Fizzing Halloween Science

I can hardly believe it is halfway through October. It feels like time speeds up when we enter the last few months of the year.

Thankfully there is still plenty of time for some fun Halloween activities with the kids.

This time of year has us running quite a bit, but this Fizzing Halloween Science takes just minutes to set up and is perfect to share with the kids when they return home from school or even as a quick party activity.

This is one of our favorite simple Halloween STEM Activities. It’s easy to set up and fun for all ages.

Toddlers and preschoolers will watch with wide eyes as the bubbles and plastic eyeballs ooze over the side of the container. Older kids will giggle and may even want to add their own unique twist to it.

When you finish this experiment, you may want to continue the fun and make your own pumpkin volcano.

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Fizzing Halloween Science

Materials Needed:

Vinegar
Baking Soda
Orange food Coloring (or color of your choice)
Ping-Pong Ball Eyes
Liquid Dishwasher Soap
Small Container

To make the experiment extra fun, try using a fun container, like this skull mug or a plastic pumpkin bowl.

I highly recommend putting the experiment on a tray with sides to help contain the mess.

Halloween science for kids

Squirt a a few drops of liquid dish soap in the bottom of your container. This will help enhance the amount of fizzing and bubbles you’ll get from the chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar.

Add the plastic eye balls and have your child sprinkle baking soda over them. (For younger kids you may want to put a small amount in a separate container and have them use a spoon to add it.)

Halloween experiment for kids

In a separate container, mix a few drops of orange food coloring with 1/3 cup of vinegar.

Have your child poor the vinegar slowly into the container.

Be ready for plenty of ooh’s and ahhh’s!

kids Halloween science

Not only is vinegar and baking soda science fun to watch, it is also inviting for small hands to touch and explore.

If your child is anything like mine, they will ask to do the experiment several times. (That’s why, even though my husband laughs, I always buy the gallon-sized bottle of vinegar.)

fizzing science experiment for Halloween

The Science Behind the Vinegar & Baking Soda Fizzing

As you probably already know, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (diluted acetic acid) produce carbon dioxide gas when mixed together. This gas escapes in the form of bubbles.

Adding a few drops of liquid dish soap doesn’t affect the chemical reaction, but it does make it more foamy and fun to watch.

Halloween fizzy science