How to Make a Plastic Bag Explode
Select your bag., Pour in vinegar., Make a baking soda capsule., Add the capsule to the bag., Try a new bag., Dilute the vinegar., Change the capsule., Add some color., Learn about acid-base reactions., Study how gases act under pressure., Consider...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Select your bag.
You can use any plastic bag for this experiment.
The preferred method is to use a resealable bag so that you don’t have any air leaks.
This will effectively build the pressure inside the bag, eventually causing it to explode.You can use other bags and tie them shut, but this can lead to air leaks that bleed off pressure and prevent your bag from exploding. -
Step 2: Pour in vinegar.
Add one cup of white vinegar to the bag.
Vinegar is diluted acetic acid, which is a key ingredient in our explosion.
Even though it’s a weak acid, you should still avoid getting it in your eyes or on your skin.
It is always best practice to wear gloves and goggles when working with any chemicals. , The moment that baking soda comes in contact with vinegar, a reaction will start.
By packing two tablespoons of baking soda tightly into a piece of tissue paper and then rolling it up, you create an obstacle between the baking soda and vinegar.
This gives you enough time seal the bag and back up a bit. , Drop the capsule in the bag, seal the bag, and step away.
The moment the capsule goes in, vinegar starts to saturate the tissue paper and contact baking soda.
As this happens the paper will degrade and unravel until more and more baking soda reacts.
This reaction produces carbon dioxide, which builds up pressure in the bag until the bag explodes.
You can use these same chemicals to make a cool volcano. , If you change any aspect of the bag, you change the experiment altogether.
See what happens if you use a thicker bag, or a bigger bag.
Try using a bag without a seal.
Record the differences in each variation in a lab notebook that you can review later. , Another parameter you can change is the strength of the acid.
Try adding half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of water.
Notice how it affects the speed of the reaction.
You can reduce the strength of the vinegar even more by adding more water.
Write each variation down in your notebook for later comparison. , The reaction cannot start until the vinegar gets to the baking soda.
You can change how quickly this happens by changing your capsule.
Try a capsule made out of a paper bag, or notebook paper.
Write down any ways that the experiment changes as a result.Try wrapping the baking soda in plastic wrap and sealing it well.
How does this affect the experiment? , An exploding bag is always more fun if it slings color into the air.
If you want to make your bag pop with different colors, add a few drops of food coloring to the vinegar.
This will change the color of the foam that oozes out of the bag after it explodes.
It's best for cleanup purposes to do this experiment outside, especially if you're adding food coloring. , When acids and bases come in contact with each other, they undergo what is called a neutralization reaction.
Since acids have plenty of extra protons, and bases readily accept protons, they balance each other out chemically.
This is precisely what happens when vinegar and baking soda interact.
The result is salty water and a release of carbon dioxide., When more gas is created in a closed system, the pressure increases.
What this means is that the gases push harder and harder on the outside walls of the container.
Higher temperatures will also increase the pressure of the gas by exciting the gas molecules and causing them to bounce more rapidly against the container. , With more and more gas being created by the vinegar and baking soda reaction, the pressure inside the bag keeps building.
Eventually, the force that the gas exerts on its container (the bag) will reach what is known as the elastic limit.
This is the point at which the bag can no longer return to its previous state (the force it takes to break the bag).
When the bag reaches that limit, the weakest part of the bag tears open to allow the gas to escape and relieve the pressure. -
Step 3: Make a baking soda capsule.
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Step 4: Add the capsule to the bag.
-
Step 5: Try a new bag.
-
Step 6: Dilute the vinegar.
-
Step 7: Change the capsule.
-
Step 8: Add some color.
-
Step 9: Learn about acid-base reactions.
-
Step 10: Study how gases act under pressure.
-
Step 11: Consider the elastic limits of plastic bags.
Detailed Guide
You can use any plastic bag for this experiment.
The preferred method is to use a resealable bag so that you don’t have any air leaks.
This will effectively build the pressure inside the bag, eventually causing it to explode.You can use other bags and tie them shut, but this can lead to air leaks that bleed off pressure and prevent your bag from exploding.
Add one cup of white vinegar to the bag.
Vinegar is diluted acetic acid, which is a key ingredient in our explosion.
Even though it’s a weak acid, you should still avoid getting it in your eyes or on your skin.
It is always best practice to wear gloves and goggles when working with any chemicals. , The moment that baking soda comes in contact with vinegar, a reaction will start.
By packing two tablespoons of baking soda tightly into a piece of tissue paper and then rolling it up, you create an obstacle between the baking soda and vinegar.
This gives you enough time seal the bag and back up a bit. , Drop the capsule in the bag, seal the bag, and step away.
The moment the capsule goes in, vinegar starts to saturate the tissue paper and contact baking soda.
As this happens the paper will degrade and unravel until more and more baking soda reacts.
This reaction produces carbon dioxide, which builds up pressure in the bag until the bag explodes.
You can use these same chemicals to make a cool volcano. , If you change any aspect of the bag, you change the experiment altogether.
See what happens if you use a thicker bag, or a bigger bag.
Try using a bag without a seal.
Record the differences in each variation in a lab notebook that you can review later. , Another parameter you can change is the strength of the acid.
Try adding half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of water.
Notice how it affects the speed of the reaction.
You can reduce the strength of the vinegar even more by adding more water.
Write each variation down in your notebook for later comparison. , The reaction cannot start until the vinegar gets to the baking soda.
You can change how quickly this happens by changing your capsule.
Try a capsule made out of a paper bag, or notebook paper.
Write down any ways that the experiment changes as a result.Try wrapping the baking soda in plastic wrap and sealing it well.
How does this affect the experiment? , An exploding bag is always more fun if it slings color into the air.
If you want to make your bag pop with different colors, add a few drops of food coloring to the vinegar.
This will change the color of the foam that oozes out of the bag after it explodes.
It's best for cleanup purposes to do this experiment outside, especially if you're adding food coloring. , When acids and bases come in contact with each other, they undergo what is called a neutralization reaction.
Since acids have plenty of extra protons, and bases readily accept protons, they balance each other out chemically.
This is precisely what happens when vinegar and baking soda interact.
The result is salty water and a release of carbon dioxide., When more gas is created in a closed system, the pressure increases.
What this means is that the gases push harder and harder on the outside walls of the container.
Higher temperatures will also increase the pressure of the gas by exciting the gas molecules and causing them to bounce more rapidly against the container. , With more and more gas being created by the vinegar and baking soda reaction, the pressure inside the bag keeps building.
Eventually, the force that the gas exerts on its container (the bag) will reach what is known as the elastic limit.
This is the point at which the bag can no longer return to its previous state (the force it takes to break the bag).
When the bag reaches that limit, the weakest part of the bag tears open to allow the gas to escape and relieve the pressure.
About the Author
Natalie Gutierrez
Specializes in breaking down complex home improvement topics into simple steps.
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