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Make a Fizzy Snowman Disappear!

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October 03, 2024 / DIY / STEM Activities / Chemistry / Ages 6 - 8 / Melting Fizzy Snowman

A charming illustration depicts a snowman crafted from what appears to be bicarbonate of soda, standing amidst a pile of the same material, suggesting a snowy base. He wears a small red hat and an orange scarf, with simple features drawn on. A candy cane and presents are sketched in the background. The words Melting fizzy snowman are prominently displayed at the top, indicating the nature of the accompanying experiment. The overall style is cheerful and festive, clearly advertising a fun, science-based activity suitable for children.

Have you ever tried building a snowman indoors? Check out this magical experiment, and you'll never have to wait for a snowy day to build a snowman again! The best part is that the process of the snowman "melting" is also very interesting. You can try it at Christmas!

  • Age: 6-8
  • Time: Less than 30 minutes
  • Mess Level: A bit messy

Materials Needed:

  • Tray
  • Baking soda
  • Bowl
  • Spoon
  • Salt
  • Water
  • Washing-up liquid
  • Vinegar
  • Snowman decorations
A clear plastic tray neatly organises the components for a melting fizzy snowman experiment. Items include two small containers of white powder (likely bicarbonate of soda), a small bowl of clear liquid (vinegar), a larger pale yellow bowl (for mixing), a small measuring spoon, a bottle of what seems to be cream or a similar liquid, and small decorative elements such as googly eyes, a red nose, and twig-like arms for the snowman. The tray sits on a plain white surface. The overall arrangement is clean and clearly indicates preparation for a fun, science-based activity.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Put a cup of baking soda, a spoonful of salt, and a spoonful of washing-up liquid into a bowl.
  2. Two hands are adding bicarbonate of soda to a pale yellow bowl using a small black measuring spoon. A small glass bowl containing more bicarbonate of soda is held in one hand, while the other hand holds the spoon, carefully transferring the powder. In the background, a clear tray holds additional ingredients and snowman decorations, including two small bowls of water, a bottle of cream, and small craft items such as eyes and a nose. The scene is set on a plain white surface. The image clearly shows a step in the preparation for a melting fizzy snowman experiment.
  3. Gradually add 4 spoonfuls of water while stirring, mix thoroughly until it forms a clumpy consistency.
  4. A person is adding vinegar to bicarbonate of soda in a pale yellow bowl. Vinegar is being poured from a small beige bottle into a black measuring spoon, which is then being used to add the vinegar to the bicarbonate of soda. In the background, there are additional containers of water and snowman decorations, suggesting the preparation for a melting fizzy snowman experiment. The setting is a clean, white surface. The image focuses on the careful addition of vinegar, a crucial step in the experiment.
  5. Use your hands to form 3 small balls and stack them to build a snowman. Use clay and scraps of paper, along with movable eyes to decorate your snowman.
  6. Two hands are adding bicarbonate of soda to a pale yellow bowl using a small black measuring spoon. The bicarbonate of soda is being transferred from a small glass bowl into the larger one. In the slightly blurred background, a clear tray with snowman-making decorations and small containers of water are visible. The entire scene is on a plain white surface. The image shows a step in the preparation for a melting fizzy snowman experiment, focusing on the careful measuring and transfer of the bicarbonate of soda.
  7. Pour vinegar over it and observe the snowman's fizzy reaction.
  8. A tall, clear glass contains a layer of yellowish liquid (oil) on top of a layer of white (water and baking soda). A blue liquid (coloured water) is in a smaller beaker to the left. A pipette, containing a small amount of blue liquid, rests in the tall glass. A small measuring beaker containing white powder (baking soda) and a small black spatula are visible in the background. The entire setup rests on a pale blue surface. The image shows a step in the process of creating a homemade lava lamp, illustrating the layering of liquids and the addition of coloured water using a pipette.

The Science Behind It:

What happened to the snowman?

This involves an acid-base chemical reaction. When baking soda (an alkaline compound) mixes with vinegar (an acidic compound), a chemical reaction occurs and produces a large amount of carbon dioxide, which are the bubbles we see. Just like the carbon dioxide bubbles in carbonated drinks, the carbon dioxide rises to the top of the mixture. This is what you see as bubbles when the snowman "melts".

Why add washing-up liquid?

Adding washing-up liquid makes the foam richer. This is because the gas produced by the citric acid and baking soda forms a porous structure in the washing-up liquid (a liquid), causing the bubbles to multiply and seep out, producing more and longer-lasting foam.

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