2:33 am
I shouldn't let the kids read over my shoulder – now they want to make one too.
August 29, 2009 at 8:51 am
This looks like so much fun! 🙂 I'll have to try it with my son!
August 29, 2009 at 10:39 am
Such a good mama to do some experimenting with your little. All I think about is M-E-S-S! That is my control freak nature, but I'm trying to get over that.
That 5th picture of your son is priceless! You can't beat that!!
August 29, 2009 at 10:59 am
that really cool!
August 31, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Fun, Fun Fun!!!
September 2, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Ooh, the famous soda and vinegar thing. That's what made me want study chemistry – too bad my parents were dead set against it. I read that this project is simpler (and less messy :)) with play-doh, but I haven't tried it out myself yet.
September 7, 2009 at 11:21 am
my son is gonna sqeal with delight if he gets to make this!
[…] in and you might see it on GMSA @ 9 a.m.!Here’s what you’ll need:This activity is courtesy of Fun with Mama.Copyright 2021 by KSAT – All rights reserved.Kaiti Blake is a child […]
Leave a Comment Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .
Have you grabbed the latest FREE printables?
Enter your email to download PDF and receive updates from OSMO
Scan to get started.
The Assessment App is available only on the Apple App Store . Please scan the QR code below with your iPhone device to download the app.
How To Make a Volcano for Kids
Want To See A Volcano Erupt Up Close? Make Volcanoes Erupt In Your Backyard With The Volcano Science Experiment . The best way to help your child learn puzzling acids and base concepts is by conducting a simple volcano experiment for kids at home. A baking soda vinegar volcano is the best way to teach children about the chemical reaction between acids and bases. Help your child learn how to make a volcano for kids.
- Things You Need For The Volcano Science Project
A Step-By-Step Guide On How to Make A Volcano For Kids
The science behind the volcano eruption experiment, 5 creative ways to make a volcano at home.
A volcano science experiment is a great way to help children understand the lesson on acids and bases. Help your child understand the chemical reaction between acids and bases using this simple science experiment for kids at home.
Things You Need For The Volcano Science Project
Making a volcano at home is an easy and fun project to do with your kids. Here is a list of things you need to perform the volcano science project. Most of the materials on the list are inexpensive and easily available. In fact, you might even find them in your pantry.
Things You’ll Need For Volcano Experiment For Kids:
- 100 ml of warm water
- 10 ml of dish soap
- 400 ml of white vinegar
- Empty 2-litre soda bottle
- 2 drops of red food coloring
- Baking soda slurry ( ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup water)
Wondering how to make a homemade volcano? It’s pretty simple. Here is a step-by-step guide to performing the volcano science experiment with your kids.
- Step 1: Mix the dish soap, water, white vinegar, and food coloring and pour it into the empty soda bottle.
- Step 2: Make a baking soda slurry with ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup water. Mix it thoroughly with a spoon, until it’s completely dissolved.
- Step 3: Now, it’s eruption time! Quickly but carefully pour this slurry into the bottle and step back. Now, watch the volcano erupt and spill out red lava!
Download How To Make Volcano Printable
The volcano science experiment will leave your kids in awe as the homemade volcano erupts and spills out red lava. Help them understand the science behind the experiment by asking them questions and giving them hints. Here is a list of questions to help you start.
- What did you learn from the volcano eruption experiment?
- Why do you think the liquid in the soda bottle erupted when you added the baking soda slurry to it?
- How does the volcano science project work?
The homemade volcano erupts because of a chemical reaction between an acid and a base. The acetic acid present in the vinegar reacts with the sodium hydrogen carbonate in the baking soda and produces carbon dioxide. The base (sodium hydrogen carbonate) undergoes a decomposing reaction when it is exposed to the acid. This produces a gas called carbon dioxide, which causes the homemade volcano to “erupt!” The dish soap becomes foamy and the bubbles and spill out like lava.
Do you know there are several ways to make a volcano at home? Now that you know the science behind volcano eruptions, here are 5 more ways to make a volcano at home!
Tape Volcano
Things you need:
- Tall plastic container
- Baking soda
- Acrylic paints
- Plastic plate
Instructions:
- Step 1: For this baking soda vinegar volcano, tape the top of your tall plastic container to the side of your plastic plate. The plate serves as the base for your volcano. Continue to add tape around your container in this fashion.
- Step 2: Paint your ‘volcano’ with acrylic paint. (We recommend using brown paint)
- Step 3: Once you’re done making your volcano, add a few drops of baking soda and vinegar inside the volcano and watch it erupt! You can add some red food coloring to make the volcano look more realistic with red lava spilling out.
Ice Volcano
- Plastic wrap
- Small bowls
- Step 1: To build an ice volcano, place a ball (that doesn’t float) at the bottom of each bowl. Line each of these bowls with plastic wrap.
- Step 2: Next, add a mixture of baking soda, water, and food coloring to these bowls so that they completely cover the ball underneath.
- Step 3: Place these bowls in the freezer for some time.
