(c) Anthony K. Grafton 2003

A Volcano in the Kitchen

Did you know you can make your very own model volcano safely in your kitchen? All you need is some baking soda, vinegar, two paper cups, and a few drops of red food coloring.

1. Always get Mom or Dad’s permission and help: never try this project alone.

2. Put about ¼ cup of baking soda in the bottom of one of the paper cups, and add five or six drops of red food coloring to it.

3. Take the second cup and make a half-inch hole in the bottom, then tape or glue this cup upside down over the top of the first cup. (If you use glue, let the glue dry.)

4. Place the model volcano on a plate or other washable surface, and pour ¼ cup of vinegar down the hole in the top. “Lava” will erupt out of the volcano, and the more vinegar you add, the more it will erupt!

You can try adding different kinds of food coloring or even glitter to the baking soda to make your volcano unique, and you can try adding a little laundry detergent to the baking soda and see what difference it makes. You can also use markers or colors to decorate the paper cups to make your volcano look real.

The reason this classic science project works has to do with the chemical reactions that take place between the vinegar and baking soda. When they mix, they undergo what is called an acid-base reaction: acids and bases react to “neutralize” each other. Then a second reaction occurs that releases carbon dioxide gas, and it’s these bubbles of gas that make your volcano erupt out of the container.