Have you ever done an experiment with baking soda and vinegar? You most likely have, but have you ever thought about what makes it fizz?
In this experiment/lesson, we will be learning what happens when the two mix, and when two similar substances mix.

Supplies

-Baking Soda
-Vinegar
-Ketchup
-Food Coloring

Step 1: Why Does Baking Soda and Vinegar Fizz?

Baking soda and vinegar fizz, we all know that, but do you know why? The answer is probably no, but if you do know, congratulations you can skip this step! They mix because Baking soda is a basic compound called sodium bicarbonate. Vinegar is a solution that includes acetic acid. The baking soda and vinegar reaction is actually two separate reactions! When vinegar and baking soda are first mixed together, hydrogen ions in the vinegar react with the sodium and bicarbonate ions in the baking soda. The result of the reaction is two new chemicals: carbonic acid and sodium acetate. The second reaction is a decomposition reaction. The carbonic acid formed as a result of the first reaction immediately begins to decompose into water and carbon dioxide gas.Just like carbon dioxide bubbles in a carbonated drink, the carbon dioxide (that became carbonic aciddecomposed) rises to the top of the mixture. This creates the bubbles and foam you see when you mix baking soda and vinegar.

Step 2: Baking Soda and Vinegar in Action

Now we will do a very familiar experiment with baking soda and vinegar, mix them together! While you do it, go back up to the explanation and enlighten yourself on how it works. There is a picture of me pouring them, and then a photo of the reaction. This was done over the sink to minimize the mess made.

Step 3: Why Do I Think Food Coloring and Ketchup Will Mix?

Believe it or not, if you mix ketchup and baking soda, you will get the exact same reaction. So I am going to use food coloring because it's chemicals are similar to baking soda. So it should work... Right? Except for one tiny detail I forgot to mention, food coloring is a liquid. So my theory is that when they mix together, they will have chemistry and will create carbon dioxide.

Step 4: Testing My Theory

So my theory is tested, and it is incorrect. The other ingredients created a resistance against changes. Another way of saying they canceled out. So today we learned 2 new things. Ketchup and food coloring have no reaction, and... You cannot give ketchup any color!

Step 5: Fact or Fail? You Tell Me

Thank you for doing this experiment with me! I am entering the teacher science contest, so please give me a vote. This was really fun, and I love knowing people will learn from what I have done. Please leave a comment saying fact or Fail on what happened. Is this lesson a fact? Or did I completely fail to teach you? Please leave personal comments as well, telling me how you felt about this, and what I should do next.