- Step 4: Once they’re frozen, pry out your ‘volcano’ from the bowls and add a few drops of vinegar into it. Your ice volcano will erupt as soon as the vinegar touches it!
Sand Volcano
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 2 cups vinegar
- Empty plastic bottle
- Red/orange food coloring
Instructions: Want to build a sand volcano in your backyard? Here’s how you can do it.
- Step 1: First, place an empty plastic bottle in a mound of sand.
- Step 2: Use a funnel to add some baking soda to the bottle.
- Step 3: Mix some food coloring and vinegar together and pour this mixture inside the bottle and watch your volcano erupt!
Mini Volcanoes
- Red, blue, green, yellow, orange and pink food coloring
Instructions: Here’s how to make a volcano for kids using an egg carton.
- Step 1: Cut out the bottom of each egg holder in your egg carton and flip it over. You’ll notice that each slot now looks like a mini volcano.
- Step 2: Pour some baking soda into each slot.
- Step 3: Then, add some colored vinegar solution (vinegar + food coloring) into the slot. You can create several different colored eruptions in this way. The colorful eruptions will leave your child in awe.
Newspaper Volcano
- Large plastic bottle
- Cellulose adhesive
Instructions: Make a volcano at home using newspaper!
- Step 1: First, place a bottle in the middle of your cardboard base. Apply the adhesive paste all over the cardboard and glue the crumpled newspaper over it.
- Step 2: Then, glue the newspaper around your bottle too, and paint the entire structure to ensure it looks like a volcano. Set it aside and allow it to dry for a couple of hours or days.
- Step 3: When it’s ready, ask your child to pour the baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring into the bottle to make the volcano erupt.
We hope you enjoy making these volcano science projects with your little one. These experiments hone their understanding of science and instill in them a sense of creativity and imagination.
For more fun kids learning games and activities, check the rest of our website!
Frequently Asked Questions on How To Make a Volcano for Kids
What are the materials used for making a volcano for kids.
The materials used for making a volcano for kids are luke warm water, white vinegar, soda bottle, dish soap, red coloring solution, and baking soda slurry.
How To Make a Volcano for Kids?
To make volcano for kids, firstly take a soda bottle and mix water, dish soap, food coloring and white vinegar. Then, make baking soda slurry and add slowly to this solution. Let the children watch the volcano erupt and understand the concept of eruption properly.
| Kids Learning Related Links | |
Subscribe to Osmo & get
your first purchase
You’ve been subscribed with
Check the welcome mail to download the printables and avail your discount.
Explore our award-winning products for kids learning.
* Offer valid only for 7 days.
- STEM InSIGHT
- STEM Ambassadors
- « STEM@Home
- Nature & Environment
- Community & Heritage
- Environment
- Ambassadors@Work
- Career Talks
Make a Baking Soda Volcano
Primary | Materials | Views: 19082
Did You Know?
- The cool red lava is the result of a chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar.
- In this reaction, carbon dioxide gas is produced, which is also present in real volcanoes.
- As the carbon dioxide gas is produced, pressure builds up inside the plastic bottle, until—thanks to the detergent—the gas bubbles out of the mouth of the volcano.
You will Need:
- 6 cups flour
- 2 cups salt
- 4 tablespoons cooking oil
- plastic drinks bottle
- dishwashing detergent
- food colouring
- baking dish or another pan
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
What to Do:
- Start by making the cone of your baking soda volcano by mixing 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (add more water if needed).
- Stand the soda bottle in the baking pan and mold the dough around it to form a volcano shape.
- Be sure not to cover the hole or drop dough inside the bottle.
- Fill the bottle most of the way full with warm water and a bit of red food coloring. (You cando this prior to sculpting the cone as long as you don’t take so long that the water gets cold.)
- Add 6 drops of detergent to the contents of the bottle. The detergent helps trap bubbles produced by the chemical reaction so you get better lava.
- Add 2 tablespoons baking soda to the liquid in the bottle.
- Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle, and then watch out…It’s eruption time!
We want to see eruptions! Send us a video to [email protected] or tag us on Twitter @STEMHUB_SE
« Back
Accept cookies?
We use cook ies to give you the best online experience and to show personalised content and marketing. We use them to improve our website and content as well as to tailor our digital advertising on third-party platforms. You can change your preferences at any time.
Popular search terms:
- British wildlife
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year
- Explore the Museum
Anthropocene
British Wildlife
Collections
Human evolution
- What on Earth?
During Beta testing articles may only be saved for seven days.
Create a list of articles to read later. You will be able to access your list from any article in Discover.
You don't have any saved articles.
How to make a volcano
Volcanic eruptions are one of the most powerful natural forces on our planet.
Making your own miniature erupting volcano is a great, safe way to start learning about these incredible geological features.
Watch the video above to find out how to make a volcano model from household items, then stand back and watch it erupt.
Read on for written instructions and to discover more about volcanoes.
How to make an erupting volcano model
For the volcano model:.
