A chemical reaction happens when you add two substances together and they create new substances by rearranging their molecules. We can use a chemical reaction between acids and bases to make a cool snowstorm in a jar!

‍

Materials:‍

- Oil

- Water

- Alka Seltzer

- Clear Jar or Cup

- White Paint

‍

Procedure:

1. Fill your jar about 3/4 of the way with oil.

‍

‍

2. In a separate bowl or cup, mix together water and white paint. Make it as thick or thin as you like.

‍

‍

3. Pour the white paint mixture into your jar with oil. What happens when you do this?

‍

‍

4. Add your Alka Seltzer tablet to your jar. Now what happens?

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍What's happening? Alka Seltzer contains sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. When added to water, the tablet begins to dissolve. The sodium bicarbonate splits apart to form sodium and bicarbonate ions that then react with the hydrogen ions from the citric acid. This causes the formation of carbon dioxide gas and water so we see bubbles!

This is the formula for the chemical reaction:

‍

‍

The oil is hydrophobic, which means that it doesn’t mix with the water. Water is denser than the oil and sinks to the bottom. When the chemical reaction takes place in the water, the carbon dioxide bubbles that form are the least dense and rise to the top, releasing the gas into the air in the room. What happened after that? What happens when the Alka Seltzer stops reacting?

‍