Have any vinegar and baking soda around the house? How about some plastic bags? Cups and spoons to measure? These are the ingredients and supplies that you’ll need to try this quick Sick Science! CO2 Sandwich experiment:
What exactly happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar? From Wonderopolis:
“Baking soda and vinegar react chemically because one is a base and the other is an acid. Baking soda is a basic compound called sodium bicarbonate. Vinegar is a diluted solution that contains acetic acid.
“The baking soda and vinegar reaction is actually two separate reactions. The first reaction is the acid-base reaction.
“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 this initial 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.”
Gas takes up more space, which is why the bag starts to expand and might even pop!
Baking soda and vinegar are also effective, natural, and inexpensive cleaners. From How Stuff Works: 8 Fantastic Uses for Baking Soda and Vinegar.
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