- Two A3 sheets of card
- 200 ml plastic bottle
- Paint and paintbrushes
For the eruption:
- 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- 1 tbsp washing up liquid
- 2 tbsp water
- ½ cup vinegar
- 1 tbsp red food colouring
1. Place your bottle upside down in the centre of a sheet of card and draw a small circle around the neck.
2. Cut a straight line through the card to the middle of the circle, and cut it out.
In the middle of the card, draw around the bottleneck and cut out the circle
3. Overlap the two sides of the card to make a cone shape. Tape this into place, leaving a hole where you cut out the circle. Cut around the base of the cone so that it sits flat, but make sure that it is still taller than your bottle.
4. Place the cone over the bottle. Tape the top of the paper cone to the neck of the bottle to hold it in place. Tape the base of the cone to the other sheet of card.
5. Use paint to decorate the cone and make it look like a volcano. Allow your model to fully dry.
Cut away the card at the base of the cone so that it sits flat
6. In a bowl, combine the bicarbonate of soda and washing up liquid. Add the water and mix thoroughly. Pour this mixture into your volcano.
7. In a cup, mix together the vinegar and food colouring.
8. When you're ready, pour the vinegar into the bottle with the bicarbonate. Wait for it to erupt and watch how the lava flows.
9. Experiment with different amounts of bicarbonate and vinegar and see how the volcano's eruption changes.
Stand back and watch your volcano erupt
Take care when handling the eruption ingredients and stand back when watching the eruption to make sure you don't get any in your eyes. Make sure you are working in a well ventilated area.
To make cleaning up easier, it's best to stand your model on a wipe-clean surface.
What is a volcano?
Rather than being one solid surface, Earth's crust and the uppermost parts of the mantle (together called the lithosphere) are broken into several tectonic plates that float over the asthenosphere. This is a deeper layer of rock that is a solid but flows very slowly.
This slow process moves the plates further apart (divergent boundary) or closer together (convergent boundary), or causes them to slide past each other (transform boundary).
Volcanoes typically form at divergent and convergent boundaries, but are also seen in hot spots in the middle of tectonic plates.
Mount Fuji is one of the world's most famous active volcanoes. It last erupted in the early 1700s and is located about 100 kilometres from Japan's capital city, Tokyo, although some smaller cities sit much closer. © Marion & Christoph Aistleitner via Wikimedia Commons ( CC0 )
Volcanoes are an opening of the Earth's crust through which molten rock, gases and ash can escape. This mixture of materials is called magma while it's underground, lava when it is erupted and igneous rock once it's cooled and solidified on the surface.
Volcanoes are typically high ground or mountains, sometimes with very steep sides made from the magma that erupted.
Types of volcano
Volcanoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, primarily caused by the different types of magma, but also by how volcanoes behave and where they're located.
Stratovolcanoes
Stratovolcanoes are the most common and perhaps most recognisable type of volcano. Stratovolcanoes are steep-sloped and cone-shaped. They are also known as composite volcanoes.
They mostly produce explosive eruptions and are most commonly associated with convergent plate boundaries. Their lava is sticky (viscous), which means that it doesn't usually spread too far before cooling on the surface, giving the volcano a tall and cone-shaped profile.
Mount St Helens, a stratovolcano in the United States, famously erupted in May 1980. An explosive lateral blast occurred when a strong earthquake caused a massive landslide that collapsed the northern face of the mountain. This reduced pressure and allowing the volcano to explode from its side. © Harry Glicken , USGS/CVO via Wikimedia Commons
The violent 79 AD eruption of the still-active stratovolcano Mount Vesuvius in Italy is regarded as the deadliest in European history. It may have killed more than 16,000 people in total.
Several settlements were destroyed by its pyroclastic flow, the most famous being the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. Pyroclastic flow is a very hot mixture of ash, gases and other volcanic materials that moves at high speed along the flank of the volcano.
This was a Plinian eruption, with jets of magma and gases emerging from the volcano at high speeds. These types of eruptions can last for several days and cause a plume of superheated ash and gas that can expand and reach a height of 55 kilometres.
Stromboli is another of Italy's active stratovolcanoes, but it behaves differently to Vesuvius. This island volcano has been exhibiting a pattern of eruption for 2,000 years. Mildly explosive blasts of magma - called fire fountains - consistently occur from a few minutes to a few hours apart. This type of eruption is known as strombolian and is exhibited by other volcanoes around the world, such as by Mount Erebus in Antarctica.
A gouache painting by Mauton of Mount Vesuvius erupting in 1836. Image courtesy of Wellcome Collection , Public Domain
Shield volcanoes
Shield volcanoes are generally not as tall as stratovolcanoes, although they can still reach great heights. Olympus Mons is a shield volcano on the planet Mars . It's the largest volcano in the solar system at around 25 kilometres tall and 624 metres in diameter.
A shield volcano's eruptions are usually gentle and non-explosive and are instead known for their lava flows and fountains. Shield volcanoes have runny lava (low viscosity) that travels further than the stickier lava of stratovolcanoes. This flowing lava results in the far-reaching, gently sloping sides of these volcanoes.
Mauna Kea is a dormant shield volcano in Hawaii. Its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii, at 4,207 metres above sea level © Nula666 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Shield volcanoes are typically located on hot spots found across tectonic plates rather than at the boundaries. The best known are the Hawaiian volcanoes such as Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Kīauea.
