Science Smarts: For that someone special

By Patty Rooks on February 11, 2023.

We all know what “holiday” is coming up next week – Valentine’s Day of course! I am not about all of the “commercial” things that surround this holiday, but I do like to enjoy a good themed science experiment. This week, I thought we could do some science all the while creating something to give that special someone in your life. Note: you can get all of the materials at a bulk grocery store here in town quite easily. Let’s get started!

*Make sure you ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

– Citric acid

– Baking soda

– Cornstarch

– Water

– Measuring spoons

– Vegetable oil

– Food colouring (optional)

– Essential oil (optional)

– Mixing spoon

– Ice cube tray/muffin tin/mold for your bath bomb

– Cup

– Pipette/medicine dropper

– Two mixing bowls

Procedure

1. Prepare your ice cube tray by adding 5mL (one teaspoon) of vegetable oil to each compartment so the bath bombs will not stick! Use your fingers and rub it around all over.

2. Note: The instructions below will make ONE bath bomb. Adjust your recipe to make as many as you wish.

3. Measure 45 mL (three tablespoons) of citric acid, 30 mL (two tablespoons) of BOTH baking soda and cornstarch and put into the mixing bowl.

4. In the second mixing bowl measure and add 5mL 9one teaspoon) EACH of water and oil. Mix well. If you desire, add a couple of drops of food colouring (to your desired colour) and essential oil.

5. Using the pipette, add a couple of drops of your wet mixture to the dry mixture; stirring well after each addition. Be careful you do not want to dissolve the mixture; you just want to add enough moisture so that it will stick together.

6. Carefully spoon the mixture into the ice cube tray compartment. Press down FIRMLY after each addition.

7. Repeat to make more bath bombs if you wish!

What is going on?

When it is time to use the bath bomb is when the real science is going to happen! When you add the bath bomb to your bathtub, you will see it begin to react immediately. The baking soda and citric acid create a reaction when it is submerged in the water. You should see carbon dioxide bubbles forming!

If you want a bit of additional science, this is actually an acid base reaction. The baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) is a weak acid. When you add it to the citric ACID in this experiment, it reacts producing the vigorous bubbles.

You could easily make this into a first time science fair project – adjust the amounts of acids and bases and investigate reaction time for instance. The possibilities are endless really!

Teachers – if your school is interested in having a science fair club, make sure you call soon so I can pop by and give you some great pointers!

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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