DIY mini volcano: A fun experiment to explain the basic concepts of chemistry 

Natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, etc. although terrifying, having the capacity to leave us in sheer awe of the power of nature. There is a lot of information and data in the form of text and videos which explain their causes and consequences. Now combine that with some basic chemistry and you achieve a great idea for a science experiment. In order to explain chemistry to kids in a practical and fun way, a DIY experiment at home is the best way! This easy basic soda and vinegar volcano eruption experiment will be loved by children of all age groups. For your mini volcano to erupt, all you need are a few basic materials which are easily available at home. (It’s best to perform it outside the house in a garden or balcony to ensure that it is a no-mess experiment!)  

What you will need 

• A plastic cup 
• Water 
• Spoon 
• 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda 
• 1 teaspoon of dish soap 
• 1 cup of vinegar 

• Food colouring of your choice 

Step-by-step guide  
Have your science lover to arrange everything that is required and get him started with the experiment. The steps for this experiment are pretty easy. Help your child follow them. 

• Fill the plastic cup with water up to about 2/3 of its capacity.  
• To this, add the baking soda, dish soap and a few drops of food colouring. In order to avoid staining, using washable paint is a great alternative for the food colouring. Kids can get as creative with the colours as they like. After all, a vibrant, colourful volcano eruption will be all the more fun to witness. 
• Using a spoon, stir the ingredients together.  
• Slowly, start pouring the vinegar into the cup until it starts foaming. 
• This can be done as many times as your kids like, with all the different colours they wish to use. 

What exactly is happening in this experiment? 
As the vinegar is poured into the cup, the mixture of ingredients will clearly start to foam. This foam represents the “lava” coming out of the volcano. The eruption is caused as a consequence of the lava bubbles bursting, which are filled with carbon-dioxide. This goes on to demonstrate the chemical reaction that takes place when an acid reacts with a base. It leads to the creation of carbon-dioxide. In this case, vinegar acts as the acid and the baking soda acts as the base.