Other volcanoes around the world also exhibit gentle Hawaiian eruptions. This type of eruption can produce lava fountains that can be hundreds of metres tall and travel at speeds of up to 100 metres per second.
Cinder cones
Cinder cones are relatively small volcanoes made from loose volcanic material. Most are short-lived and can grow on the sides of larger volcanoes. They typically form through an explosive eruption or lava fountain from a single vent.
One of the best known is Parícutin, a volcano that suddenly formed in a cornfield in Michoacán, Mexico, beginning in 1943. Due to its continuous strombolian eruptions, the volcano grew until its eruptions ceased in 1952. It had reached 300 metres tall.
Parícutin was the first time that volcanologists were able to document the full life cycle of a volcano.
The cinder cone volcano, Parícutin, erupting in 1943 © Bodil Christensen via Wikimedia Commons
Supervolcanoes
The largest and most explosive volcanoes on Earth are popularly called supervolcanoes , although this isn't a scientifically defined type of volcano. These enormous volcanoes produce giant calderas - volcanic craters formed by the collapse of the volcano itself when the magma chamber below was emptied by an eruption.
One of the most famous is Yellowstone in the United States, which has a caldera around 72 by 55 kilometres. The Yellowstone supervolcano last erupted around 630,000 years ago.
The Yellowstone supervolcano is well known for its geothermal activity in the form of hot springs, fumaroles and geysers
There are around 20 known supervolcano sites around the world. The most recent supereruption was of Taupo volcano in New Zealand around 26,500 years ago.
The eruption of the Indonesian supervolcano Toba around 73,000 years ago is also thought to have triggered a drop of 2-3 degrees Celsius in air temperature globally, causing a five- to seven-year volcanic winter. This eruption may have had an profound impact on the course of the human species.
- Your question
Ask our scientists
Do you have a burning question about science or nature you want answered? Fill out the form below and we'll work with our scientists to answer some of them in our online magazine Discover or on our YouTube channel .
This new feature is in beta. Find out more .
Find out more
Supervolcanoes and their enormous eruptions
Discover what a supervolcano is, what their eruptions are like and how they impact our planet.
The 1883 Krakatau eruption: a year of blue Moons
The mystery of blue Moons lies in the ashes of volcanic eruptions.
Inside the mind of a volcano
As the new Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery prepares to blast open, Museum volcanologist talks about predicting disasters and exploring off limits on the slopes of volcanoes.
Exploring Martian mysteries in lceland's volcanoes
Learn how Iceland's volcanic terrain is shaping the way scientists explore the surface of Mars.
Don't miss a thing
Receive email updates about our news, science, exhibitions, events, products, services and fundraising activities. We may occasionally include third-party content from our corporate partners and other museums. We will not share your personal details with these third parties. You must be over the age of 13. Privacy notice .
Follow us on social media
- Science Notes Posts
- Contact Science Notes
- Todd Helmenstine Biography
- Anne Helmenstine Biography
- Free Printable Periodic Tables (PDF and PNG)
- Periodic Table Wallpapers
- Interactive Periodic Table
- Periodic Table Posters
- Science Experiments for Kids
- How to Grow Crystals
- Chemistry Projects
- Fire and Flames Projects
- Holiday Science
- Chemistry Problems With Answers
- Physics Problems
- Unit Conversion Example Problems
- Chemistry Worksheets
- Biology Worksheets
- Periodic Table Worksheets
- Physical Science Worksheets
- Science Lab Worksheets
- My Amazon Books
5 Ways to Make a Volcano
There is more than one way to make a chemical volcano. Actually, there are several methods. Here are some of the best, from the tried-and-true baking soda and vinegar volcano to the most exotic dry ice volcano.
Make the Volcano Cone
You can use a bottle or can or really any container for your volcanic eruption, but it’s easy to make the volcano shape by coating your container with clay or papier mache. Here is a simple recipe for a homemade clay volcano:
- 6 cups flour
- 2 cups salt
- 2 cups water
- 4 tablespoons cooking oil
- Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl. It’s easiest if you stir the flour, salt, and oil together first and then mix in the water. You can add more water if needed. You want a firm, smooth dough.
- Stand an empty soda bottle or can in a pie tin or baking pan (so your ‘lava’ won’t make a mess) and mold the dough into a volcano shape. Be sure you don’t drop dough into the bottle or cover the opening.
- If you want to paint the volcano, wait until the dough is dry.
Now for the recipes! Most use common ingredients that you have at home.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
This is the classic science fair project volcano. The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) reacts with the vinegar (weak acetic acid) to produce carbon dioxide gas. The detergent traps the gas, which is heavier than air, so it flows down the side of the volcano.
- liquid dishwashing detergent
- red or orange food coloring
- baking soda
- Pour warm water into the volcano until it is 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full.
- Add several drops of food coloring.
- Add a squirt of detergent. This helps the ‘lava’ foam up and flow.
- Add a couple of spoonfuls of baking soda.
