Outside the temperature hits the 50°C (Doha) , it’s ramadan (the daily fast from dawn until sunset during this month of the Muslim calendar) and nowhere to go during the day. School is over and the entertainment challenge is back until we travel home (Lebanon)for the summer vacations.

The challenge of non stop playtime is to keep it interesting and captivating. So nothing is better than the magical science experiments.

The magic: blowing up balloons with the bubbles of baking soda and vinegar.

The science: chemical reaction when you mix baking soda and vinegar can be used to blow up a balloon due to gas released.

It’s a fun learning activity for all ages. All you need is empty bottles, white vinegar, balloons, baking soda and food coloring (optional).

Fill half the balloons with baking soda and 1/3 to half the bottles with vinegar (the more you put the stronger the chemical reaction is). You can put food coloring in the vinegar for more fun, you can see better the reaction (bubbles).

Attach the balloon to the bottle, but don’t let the baking soda pour out just yet.

Empty out the baking soda and watch the reaction unfold. The combination of vinegar and baking soda will bubble up, and the gas released will blow up your balloon!

We had a lot of screams and laughter! It’s really magical for kids, you can explain the reaction to your kid according to his age. Nady who is 3 years and a half, knows by now that when you mix baking soda and vinegar, a gas is released and it inflates the balloon.



Enjoy this fun science project and expect not to stop until you run out of baking soda or vinegar!

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