Look out, she’s gonna blow! The classic baking soda and vinegar volcano experiment (and a couple of interesting variations).

Vinegar, baking soda, food coloring, and a volcano made of dough

In this experiment we will build a real working volcano. After mixing just the right amount of ingredients together, we’ll add the final item to make our volcano ‘blow its top’ spewing red lava down the sides. Yes, this is the famous “Baking Soda Volcano” experiment – found exclusively at Geek Slop (and on the…

Let’s make some raisins boogie!

So, you don’t want to be a kid and instead want to be an elephant because you’ve been told elephants never have to brush their teeth? Well, we have news for you – there’s a lot more differences between kids and elephants than just their teeth.

Blow up balloon with baking soda and vinegar experiment.

$Bouquet of six latex and one foil balloon arranged into a "stacked layer"$

When vinegar is mixed with baking soda, a double replacement reaction takes place. The end result is carbon dioxide but behind the scenes, there is more than one reaction taking place.

Why do people pour salt on icy sidewalks to melt the snow? Usually, the result is a big pile of slush made of melted snow and ice crystals. And why do the lakes and streams freeze over solid while the ocean always remains flowing? Is there something magical about salt? Let’s find out!

The Pepsi hot air balloon from The Aeriel Advantage

In this experiment, we will load a balloon with electrons and see how it interacts with a soda can (which is full of protons).

We love things that go boom. Throw in some flames and you’ve got one of the most popular experiments on Geek Slop.

Andreas_Cunaeus_discovering_the_Leyden_jar

Ever heard of a Leyden jar? It’s been around for over 200 years and is the forerunner of the modern day capacitor. The guy who invented it tested it on himself and stated that ‘my whole body was shaken as though by a thunderbolt’. And no, his name wasn’t Leyden – Leyden was the town…

Drawing of electrophorus electrostatic generator, invented by Johan Carl Wilcke in 1764, from an 1840 chemistry text

In this experiment we’ll create an object called a electrophorus. Using the materials listed above, we’ll charge the object and then discharge it creating a snap, a little electrical shock, and a bright spark. If you’re afraid of a little electrical shock then get Dad to discharge the object for you. And for grins, don’t…

Styrofoam peanuts clinging to a cat's fur due to static electricity

In this experiment, we will magically force electrons from Scotch Tape to pass to and from a table. Of course, you won’t be able to see the electrons transfer, but you will definitely see the effects of the hopping electrons.