- When you are ready to start the eruption, pour vinegar into your volcano.
- You can recharge the volcano with more baking soda and vinegar.
Note: If you don’t have vinegar, you can use another acidic liquid, like lemon juice or orange juice.
Yeast and Peroxide Volcano
- packet of quick-rise yeast
- hydrogen peroxide (3% sold in stores or can use 6% from beauty supply stores)
- food coloring
- Pour the hydrogen peroxide solution into the volcano until it is nearly full. The 3% household peroxide is safe to handle, but wear gloves and use extreme caution if you use the 6% peroxide, which can give you chemical burns!
- Add several drops of food coloring for your lava.
- When you are ready for the eruption, add the packet of yeast to the volcano.
Ketchup and Vinegar Volcano
This volcano bubbles and oozes lava. The eruption is not so dramatic, but is interesting and long-lasting. The acidity of the vinegar and tomatoes in the ketchup reacts with the baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas, which gets trapped as bubbles by the detergent.
- dishwashing liquid
- Mix together ketchup, warm water, and a squirt of detergent to make lava.
- Pour the mixture into the volcano so it is nearly full.
- When you are ready for the eruption, add baking soda.
Mentos and Diet Soda Volcano
This volcano erupts instantly and spectacularly. For a truly memorable volcano, use diet tonic water instead of diet cola and shine a black light on the volcano. This produces a vivid blue glowing eruption!
- diet soda (regular soda works too, but produces a sticky mess)
- Mentos candies
- Fill the volcano full of soda (or you could have molded the volcano around a full soda bottle.
- When you are ready for the eruption, drop all of the Mentos candies into the mouth of the bottle at once. One easy way to do this is to roll a sheet of paper around the candies, put your finger beneath them to hold them in place, and release the candies over the hole. Be prepared for a major splash!
Dry Ice Volcano
This volcano appears to smoke, releasing a cascade of bubble lava.
- Fill the volcano with warm water.
- Add a bit of dishwashing liquid.
- When you are ready to start the eruption, use gloves or tongs to drop a piece of dry ice into the volcano.
Do you need more ways to make a volcano ? You can bake a souffle to model the geological processes or make a realistic wax volcano .
Related Posts
Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →
Baking Soda Vinegar Volcano For Eruption Fun
Take science outside with an easy SANDBOX VOLCANO ! When the weather is nice, try simple summer science experiments outdoors for a real hit with the kids. From pulleys to homemade ice cream, to bursting bags, this baking soda vinegar volcano is one of the coolest and easiest science activities for kids this season.
Baking Soda Volcano Experiments
We love all things that erupt and have been exploring different ways to create eruptions while having fun through play. Baking soda and vinegar science experiments are fantastic for kids of all ages !
Here are a few of our favorite volcano eruptions…
- Pumpkin Volcano
- Lemon Volcano
- Apple Volcano
- Volcano Slime
- LEGO Volcano
- Dinosaur Volcano
- Snow Volcano
- Watermelon Volcano
When the weather is nice, doing your science activities outdoors is an awesome idea! Building a sandbox volcano is an outdoor science activity with a quick clean-up.
What we love about these science activities is the extra play factor that is organically included. You can see what I mean at the end of this post.
Watch the Volcano Video
How does a volcano erupt.
Well, it’s not because of baking soda and vinegar! But it is due to escaping gasses and pressure. You can use a homemade volcano with a baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction to mimic the gas produced in a volcano. Baking soda and vinegar are the best ingredients for a simple volcano eruption!
The chemical reaction produces a gas (read more about how it works further on) which pushes the liquid up and out of the container. This is similar to an actual volcano where gas builds up underneath the earth’s surface and forces the magma up through the hole in the volcano, causing an eruption.
Some volcanoes erupt with an explosive spray of lava and ash, whereas some, like the active volcano in Hawaii, the lava flows out the opening. It all depends on the shape and the opening! The more confined space, the more explosive the eruption.
Our sandbox volcano is an excellent example of an explosive volcano. Another similar example is our Mentos and coke experiment .
Read more about the science behind baking soda and vinegar experiments .
Grab This Free Volcano Facts Pack.
Add cool volcano facts to your sandbox volcano demonstration with this free activity pack. Click here for your volcano facts pack .
What is the scientific method?
The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is put to the test with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity. Sounds heavy…
What in the world does that mean?!? The scientific method should be used as a guide to help lead the process. It’s not set in stone.
You don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.
As kids develop practices that involve creating, gathering data, evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation. Click here to learn more about the scientific method and how to use it.
Even though the scientific method feels like it is just for big kids…
This method can be used with kids of all ages! Have a casual conversation with younger kiddos, or do a more formal notebook entry with older kiddos!
Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
Also, look at our salt dough volcano project as a fantastic alternative!
- sandbox with sand (try our sand slime or sand foam too)
- baking soda
- 16oz water bottle
- food coloring (optional)
You can also try adding dish soap for an even foamier fizzing eruption. Just a few drops are all that is needed.
