Last week we were sent a copy of the brilliant Incredible Edibles book (you know the CBBC series where they eat yucky things) to review. To a mini mad scientist in the making like Master Frugal it’s apparently the most awesome book ever.
This week we’ve been trying some of the experiments in there and we decided to show you our favourite one. It’s my favourite because it’s (almost) mess free and can be done with things you would usually have lying around the house and it’s the kids favourite because they can do it all themselves and there’s a big bang at the end!
In case you didn’t get that you add 6 ml of lemon juice to an empty film canister, top with a sheet of toilet roll – pulled in half so it’s thinner and then add a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda to the top of the toilet roll. Gently put the lid back on, turn upside down on to a plate and stand well back. The bang may take a while but it always happens 😉
The first time we tried this the bang was so loud that I screamed and jumped back so much that I knocked a chair over and ruined the filming. The second time it took about two minutes for the bang and I got bored and wasn’t even pointing the camera at it when it went off and by the third time, the kids were used to it and hardly reacted. In fact I’m sure Master Frugal ends this video saying it never scared him that time.
The science bit – Basically, the acid in the lemon juice reacts with the base of the baking soda causing the two to neutralize each other making a gas. This expands and causes the lid of the film canister to blow off, sending the rest of it flying into the air – like a rocket.
The incredible Edibles book is amazing. It’s filled with mad recipes and Science that you can do at home with your children – Great Christmas gift!
