Monday, November 14, 2011

Fill balloons with carbone dioxide


Today we will see a different way to blow balloons, maybe isn't the most profitable but its for sure the funniest.

We will need:
  • Medium plastic bottle (PET),
  • big balloon, blow the balloon a couple of times before you use it,
  • 1 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate, baking soda, a bit more if you want a bigger balloon;
  • 3 tablespoons of acetic acid, vinegar, a bit more if you want a bigger balloon.
  • tape.
How to:
  1. Lay down baking soda in the bottle;
  2. Place the vinegar in the balloon, use a funnel if you need to;
  3. Secure the open end of the balloon to the neck of the bottle;
  4. Use the tape to hold the balloon to the bottle;
  5. Lift the balloon so the vinegar falls into the bottle.
Results:
Baking soda starts to bubbling when the vinegar touch it, and the balloon fills up.

Why?
A reaction occurs when vinegar (acetic acid) touches baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate). In this reaction Carbone dioxide is produced, along with water and sodium acetate, as show is reaction:

NaHCO3 (aq) + CH3COOH (aq) ----> CO2 (g) + H2O (l) + CH3COONa (aq)

Carbone dioxide is a gas, thats why the balloon fills up.

Et Voilá!

Enjoy!

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