BAKING SODA VOLCANO SET UP
STEP 1. Fill the water bottle about a third full (mix in optional food coloring) and a dd about 5 teaspoons of baking soda to it. Put the water bottle cap back on until you are ready .
STEP 2. Build a sand mountain or sand volcano around the bottle .
STEP 3. Uncap the bottle and p our a good amount, probably a cup of vinegar into the bottle .
Quick, get out of the way and watch the huge eruption!
Try These Additional Volcano Project Ideas
If you don’t want to use baking soda and vinegar, here are a few other ways to produce an eruption.
- Hydrogen Peroxide and Yeast (Elephant Toothpaste)
- Mentos and Diet Coke (Mentos Volcano)
More Fun Fizzing Experiments
There are many ways to explore fizzy reactions and not just with baking soda and vinegar experiments !
- Pop Rocks Science
- Bottle Rocket Blast Off
- Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloons
- Fizzy Paint
- Mentos and Coke
- Hatching Dino Eggs
- Lemon Volcanos
More Helpful Science Resources
Science vocabulary.
It is never too early to introduce some fantastic science words to kids. Get them started with a printable science vocabulary word list . You will want to incorporate these simple science terms into your next science lesson!
WHAT IS A SCIENTIST
Think like a scientist! Act like a scientist! Scientists like you and me are also curious about the world around them. Learn about the different types of scientists and what they do to increase their understanding of their specific areas of interest. Read What Is A Scientist
SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS
Sometimes the best way to introduce science concepts is through a colorfully illustrated book with characters your kids can relate to! Check out this fantastic list of science books that are teacher approved and get ready to spark curiosity and exploration!
SCIENCE PRACTICES
A new approach to teaching science is called the Best Science Practices. These eight science and engineering practices are less structured and allow for a more free**-**flowing approach to problem-solving and finding answers to questions. These skills are critical to developing future engineers, inventors, and scientists!
Printable Science Project Pack with 52+ Experiments
Templates, instructions, observation sheets and more for over 52+ science projects and experiments. Perfect for kids in Kinderaten through Middle School.
Will this ruin the existing sand in the box? THaks!
We did not have a problem with it. If you are concerned you can scoop out the used sand or you could put a bin inside the sand box and have kids build the volcano inside it.
- Pingback: Chemistry Activities and Science Experiments for Kids
- Pingback: 33 fun summer activities for the kids
- Pingback: Fun Volcano Summer Learning Activities for Kids | Connections Academy
- Pingback: Winter Science Snow Volcano STEM Activity for Kids | Ai Nime
- Pingback: Winter Science Snow Volcano STEM Activity for Kids
Comments are closed.
Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide
~ projects to try now ~.
-->
 Explanation
 Impact craters Mentos and coke Baking powder popper Screaming dry ice Dry ice in a balloon Special: Dry ice color change Dry ice smoking soap bubble snake Dry ice giant crystal ball bubble Dry ice in water Rainbow milk Gummy bear osmosis Floating ping pong ball Rotating Earth Special: Colored fire Special: Fire bubbles Water cycle in a jar Egg drop challenge Taking the pulse Orange candle Glass bottle xylophone Warped spacetime Homemade rainbow Water implosion Warm and cold plates Plastic bag kite Tamed lightning Yeast and a balloon Forever boiling bottle Moon on a pen Moon in a box Inexhaustible bottle Crystal egg geode Magic ice cut Leaf pigments chromatography Heavy smoke Popsicle stick bridge Micrometeorites Special: Fire tornado Special: Whoosh bottle Dancing water marbles Brownian motion Flying static ring Water thermometer String telephone Special: Dust explosion Disappearing styrofoam Special: Burning money Special: Burning towel Salt water purifier Fish dissection Hovering soap bubble Homemade sailboat Water mass meeting Plastic bag and pencils Water sucking bottle Water sucking glass Aristotle's illusion Spinning spiral snake Imploding soda can Carbon dioxide extuingisher Plastic bag parachute Dental impression Rolling static soda can Static paper ghost Color changing flower Upside down glass Shrinking chip bag Solar system model Strawberry DNA Electric motor Flashy electric motor Bouncing soap bubbles Toilet paper roll maraca Cloud in a bottle 1 Cloud in a bottle 2 Balloon rocket Water whistle Homemade yogurt Special: Screaming gummy bear Homemade compass Trash airplane Wind-up spinner toy Tea bag rocket Balancing soda can Lung volume test Fireproof balloon Expanding space Straw propeller Wooden cutlery Levitating match Human reflexes Electromagnet Soil layers Straw potato Straw rocket launcher Traveling flame Water bowls Straw duck call Solar eclipse Silo of salt Balloon skewer Newspaper tower Microwave light bulb Heavy paper Rubber chicken bone Homemade marble run Drops on a coin Cartesian diverContent of website. 
Social MediaShare this page! 
