Budding Scientists: ABC's of Applied Chemistry for Kids

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Let’s Learn About Chemical Reactions

Why Do Apples Turn Brown?

Let’s Learn about Density

ABC's of Applied Chemistry for Kids: Let’s Learn About Chemical Reactions: Up Up And Away With Fizzy Inflator

Suitable for 4 to 6 years old children

Do you know what happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar? Let’s learn about chemical reactions and the gas they produce when they are mixed. Observe how a balloon can be inflated through this simple experiment.

Let’s Learn about Chemical Reactions

Chemical reaction: A process that involves the arrangement of molecules or structure of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form (as from a solid to a gas).

Chemical Reactions Facts. Cool Kid Facts. (2022). Retrieved 28 March 2022, from https://www.coolkidfacts.com/chemical-reactions

Let’s Watch

Watch these videos to find out how a balloon can be inflated through this simple experiment.

Let’s Experiment

Have you been to a party with balloons? Can you blow a balloon without using your mouth or an air pump? Sure you can!

In this simple science experiment, you will discover how you can inflate a balloon without blowing it using only a few everyday household items that you probably already have at home. You just need a chemical reaction to produce carbon dioxide gas and get ready to watch a fizzy reaction!

Materials Required

Create A Hypothesis:

Ask your child to predict what will happen when you combine baking soda and vinegar in a bottle. Ask your child to predict what will happen if you combine the same ingredients, but cover the top of the bottle with a balloon.

Instructions:

1. Using the funnel, add 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda into the balloon.

2. Pour the vinegar into the bottle until it is half-filled.

3. Carefully fit the balloon lip over the bottle’s nozzle, while holding onto the balloon.
(Be careful not to drop the baking soda into the vinegar yet).

4. Once the balloon is fitted snugly on the nozzle, and you are ready, hold up the balloon and allow the baking soda to fall into the vinegar.

5. Observe the chemical reaction and effect on the balloon.

Observation

Record and share your observation and findings using this template.
1. What did you hear?
2. What did you see?
3. How did the balloon inflate?
4. How does the chemical reaction works?

Let’s Investigate

How This Works? The Science Behind It:

Making carbon dioxide gas (CO₂) from vinegar and baking soda: This experiment explores how a gas takes the shape of the container it fills, in this case, a balloon. If you mix vinegar and baking soda, a chemical reaction will occur, where lots of bubbles of carbon dioxide gas form.

The chemical reaction of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and ethanoic acid (vinegar) produces carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas can originally be seen as bubbles in the solution, but will quickly be released from the solution. The carbon dioxide gas will flow within the spaces in the bottle, and move into the deflated balloon, filling the balloon and thus inflating it.

You can do this reaction at home but make sure you don’t get any of the chemicals in your eyes. Ethanoic acid is the chemical name for vinegar. Sodium bicarbonate is also known as baking soda.

Primary Connections: Linking science with literacy. Primaryconnections.org.au. (2022). Retrieved 28 March 2022, from https://www.primaryconnections.org.au/themes/custom/connections/assets/SBR/data/Chem/sub/baking/baking.html

Note to Parents:

Reusing the vinegar will not work. You will have to rinse the bottle each time and pour fresh vinegar into the bottle before starting again.

The reaction from the baking soda and vinegar is rapid. Ensure your child is ready to see the effect before combining the two items.

You may reuse the balloons, but eventually the neck of the balloons will wear out and rip from use.

Go further! Expand your experiment!

Do the experiment multiple times, while changing the different variables.

1. What if more baking soda is used this time, with the same amount of vinegar?

2. What if more vinegar is used next, with the same amount of baking soda? Which chemical reaction inflate the biggest balloon?

Record and share your observation and findings using the template provide: https://go.gov.sg/observationtable1
https://go.gov.sg/observationtable2

Did you see bubbles floating on top of the baking soda and vinegar mixture? Why? This experiment illustrates how states of matter can change; A chemical reaction takes place when baking soda is mixed with vinegar. Carbon dioxide or CO2 is released and inflates the balloon.

