The materials
The chemical reaction
The physical changes
Safety and disposal |
This easy to undertake and safe experiment allows students to observe many of the features of chemical reactions as well as the three physical states of matter. This experiment clearly distinguishes a chemical change from physical change.
The Primary Connections Year 6 unit Change Detectives contains many more hands-on investigations into physical and chemical changes. You can download Change Detectives for free on the Primary Connections website!
- Baking soda - Chemical name, sodium bicarbonate with formula NaHCO3.
- Vinegar - A dilute solution of acetic acid in water. Acetic acid
is also known as ethanoic acid, with the formula CH3COOH.
- A beaker or jar.
The chemical reaction
When baking soda is mixed with vinegar, something new is formed. The mixture
quickly foams up with carbon dioxide gas. If enough vinegar is used, all
of the baking soda can be made to react and disappear into the vinegar
solution.
The reaction is:
Sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid reacts to carbon dioxide, water and
sodium acetate.
NaHCO3 + CH3COOH 
CO2 + H2O + Na CH3COO
The solid baking soda was placed in liquid vinegar producing carbon dioxide gas, which is evident because of the formation of bubbles in the foaming mixture. Eventually all of the solid dissolved and reacted producing a new liquid solution.
During the reaction, a solid and liquid have been chemically reacted to form a gas and a liquid. This experiment can also be used to explain foams, as liquids or solids containing gas bubbles.
Safety and disposal
Although both reactants are household chemicals and foodstuffs, caution
should be taken not to get splashes in the eyes and clothes should be
protected. The products of the reaction are relatively safe (Remember
- no chemicals should be touched) and can be disposed of by washing down
the sink with plenty of water.
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