Calling this an experiment might be wrong (you're doing a demonstration) but whatever you call it, an explosion is a fun way to have SCIENCE fun! Whether you're looking for ideas for your science project or just want to have some brain fun, we've got some ideas and instructions for making different types of explosions below. Just read starting from the first step!
Step
Method 1 of 2: For Kids
Using Elephant Toothpaste
Step 1. Pour some hydrogen peroxide into a soda bottle
Provide a soda bottle with a capacity of 2 Liters and pour some hydrogen peroxide. The more powerful (concentration or high percentage) hydrogen peroxide you use, the bigger the explosion will be… but watch out: hydrogen peroxide can burn you easily! Whenever you pour it, use a funnel and ask an adult for help.
30% hydrogen peroxide will be needed to make a big explosion, but you'll need adult help with this
Step 2. Add dish soap
Pour a tablespoon or two of dish soap into a soda bottle.
Step 3. Add some food coloring
Add healthy food coloring if you want a colorful explosion.
Step 4. Mix some yeast
Mix 1 tablespoon dry yeast with 3 tablespoons water in a separate small bowl.
Step 5. Pour the yeast into the soda bottle
Pour quickly and back off!
Step 6. Kaboom
Yeast and hydrogen peroxide will create a foam explosion. Be warned, this reaction is "exothermic", which means that it creates heat. Don't touch the foam directly because it will be hot!
Using Ivory Soap
Step 1. Prepare a bar of Ivory soap
Soap must be Ivory brand and must be fresh and unused.
Step 2. Cut the soap
Cut the bar of soap into 6 parts. You may need an adult's help to cut the bar of soap safely, although it's not really that difficult. Just use a butter knife and cut it into pieces.
Step 3. Place the pieces on a plate
Place the strips of soap in a special microwave or wax paper baking dish.
Step 4. Microwave the dish
Heat a dish of soap in the microwave for about 1 minutes.
Step 5. Watch your soap explode
Watch the soap put in the microwave and you'll see it grow to an incredible size!
Using diet cola and Mentos
Step 1. Prepare a large soda
Have a large (2 liter, maybe) bottle of diet cola or A&W root beer ready.
- The aspartame in the “diet” variety is needed for the reaction to occur, so don't try this with regular soda.
- Use a fresh, unopened soda. A "flat" soda will make a small explosion.
Step 2. Prepare your blast material
Usually mint, real mentos are used in this experiment, but you can also use rock salt.
Try experimenting with lots of absorbent materials, as the absorbent surface is what makes the reaction happen. Can "you" make a bigger explosion?
Step 3. Add the ingredients to the soda
Open the soda bottle and drop the mentos or rock salt.
Step 4. Back off
A giant soda spout is about to explode into the air! Be careful or you will take a cola bath!
Method 2 of 2: For Adults
Using Ammonium Dichromate
Step 1. Prepare ammonium dichromate
You need 20 grams of ammonium dichromate. Go to a chemical supply store to get it.
Step 2. Fill a large basket with sand
Provide some regular sand and fill a basket or pan with sand. Place this basket and experiment in a well-ventilated room.
Step 3. Add ammonium dichromate
Make a pile of ammonium dichromate in the middle of the sand.
Step 4. Add a little lighter fluid
Place a small amount of lighter fluid in the center of the pile.
Step 5. Turn it on
Using a match, light the stack of ammonium dichromate containing the lighter fluid.
Step 6. See the reaction
It takes time for the reaction to form but in the end it will look like a volcanic eruption!
Using dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide)
Step 1. Provide a few sticks of dry ice
It doesn't take much. Just a few small pieces for each explosion you want to make.
Step 2. Get some plastic water bottles
Provide some plastic water bottles. Sufficiently strong plastic is best.
Step 3. Put some water in the bottle
Fill the bottle about halfway with warm water.
Step 4. Put dry ice in the water bottle
Put a few pieces of dry ice in a plastic water bottle. You should do this outdoors away from other people and also have shelter. This is a very dangerous explosion.
Step 5. Close the bottle
Immediately, tighten the bottle cap and set the bottle where you want to blow it up.
Step 6. Get out of there
Get to a safe location quickly. the gas buildup will cause the bottle to explode and you could seriously injure yourself.
Using Liquid Nitrogen
Step 1. Do it in a large room
This is a very large and dangerous explosion, so you will need a very large amount of space.
Step 2. Prepare your equipment
You will need a very large (good quality) plastic trash can, 5 gallons of warm water, a water bottle, liquid nitrogen, and some fun blasting material (bean wrapper/ping pong balls/etc).
Step 3. Pour warm water into the trash can
Step 4. Pour the liquid nitrogen into the water bottle
Use the funnel to fill the bottle one third of the way. DO NOT close the bottle until you are ready.
Step 5. Close the bottle tightly
Very quickly, close the bottle tightly and place it in warm water.
Step 6. Pour in additional material
As soon as you put nitrogen in the water, someone has to put in a ping pong ball or other fun material.
Step 7. RUN
Run right away and make sure to cover your ears with plugs or hands!
If the water bottle is cracked or not closed tightly, an explosion will not occur. Wait at least 10 minutes before approaching and checking the water bottle and be careful when handling it
Tips
- Watch carefully
- RUN!
Warning
- Don't harm yourself and others
- Beware of toxic materials used during experiments
- Never do anything illegal with the experiment
