Dancing Raisins

The Action

Raisons added to a mixture of baking soda and vinegar will "dance" up and down in the jar.

Grade Level

Grade 1 - Motion

Grade 3 - Properties of Matter

Grade 5 - Matter and its changes

Grade 7 - Force and Motion

Grade 9 - Fluids and Pressures

Materials

Clear Jar

Vinegar

Baking Soda

Raisins

Instructions

Fill the jar about half full with vinegar. Add the raisins. Add baking soda a little at a time until you observe the raisins in motion.

Safety

Adding the baking soda slowly in small amounts will avoid a large mess.Make sure the students do not eat the raisins after the experiment

Hints

If raisons are not effective try small pieces of spaghetti. Add some food coloring to the vinegar so that the spaghetti is easier to see.

Science Principle

This is a good example to show children how two substances can create a reaction. The baking soda causes the vinegar to release carbon dioxide gas. The gas bubbles then stick to the raisins and cause them to bounce up and down in the liquid.

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