Erupting Lemon Volcano
Create a delightful and educational erupting lemon volcano, a fun activity for all ages that illustrates basic concepts of chemical reactions using simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Volcano Ingredients
- 1 whole fresh lemon Use ripe lemons for the best eruptions.
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup dish soap Can be swapped out for fizzy soda.
- to taste Food coloring (any color) Mix different colors for creative eruptions.
- 1 small tray or baking sheet To catch spills.
- 1 spoon for mixing
- optional glitter For added sparkle during the eruption.
Instructions
Preparation
- Roll the lemon on a flat surface to soften it, making juicing easier.
- Cut the lemon in half, exposing the juicy interior.
Setup
- Place the lemon halves in the center of a small tray or baking sheet to catch any overflow.
Mix the Eruption Ingredients
- In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1/4 cup of dish soap. Stir well to combine.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture (choose your favorite color!).
Create the Eruption
- Pour the mixture into the hollowed-out center of each lemon half.
- Step back and watch the eruption as the reactants mix, causing the colorful foam to bubble and spill over!
Notes
Customize your colors with different food coloring, add essential oils for a pleasant scent, or swap lemons for oranges for a sweeter eruption. Use fizzy soda for a different bubbly effect. Adult supervision is recommended for children during this activity.