Science: The self-inflating balloon experiment

The self-inflating balloon, it's not really self inflating as such, it's inflating using a chemical reaction - it's all about gas pressure! 

This is what you will need:

• A bottle (a small plastic bottle – we used a 50cl water bottle)
• A balloon
• Baking powder
• Vinegar      
• A funnel

How to do the experiment:

STEP ONE

Prepare your balloon ready by putting 20ml of baking powder into the balloon using the funnel. 

STEP TWO

Using the funnel pour in 100ml of white vinegar into a bottle. 

STEP THREE

Carefully put the balloon on the next of the bottle without allowing the baking powder to fall in.

Now you are ready for the fun part! 

What do you think will happen to the balloon when the baking powder drops into the bottle and hits the vinegar?
Lift the balloon up so to allow all the baking powder to fall into the vinegar and then wait and find out.

What happens?

This is experiment is good to show us how, in a volcano, gas build up can cause enormous explosions! 

The gas CO2 produced by the reaction between the baking powder and vinegar fills the balloon, if it over fills your balloon will explode much like the gas in a volcano.