To teach the little ones something about natural sciences and some notions of chemistry, there is nothing better than creating a miniature volcano! This experiment lends itself to some variations, the volcano can be created with a moldable dough, with foam resin of the type for insulation, or with papier-mâché, while bicarbonate or carbonated drinks can be used for the eruption.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Kneaded Volcano and Bicarbonate
Step 1. Get a PET bottle
The size of the bottle will guide you to the size of the volcano.
Step 2. Get a square cardboard box that is as tall as the bottle
Cut the sides of the box leaving only one that will act as a support for the bottle.
Step 3. Attach the bottle to the carton, both on the side and on the bottom
Add additional cardboard supports to make the structure as solid as possible.
- Cut out strips of cardboard measuring approximately 7x15 cm, to be used as additional supports.
- Secure substrates with strong adhesive tape, such as paper for body shop or plastic for electrical work. Do not use normal packing tape as it is not very resistant.
Step 4. Make the dough
Mix 750 grams of flour with half a kilo of salt and half a liter of water, adding 4 tablespoons of seed or olive oil.
-
Knead the various elements until a uniform dough is formed.
Make a Volcano Erupt Step 4Bullet1
Step 5. Shape the dough around the bottle, shaped like a volcanic mound, and let it dry
Step 6. Paint the flanks of the volcano with tempera or acrylic paints
- For example, you can decorate the volcano with green colors on the base, and browns or yellows near the top.
- For a realistic effect, you can paint red lava flows on the flanks of the volcano.
Step 7. Place a funnel in the bottle across the volcanic crater, and add two teaspoons (about 30 grams) of baking soda
Step 8. In a separate container, mix a teaspoon of dish soap, 30ml of wine vinegar and a few drops of yellow and red food coloring
Step 9. Prepare the volcano for the eruption
Put the vinegar-based mixture into the bottle that already contains the baking soda, so that the two substances develop carbonic acid.
Step 10. Remove the bottle from the volcano crater, or from below by unhooking it from the cardboard holder
Empty it and start over.
Method 2 of 2: Insulating Foam Volcano and Mentos
Step 1. Get a large bottle of sparkling water (1.5L)
Step 2. Cut a bottle diameter hole on a cardboard
- The cardboard used must be very strong.
- You can also use several layers of cardboard as a base, to make the structure resistant.
Step 3. Place the bottle on the holder
Cover the top of the bottle with cooking foil.
Step 4. Get a can of insulation foam, the type that hardens on contact with air, commonly used to insulate and seal cracks
Step 5. Spray the foam around the bottle until it forms a mountain
When you have reached the desired shape, let it dry.
Step 6. When the foam has solidified, paint it the desired color
Step 7. Unscrew the bottle cap
Place a piece of paper as a stopper.
Step 8. Create a funnel or paper cylinder to lay on top, just the right size as the neck of the bottle
Insert 4 Mentos candies into the paper cylinder or funnel.
Step 9. Prepare the audience for the show
At the right time, remove the sheet that separates the Mentos from the liquid, dropping them inside the bottle and starting the eruption.
- The porous surface of the candy causes the rapid release of carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide), producing foam.
- Remove the bottle and replace it with a full one to repeat the experiment.
