Jack O’Lantern ooze

Oh my, as I look at the calendar, I see that

Halloween is just around the corner now.

I am literally running out of time to finish my costumes and all of the activities for the Halloween Erie Extravaganza at the Esplanade.

It feels like it has been forever since I have been in front of my favourite young scientists and I am getting pretty excited to see all of you.

I cannot wait so share some amazing hands on science activities. Make sure you get your tickets as soon as possible so you do not miss out as space is limited.

Just in case you cannot make it out that day, I thought I would share one of the activities we may be doing. Let’s get started.

Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

one Jack O’Lantern hydrogen peroxide ideally 12% but any will work yeast (powdered form) water liquid dish soap two small cups for mixing food colouring (optional) measuring spoons measuring cups small bowl safety goggles

Procedure

1. Cut out a Jack O’Lantern in your favourite face. You will need to keep the top so you have a lid.

2. Place a small bowl on the bottom and inside of the Jack O’Lantern.

3. Put on your safety goggles.

4. Measure 30mL (two tablespoons) of yeast into a cup. Add 45 mL (three tablespoons) of water and stir well. Set aside for now.

5. Measure 60 mL (1/4 cup) of hydrogen peroxide. Add in a couple of drops of food colouring and 30 mL (two tablespoons) of liquid dish soap. Stir gently and pour it into the bowl in the pumpkin.

6. Quickly pour the yeast mixture into the hydrogen peroxide mixture. Put the lid on and watch what happens.

7. Caution: do not touch the mixture that oozes out of the pumpkin, clean it up with gloves as the hydrogen peroxide mixture can irritate your skin.

What is going on?

You did a simple decomposition experiment here. When the hydrogen peroxide decomposes, you are left with oxygen and water. The addition of the yeast made the reaction happen at a much faster rate, and as a result created a great deal of oxygen and when you mixed it with the soap, a ton of bubbles were produced and pushed out of the Jack O’Lantern.

Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, www. praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403.527.5365, email: praxis@ praxismh.ca.