Artificial lava – how does it work? Have you ever wondered why baking powder is used in cake batter? Baking powder makes the cake batter fluffy and soft during baking. This is because it releases a gas during baking: carbon dioxide. The experiment shows you how violent the reaction of baking powder with a liquid can be. It works especially well with an acid such as vinegar. See for yourself! Before you get started If you are experimenting at home: 1. Let your parents know and discuss the experiments with them beforehand. 2. Do not eat or drink at your workspace. 3. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after the experiment. 4. Be careful and cautious with the materials.  Position your volcano on a protected surface, such as a newspaper or plastic tablecloth. Place a shallow container or tray around the base of the volcano to catch the erupting mixture and prevent any mess. 5. Start the eruptionPour vinegar into the plastic bottle, filling it about halfway. Quickly add the baking soda mixture to the bottle and step back to watch the volcanic reaction. The chemical reaction between the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid) produces carbon dioxide gas, creating an eruption. Frequently Asked Questions1. can i use any type of vinegar. Yes, any type of vinegar will work, but white vinegar is the most commonly used due to its affordability and availability. 2. Is it safe for children?As long as children are supervised during the activity, it is safe for them to participate. However, it’s important to ensure that they do not consume the mixture. 3. Can I use other coloring instead of red food coloring?Yes, you can use any color you prefer, or even mix different colors to create unique volcanic effects. 4. How can I make the eruption more impressive?To create a foaming eruption, add a few drops of dish soap into the vinegar before adding the baking soda. The soap helps to trap carbon dioxide gas, resulting in a more bubbly and prolonged eruption. 5. How can I make the volcano look more realistic?You can paint the volcano with acrylic or tempera paints to resemble the surface of a real volcano. Additionally, you can add texture using sand, rocks, or foliage around the base of the volcano. 6. Can I reuse the volcano for another eruption?Certainly! Clean the bottle and allow it to dry before using it again. You can also remove the clay or papier-mâché if it was used for decoration and replace it for subsequent eruptions. 7. Is there any other way to create a volcanic eruption?Yes, there are alternative methods, such as using diet coke and Mentos or using a combination of hydrogen peroxide and yeast. Each method produces a different type of eruption. 8. Can I use a real volcano instead?No, it is not safe to create an eruption using a real volcano. Volcanoes are natural phenomena and can be dangerous if not handled properly. 9. How can I incorporate this experiment into a school project?You can present your volcano experiment by explaining the science behind the eruption, discussing different types of volcanoes, or even creating a poster displaying the step-by-step process. 10. Are there any precautions I should take?Ensure that you conduct the experiment in a well-ventilated area and avoid inhaling the gas produced during the eruption. Also, protect your work surface to prevent any stains or damage from the erupting mixture. 11. What can I do with the leftover materials?You can store the baking soda and vinegar for future experiments or use them for their intended purposes in baking or cleaning respectively. 12. Can I involve younger children in this activity?Yes, younger children can participate by helping with the decoration of the volcano or observing the eruption while being supervised by an adult. Watch this awesome video to spice up your cooking!
 About Melissa T. JacksonMelissa loves nothing more than a good dinner party and spends weeks intricately planning her next 'event.' The food must be delicious, the wine and cocktails must be the perfect match, and the decor has to impress without being over the top. It's a wonder that she gets any time to write about her culinary adventures. She particularly loves all types of fusion cooking, mixing the best of different food cultures to make interesting and unique dishes. Melissa lives in New York with her boyfriend Joe and their poodle, Princess. Vinegar Volcano! You will need:
The Science Bit:You may also like.  What To Do After University – It’s Up To You!See Orion’s Belt (CosWatch Blog 3)What we have been up to – Summer 2013Run your own fun science branch. A Fun Science franchise is perfect if you want to run your own business without the risks and hassle of starting up alone. Interested? Then click the link for more information! |
COMMENTS
3-4 Tbs of baking soda at least (we usually do 4-6 which makes it extra foamy and will do 2-3 eruptions) 1 tsp of dish soap. 1/2 oz to 2 oz of Washable Paint, depending on the intensity of the color desired. 1 cup (8 oz) of Vinegar to start with per eruption…then they'll be asking for more 🙂. Location: an area with pea gravel, sand, or dirt.
2. Once your volcano is set up, pour 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda into the paper cup. 3. Next, add about a half cup of vinegar into a plastic measuring cup. 4. Add a few squirts of dish soap to the vinegar solution. 5. Add some squirts of red and yellow food coloring to the vinegar mixture. 6.
Put the baking soda in the volcano crater. In the second jar, mix water and vinegar with food coloring until the liquid turns dark red. Then add a dash of detergent. Important : Put your baking powder volcano on a waterproof surface at the latest, otherwise lava will run onto the table or the floor! Tilts the red mixture in the aluminum foil ...
Basically you need the ingredients for the volcano eruption, a jar or small bottle for the eruption to happen in and something to use as the volcano part. Volcano - sand, snow, modroc etc. Small jar or bottle. Red food colouring. Dish soap. Baking soda. Vinegar.
Steps. Mold your volcano around a 20-ounce soda bottle. (Follow step 1 above to create your volcano structure.) Mix 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of warm water, a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent, and ...
