During the school year, hands-on education and mentoring program called Science WoRx connects scientists with teachers and students and inspires them to love science, and pursue a career in the field. With the help of high school student Emmie, Astellas Pharma Scientist Marya Miller is going to show us how to take everyday products from home and make them cool!
Science WoRx Experiments You can find other fun and engaging science experiments at ScienceWoRx.org
Description In this demonstration, the pressure of the water molecules in the ice will crush a can. This is a great rainy day activity that shows the difference between high and low pressure systems.
- Materials
- Glass bowl (large enough to accommodate a soda can)
- Pot for heating
- Heat source (burner of some sort)
- Empty soda can
- Ice
- Water
- Tongs
Process
1. Empty the soda can, then rinse it with water. After rinsing, add a few milliliters of water to the bottom of the soda can.
2. Fill the bowl with ice and water, leaving enough room to fit a soda can inside.
3. Add a few milliliters of water to the bottom of the pot and begin to heat the water.
4. Place the soda can, right side up, in the pot to heat
5. Allow the steam to escape the can. We'll let as much steam to escape as possible before transferring the can to the ice water.
6. Using the tongs, lift the can out of the pot and put it in the bowl of ice water.
7. Everyone will hear a loud "pop" as the condensed water molecules crush the can!
8. Crushed can! 9.
Estimated time: 2 minutes
Description
This demonstration transforms a soda bottle into a fountain of foam! Using yeast as a catalyst, the demo removes the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide. Because this happens very fast, it creates lots of bubbles. The combination of the yeast with the peroxide creates an exothermic reaction (producing heat) – and a lot of foam.
- Materials
- A clean 16-ounce plastic soda bottle
- 1/2 cup 20-volume hydrogen peroxide liquid (20-volume is a 6% solution that can be found in a beauty supply store or hair salon)
- 1 T (one packet) of dry yeast
- 3 T of warm water
- 1 T liquid dish washing soap
- Food coloring
- Mixing spoon
- Small cup
- Funnel
- Safety goggles
- Microwave for warming the water (you can heat up water before leaving and take it to studio in a thermos)
Process
1. Heat water and place in a thermos or other bottle to keep it warm.
2. Line up all ingredients on the table.
3. Hydrogen peroxide can irritate skin and eyes, so put on those safety goggles and carefully pour the hydrogen peroxide into the bottle.
4. Add 8 drops of food coloring into the soda bottle.
5. Add about 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap into the bottle and gently swish the bottle around to mix it.
6. In a separate small cup, combine the warm water and the yeast and mix for about 30 seconds.
7. Pour the yeast water mixture into the bottle (a funnel helps here) and watch the foaminess begin!
Estimated time: 2 minutes
