Balloon Filled with CO2
Lesson Plan
Amount of time demo takes:​
3-5 min
​
# times per hr:​
20
Materials:
1. 16 oz pop bottle (1)
2. Balloons (1/demo)
3. Baking soda (2 tbsp/demo)
4. Water (1/4 cup cup/demo)
5. Vinegar (1/4 cup/demo)
6. Funnel (or use a straw to get baking soda in the balloon)
7. Water bucket
Set up instructions:
1. Into the pop bottle, pour about an inch of liquid (half water, half vinegar)
2. Fill the deflated balloon halfway with baking soda - use a funnel or a straw to
get baking soda
in the balloon.
3. Stretch the open end of the balloon over the neck of the bottle. Make sure it’s
on tight! Let the
heavy end of the balloon dangle, so no baking soda goes in the bottle. Hold the
balloon at the
bottle neck, and pick up the heavy part of the balloon so that all the baking soda
falls into the
vinegar at the bottom of the bottle.
SAFETY!
1. Vinegar is an acid. Do not get in eyes. Wash hands after contact.
Lesson’s big idea bullet points
● Carbon dioxide produced from the baking soda and vinegar reaction is
released and fills up the balloon with the gas.
● This is the same reaction we have seen in other demos. The chemical reaction
between the vinegar (an acid) and the baking soda (calcium carbonate, a base)
releases carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide gas expands and raises the pressure
inside the bottle. The balloon, being elastic, is the first area to ‘give’ under
pressure, so the balloon expands and is filled.
Instructional Procedure
1. Observe what is happening to the balloon as the reaction takes place.
2. Ask the volunteer what they think is happening.
Clean Up
Clean up between demonstrations if needed. When completely finished gather
all materials listed for this demonstration and make sure everything is accounted
for. If something was used up, broken or damaged, let someone know so it can
get replaced or fixed. Dispose of the reacted liquid in the bottle, then prep for
the next demonstration.
National Standards
K-4 Content Standard B, Physical Science, Properties of objects and materials
5-8 Content Standard B, Physical Science, Properties and Changes of properties
in matter
9-12 Content Standard B, Physical Science, Chemical reactions
References:
http://www.ccmo.org/CMA/missouri (5/22/2000)