Make a bath bomb that fizzes and smells great

DO YOU want to create something fun and watch the results? This week, Little Scientists have shared an exciting science experiment for you to do with the help of your parents.

Little Scientists is an extramural and party entertainment programme for pre-primary and primary school children.

You can make an explosion when you make some bubbly bath bombs and watch it fizz away.

Materials needed

Quantities below make four bombs: s &OOD COLOURING s &LOWER PETALS OR BODY GLITTER s 3WEET ALMOND OIL s 3CENTED OIL SUCH AS LAVENDER OIL s TBS BICARBONATE OF SODA s TBS OF CITRIC ACID s LARGE MIXING BOWLS s LARGE EGG TRAY s SMALL JAR s 2UBBER GLOVES s 3POONS s 3MALL LUNCH BAGS

Method

s 'IVE EACH CHILD A PLASTIC LUNCH

bag.

s !SK THEM TO GREASE THE INSIDE OF

the bags with a little almond oil.

s $ISCUSS WHICH COLOUR AND

of soda into a large bowl.

OIL

IS

preferred and split groups accordingly.

s 0LACE THE CITRIC ACID AND BICARBOnate s -IX THE INGREDIENTS WELL s 3COOP OUT ABOUT HALF A CUP OF THIS mixture and put it into another bowl. This will make one or two bath bombs (depending on the size of the holes in the egg tray).

You could also use old plastic containers or anything that holds a shape.

s !DD

s

THE

7HILE

FLOWER

WEARING

PETALS

glitter to the base mixture.

s )N THE SMALL JAR MIX

s 'RADUALLY POUR THE

RUBBER

OR BODY

DROPS OF

your scented oil, 5 teaspoons of sweet almond oil and about 10 drops of food colouring.

OIL MIXTURE

into the half cup of the base mixture.

GLOVES

quickly mix it all. The mixture is ready when it stays together in your hands without crumbling too much.

s 3POON THE MIXTURE INTO THE LUNCH

bags and press down into the trays.

s 9OU CAN USE THE REST OF THE MIXture

with other types of scented oil or food colouring to make more bath bombs.

s )T WILL TAKE A FEW DAYS TO SET /NCE

set, children can carefully remove the bath bombs from the bag.

s 2UN A BATH HOP IN AND DROP IN A

bomb. Watch it fizzzzzz!

Little Scientists said when the bath bomb dissolves in water, there is a chemical reaction between the citric acid and the sodium bicarbonate. The result is called sodium citrate.

During the reaction, carbon dioxide is released. This causes the fizzing that you see, similar to that in carbonated water. The sweet almond oil is released during this reaction. It will form a thin layer on your skin which can help to moisturise it. The lavender oil is for fragrance.

LITTLE SCIENTISTS LITTLE scientists excitedly at work on the experiment. |