Building a volcano with a plastic bottle is a classic science experiment and a great excuse for a chaotic explosion. There are many combinations of materials that can generate a fun eruption. Two of the classic bottled volcanoes are made with Mentos brand cola and mints (which can produce eruptions up to 6 meters, if built correctly) or with a mix of vinegar and baking soda. By getting the necessary materials, which you can also find at home, you will spend a fun afternoon with a volcanic eruption in your garden.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Design the Volcano
Step 1. Find a base for the volcano
You can use a plastic cutting board, a piece of reclaimed wood, or any other flat surface that you can borrow for a while. Avoid cardboard, as it is usually too weak to support the project.
If you are working with reclaimed materials, you can decorate the base as a flat landscape. You can paint it, cover it with moss, depict grass with green felt, glue miniature trees or anything that resembles a wood
Step 2. Attach a filled, sealed 2 liter plastic bottle to the base
Since you will be building the volcano around the bottle, be sure to place it in the center of the base. The fixing method varies according to the material chosen. If you are using a kitchen cutting board, you can place a ball of clay or Play-Doh on the table and squeeze the bottle on it, so as to fix it without sticking it permanently. If you are using reclaimed wood instead, apply an adhesive for plastic or wood.
- A caramel-colored soda looks more like lava when the volcano erupts, so avoid clear drinks. You can use sodas with or without sugar for the experiment, but the latter produce higher eruptions.
- If you have decided to glue the bottle, wait for it to come to room temperature. A cold plastic bottle, which produces condensation, will never stick properly. Also avoid using hot glue which could melt the bottle and get dirty all over.
- If you want to make a volcano with vinegar and baking soda, attach an empty bottle to the table.
Step 3. Build the volcano around the bottle
For a more realistic look, roll a cone-shaped wire mesh around the bottle, shaping it like a mountain with many bumps. Cover the net with paper mache. Alternatively, you can apply clay around the bottle. If, on the other hand, a smooth and compact appearance is sufficient, create the volcano by applying clay or plasticine of green, gray or brown color around the bottle.
Avoid covering the bottle cap, otherwise you won't be able to activate the volcano. Make sure you have access to the opening so you can add Mentos or baking soda for the rash
Step 4. Paint the volcano
Once the paper mache has dried, paint it with acrylic paints (which will prevent moisture from ruining the volcano). Use brown and orange shades near the top and add green to depict the grass.
You can also apply pebbles, earth and moss to the surface to give it a more natural look
Method 2 of 3: Use the Carbonated Drink and Mentos Method
Step 1. Gather the necessary materials
To make such a volcano, you need a 2-liter bottle of cola, a packet of Mentos brand mints, and a large cleared area. Sugar-free drinks work better than sugary ones (and are also less sticky). Also, the caramel-colored sodas look more like "lava" during the eruption when compared to the clear lemon sodas.
This experiment is best suited to open spaces, but if you need to do it indoors, spread a large plastic sheet on the floor first
Step 2. Place the volcano in a large open space and open the cola bottle
Avoid trying the indoor experiment, as you will get dirty all over. Also make sure the outside area is free of a roof, as the liquid can get very high. Remove the cap from the bottle.
Ask all viewers to back off
Step 3. Prepare a whole packet of Mentos to drop into the bottle
When the candies come into contact with the fizzy drink, a reaction starts that causes the liquid to be expelled from the bottle, due to the carbon dioxide dissolved inside. The more mints that go into the bottle at the same time, the bigger the rash will be; however, it is not easy to fit them all together. To do this, there are a few different methods.
- Method 1: Make a paper tube with the same radius as the bottle neck. It should be long enough to hold the number of Mentos you want to put in the bottle. Place a cardboard card over the mouth of the bottle, place the tube over the hole and fill it with candy. At the time of the eruption, remove the ticket and the mints will fall into the bottle.
- Method 2: tape the mints together, without squeezing them too tight. At the time of eruption, drop the Mentos strip directly into the open bottle.
- Method 3: Insert a funnel into the bottle, with the mouth large enough to let the Mentos through, but small enough to fit into the neck of the bottle. You will drop the mints into the funnel and remove it when they are all in the liquid.
Step 4. Drop the Mentos into the bottle and run away
It is quite difficult to get all the mints in the bottle at the same time. If you don't perform this step perfectly, the volcano will erupt only a few centimeters. Practice releasing the candy at the same time a couple of times before wasting the cola bottle. Once the mints have fallen into the bottle, step back a few meters so that you can observe the eruption from a safe distance!
- If you have decided to use the paper tube method, remove the note holding the mints in place and drop them into the bottle all at once.
- If you're using the duct tape method, just throw the mints tied together into the neck of the bottle.
- If you chose the funnel, throw out all the mints at the same time. Take it off when they have all fallen into the bottle and run away.
Method 3 of 3: Use the Sodium Bicarbonate and Vinegar Method
Step 1. Gather the necessary materials
For this volcano, you need 400ml of vinegar, 200ml of water, a few drops of liquid dish soap, a generous spoonful of baking soda, an empty 2-liter plastic bottle, and red food coloring.
- Experiment to find the doses that allow you to get the rash of the desired size.
- Use red wine vinegar to get a realistic-colored lava. Alternatively, you can also add red or orange food coloring to white wine vinegar.
- You can use a smaller plastic bottle and adjust the dosage accordingly.
Step 2. Mix vinegar, water and a few drops of liquid dish soap
Add the ingredients to the volcano. Liquid soap breaks the surface tension of the water, creating a larger rash.
Step 3. Place the volcano on a plastic covered table or linoleum floor
This method does not create a chaotic explosion like that caused by mints, but you will no doubt want to avoid cleaning the result of your experiment on the carpet or carpet.
If the weather is mild, put the volcano outdoors
Step 4. Add a tablespoon of baking soda to the solution
This substance will react with the vinegar solution and cause the volcano to erupt! To get a bigger blast, increase the amount of vinegar and baking soda you use.
Warnings
- If you drink a fizzy drink before eating a Mentos, you have nothing to worry about; acids inside your mouth and stomach prevent the liquid from reacting in your belly.
- Do not use a three-liter or one-liter bottle, as the neck-to-volume ratio is too large. With a three-liter bottle you will only get a fountain of about 15 cm, while with a one-liter bottle, only foam will appear near the cap.
- Step away from the bottle after triggering the reaction in the volcano. The liquid will splash all over the place.