Do you know what gas you blow into the balloon to inflate it? How is this gas produced? When you blow up a balloon, you are exhaling carbon dioxide into the balloon. We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. It is the a biproduct of our respiratory system.

What else can you fill up with a gas?

Carbon Dioxide Facts For Kids | Among First Discovered Gases. Facts For Kids. (2022). Retrieved 29 March 2022, from https://factsforkids.net/carbon-dioxide-facts-for-kids/

Find out more about fun and cool science experiments at the libraries!

All book covers are copyright of the respective publishing companies.

Let’s Try Out These Experiments!

Can’t get enough? Don’t put aside your everyday household items away, check out these other related exciting science experiments that you can do, and all thanks to science! Have fun!

Experiment #1: Citrus Juice and Baking Soda Experiment

Experiment #2: Volcano Blast

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ABC's of Applied Chemistry for Kids:
Why Do Apples Turn Brown?

Suitable for 4 to 6 years old

Have you ever wondered why apple slices turn brown when they are exposed to air for a period of time? What can you do about it? Let’s find out with a simple experiment that you can do at home.

LET’S LEARN

LET'S WATCH!

LET’S INVESTIGATE!

Experiment time!

Objective: To explore the chemical reaction behind apple browning. We will also test to see whether or not salt water, lemon water, and other liquids that can be found in the kitchen keep apples from browning.

Materials required:

Print out the Observation Table to go through and record the observations with your child.

Steps

1. Label the cups/bowls and plate.

• Control
• Water
• Lemon juice
• Vinegar
• Salt water

2. Cut the apple into 5 wedges

3. Place a wedge in each cup/bowl. Pour the liquids in the respective cup/bowl. Let the apples soak for 5 mins.

4. After that, take out the apples and placed them onto the plate that has already been labelled.

5. Observe what happens and allow your child to record their observations by colouring the template provided. Record the findings at 5 mins and 15 mins.

Tips for Parents:

You may also prompt the following questions to your child:

• How long did the apples take to turn brown?
• Which apple turned brown first?
• How dark did the apples get? Did the apples turn an equal shade of brown?
• Go ahead and eat the apple slices! Do the apple slices taste different? Compare the taste of the apple slice coated in lemon juice with the plain apple slice? Which one tastes better
• Do you think the lemon juice slowed or quickened the browning process?

By having your child predict and record their observations, you are helping them develop their process-thinking as they experiment, analyse, and draw conclusions.

LET'S READ!

All book covers are copyright of the respective publishing companies.

LET'S TRY THIS AT HOME!

Did you know that apples are not the only fruits that will turn brown when exposed to air? Try the same experiment on bananas, pears and apricots!

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ABC's of Applied Chemistry for Kids:
Let’s Learn About Density

Suitable for 4 to 6 years old

Whether it is bath time or dishwashing time, your child would be exposed to liquid soap and soap foam. Why not take these moments as opportunities to spark their curiosity about the densities of everyday objects? Read on to introduce your child to the concept of density, allow them to experiment with household liquid materials, and create ‘fireworks’ in a bottle together!

LET’S LEARN

Tips for Parents:

Constant repetition and exposure are key in not just improving vocabulary but also in giving children the confidence to pick up unfamiliar words.

LET'S WATCH!

LET’S INVESTIGATE!

Experiment time!
Objective: To find out how different densities affect how liquids react with one another.

Materials required:

Tips for Parents:

By having your child predict and record their observations, you are helping them develop their process-thinking as they experiment, analyse, and draw conclusions.

LET'S READ!

All book covers are copyright of the respective publishing companies.

LET'S TRY THIS AT HOME!

Have a fun day at the swimming pool and inflate a float together with your child! Point out how the float stays afloat after inflation. Ask your child what they think is happening.

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