Science Smarts: Bunnies hopping around

By PATTY ROOKS on April 2, 2022.

As April is already here, I am getting pretty excited about the holiday that is fast approaching. You know, the one where the bunny drops off those delicious chocolate treats at your house for you to enjoy!

I have to say my holiday was almost ruined when someone told me that the Easter Bunny does not exist! I think this is because they have never seen the Easter Bunny hop by their house. Well, just in case you do not have an Easter Bunny hopping by your house to deliver some eggs, this week I thought we should make our own hopping bunnies as a backup. I just cannot go without my delicious Easter treats.

Let’s get started!

Remember to ask an adult before you do this experiment.

Materials

• Double sided tape/glue

• White construction paper

• Scissors

• Empty plastic Easter eggs

• Vinegar

• Baking soda

• Kleenex

• Measuring spoon

• Piece of white plasticine

• Ruler

• Outside location as this is messy

Procedure

• Make your Easter egg look like a bunny by decorating it – cut out ears for the bunny and attach with the double sided tape. Cut out a nose and attach it to one half of the egg shell.

• With the plasticine, make some feet for your bunny to stand on. You want the bottom half of the egg to be able to sit up and any holes that might be in there to be sealed off with the plasticine. Be creative.

• Separate the layers of the Kleenex. Using one layer, cut approximately a 5cm x 5cm square of Kleenex out.

• Lay it on a flat surface.

• Measure 15mL (one tablespoon) of baking soda and carefully scoop it into the centre of the Kleenex square.

• Fold the Kleenex square up so you have a nice little packet.

• Set aside for now.

• Go outside (if you are not already there). Place the bottom half of your egg on the ground. Fill the bottom half of your egg three quarters full of vinegar.

• You are going to have to work quickly now. Place the packet of baking soda in the vinegar and QUICKLY place the top half of the egg on the bottom half.

• STAND BACK!

• Watch your bunny hop away.

What is going on?

This experiment was a simple chemical reaction. When you mixed an acid (vinegar/acetic acid) with a base (baking soda/sodium bicarbonate), the reaction created a gas called carbon dioxide. This gas filled up the plastic egg causing it to literally hop away just like a bunny!

Make this into a fun science fair experiment where you change the amounts of baking soda or vinegar – do you have different result? Why do you think that is?

Do not forget to sign up for the Redcliff Public Library’s Science Night on April 5 with Praxis and special guest author Valerie Miller with The Energy Adventures of Tommy and Remi Contact the Library at 403-548-3335 at the Library to preregister.

Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403.527.5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.

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