Blowing Up Balloons

This simple chemical reaction is great fun, and shows how acids and bases react with each other..

You Will Need:

• 1 balloon

• 2 tablespoons water

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 clean empty soda bottle (16 or 20 oz)

• 4 tablespoons lemon juice or white vinegar 

Doing the Experiments

This is an easy experiment that only takes a few minutes.

1. Stretch the balloon a few times to make it easier to inflate.

2. Mix the water and baking soda in the soda bottle.

3. Add the lemon juice, or vinegar to the water and baking soda.

4. Quickly stretch the opening of the balloon over the neck of the soda bottle.  
   (Shaking the bottle might help, if your balloon isn't inflating enough.)

EXPLAINING HOW IT WORKS

Vinegar and lemon juice are acids.  Baking soda is a base.  Whenever you mix acids and bases together, they form a chemical reaction.  In this case, the chemical reaction creates the gas carbon dioxide.  That's what is filling the balloon.

Oh, by the way, when the chemical reaction is complete, the acid and base will neutralize each other.  That means that the finished compound won't be either an acid, or a base, but the pH of it will be neutral.