The baking soda and vinegar volcano is a fun chemistry project you can do to simulate a real volcanic eruption or as an example of an acid-base reaction.The chemical reaction between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid) produces carbon dioxide gas, which forms bubbles in dishwashing detergent.
Make the Chemical Volcano. Start by making the cone of your baking soda volcano by mixing 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (add more water if needed). Stand the soda bottle in the baking pan and mold the dough around it to form a volcano shape.
Materials: 10 ml of dish soap 100 ml of warm water 400 ml of white vinegar Food coloring Baking soda slurry (fill a cup about ½ with baking soda, then fill the rest of the way with water) Empty 2 liter soda bottle Instructions: NOTE: This should be done outside due to the mess. Combine the vinegar, water, dish soap and 2 drops of food coloring into the empty soda bottle. Use a spoon to mix ...
Fill the plastic water bottle about halfway full with baking soda. Add a squirt or two of dish soap to the bottle. Pile the sand up around the plastic water bottle to make it look like a volcano. Be sure to leave the mouth of the bottle open and unobstructed. Measure out ½ cup of vinegar. Add a drop or two of red food coloring to the vinegar.
First, we will learn how to build the volcano. Mix some red food coloring with vinegar. Then place damp sand (add some water to the sand to make it moldable) on a tray or paper plate around an empty glass bottle/jar/beaker. Add some bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) to the empty glass bottle using a funnel.
Step 1: First, place an empty plastic bottle in a mound of sand. Step 2: Use a funnel to add some baking soda to the bottle. Step 3: Mix some food coloring and vinegar together and pour this mixture inside the bottle and watch your volcano erupt! Mini Volcanoes. Things you need:
Start by making the cone of your baking soda volcano by mixing 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (add more water if needed). Stand the soda bottle in the baking pan and mold the dough around it to form a volcano shape. Be sure not to cover the hole or drop ...
Pour this mixture into your volcano. 7. In a cup, mix together the vinegar and food colouring. 8. When you're ready, pour the vinegar into the bottle with the bicarbonate. Wait for it to erupt and watch how the lava flows. 9. Experiment with different amounts of bicarbonate and vinegar and see how the volcano's eruption changes.
liquid dishwashing detergent. red or orange food coloring. baking soda. vinegar. Pour warm water into the volcano until it is 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full. Add several drops of food coloring. Add a squirt of detergent. This helps the 'lava' foam up and flow. Add a couple of spoonfuls of baking soda.
STEP 1. Fill the water bottle about a third full (mix in optional food coloring) and a dd about 5 teaspoons of baking soda to it. Put the water bottle cap back on until you are ready. STEP 2. Build a sand mountain or sand volcano around the bottle. STEP 3. Uncap the bottle and p our a good amount, probably a cup of vinegar into the bottle.
It is also possible to replace the baking soda (or baking powder) and vinegar with 120 ml (1/2 cup) hydrogen peroxide 6 % and 7.5 ml (1/2 tablespoon) dry yeast. The hydrogen peroxide is poured into a drinking glass that is "baked in" inside the volcano, and then the dry yeast is added while stirring quickly.
Cut a cross from there to the inside wall of the glass. Fold the four corners of the aluminum foil inward and tape them to the inside of the glass. 3. Fill with chemicals. Add the baking powder to the large glass. Fill a second glass halfway with vinegar and dilute it with water so that the glass is almost full at the end.
Position your volcano on a protected surface, such as a newspaper or plastic tablecloth. Place a shallow container or tray around the base of the volcano to catch the erupting mixture and prevent any mess. 5. Start the eruption. Pour vinegar into the plastic bottle, filling it about halfway. Quickly add the baking soda mixture to the bottle and ...
Baking Soda & Vinegar Volcano. Use baking soda and vinegar to create an awesome chemical reaction! Watch as it rapidly fizzes over the container and make sure you've got some towels ready to clean up. A container to hold everything and avoid a big mess! Place some of the baking soda into your container. Watch as the reaction takes place!
You can use baking powder reactions to burst a bag. Using a 5 inch by 5 inch piece of paper towel, fold and insert 1 1/2 tbsp. of baking powder. Fill a plastic zip seal bag with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of water, and place the paper towel in the bag -- but do not let it touch the liquid. While pinching the paper towel through the bag ...
Vinegar Volcano SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS Combine baking soda and vinegar to create a chemical reaction, like a volcano! Watch as it rapidly fizzes over the container. ... YOU WILL NEED: 1. 4-6 tablespoons of baking soda (make sure it's not baking powder) 2. 1 cup of white vinegar 3. A container to hold everything and avoid a big mess! 4 ...
Instructions. Use a butter knife and spoon to break up/partially scoop out the inside of the lemon. Add a few drops of food coloring to the inside of the lemon. Pour some baking soda on top of the lemon. Use the butter knife to mix the baking soda with the inside of the lemon. Watch it go!
Add in a heaped teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (aka baking soda but NOT baking powder) and watch your volcano erupt! The Science Bit: When baking soda is mixed with vinegar, a reaction takes place and makes a vinegar volcano. The two chemicals, acetic acid (in vinegar) and sodium bicarbonate mix and react to create carbonic acid.