Looking for science ideas for Valentine’s Day? I have several valentine activities to share over the next few weeks. This idea involves two ingredients kids love: baking soda and vinegar. Add some hearts and you have a perfect Valentine’s Day science activity.
Valentine Science: Frozen Vinegar Hearts
You know all about the standard baking soda and vinegar reaction, right? Vinegar is an acid. Baking soda is a base. Combine the two together and you get a chemical reaction that produces water and salt…
What happens if we freeze the vinegar or baking soda or both? Set up this investigation to find out.
Materials:
- baking soda
- vinegar
- water
- freezer trays or molds {in heart shapes for fun}
- food coloring {optional}
Setup:
{The amounts aren’t really that important here.}
- Fill your freezer trays or molds half full of water and half full of vinegar. {Use more vinegar and get more bubbles faster.}
- Add a drop or two of food coloring.
- Freeze.
- Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 cup of water. Stir to dissolve.
You could also freeze the baking soda and water solution.
The Invitation
Add the baking soda and water combo to a pan or bowl. Place the frozen vinegar hearts in a second container. Invite your child to explore. He will mix the frozen hearts with the water. As the ice melts, the baking soda and vinegar will react. {You will see bubbles and excitement.} You will also see the colors mix.
Allow your child to add more baking soda and water solution to the frozen vinegar.
Add baking soda directly to the frozen vinegar. This will also produce a reaction. If you dunk the ice in water first, the baking soda reacts faster. {It reaches the vinegar more quickly.}
Try it with frozen water minus the vinegar. Will it bubble when baking soda is added to it? {No. baking soda doesn’t react with water.}
Reminders and Cautions
Baking soda and vinegar are safe to touch. However, contact with the eyes should be avoided. Rinse eyes with water if your child happens to stick his hands in his eyes after touching vinegar. Wash hands when you are finished playing.
It goes without saying that this activity should be supervised by an adult.
Questions to Ask
Ask your child what she thinks will happen. She may talk about ice floating on water. Make observations as you go along. The ice heart floats on the water.
There are bubbles forming. What do you think the ice is made of? What have you mixed together with baking soda that creates bubbles? Vinegar! {My 3 year old answered this. We have played with baking soda and vinegar quite often and talked about the bubbles. Aiden has an empty box of baking soda that he pretends to mix with a cup of “vinegar” and it makes pretend bubbles, so he’s quite familiar with what’s happening.}
What do you think the bubbles are? They are made when the vinegar reacts with the baking soda. If you are so inclined, you could discuss how the bubbles are carbon dioxide {like we exhale and plants take in}.
Talk about the colors you see. What happens when the red heart melts into the blue water? What other colors could we make?
More Valentine Activities
- Turn a simple valentine heart craft into a learning activity.
- Explore hearts on the magnet board.
- Look through our past Valentine’s Day ideas here. There are more activities still ahead.
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Cute experiment! We may have to try it sometime!
Ashley recently posted..Letter G Sensory Bin
Even after the bubbles were gone, my son had fun playing with the ice and water.
so much fun!
Carolyn @ Pleasantest Thing recently posted..Glowing Shaving Cream Sensory Bag
Yes!
I really enjoyed this one, too.
oh wow, that is amazing! What a great idea. x
Emma @sciencesparks recently posted..Valentine Science Ideas
Thanks, Emma! Kids think anything with bubbles is awesome {and so do I}.
This is a super-fun idea!!!
maryanne @ mama smiles recently posted..Virtual Book Club for Kids: David McPhail
Aiden loved it. I had to stop his play when he was out of ice and started splashing water everywhere.
This totally and completely rocks. I happen to have heart ice cube trays. I am going to freeze some vinegar tonight to do this with my boys tomorrow.
Allison recently posted..The ABC’s of Imaginative Play {Setting the Stage} P – T
Love to hear that, Allison! I was actually looking for a heart ice cube tray like yours. I found the larger hearts instead.
This is a great twist to a “common” science experiment that makes it fit into a theme to make learning more fun!
Thank you for linking up to Sharing Saturday.
chelle recently posted..Sharing Saturday #2
I think baking soda and vinegar {no matter how it’s presented} never gets old for kids – at least that’s how it is for my son!
Wow what a great idea. I’ve never thought of freezing the ingredients before. I will definitely be trying this.
Emma (My Little 3 and Me) recently posted..In the kitchen with Nigella: Oatcakes
Thanks, Emma. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
we will be doing this this week.LOVE it!
kristina recently posted..Being Kind to Strangers {Kitchen Counter Chronicles}
Happy to hear that, Kristina! You’ll have to let me know how you all like it.
I made some vinegar ice cubes today for cleaning out the garbage disposal, but also decided to make some extras for my 3 year-old, as well as a batch of baking soda ice cubes. I wish I thought of doing some that were heart shapes. Our big heart shape ice cube hit was beet juice ice cubes – no real science connection, but still very cool. http://jennifischer.blogspot.com/2012/09/wordless-wednesday-beet-juice-heart-ice.html
Jen Fischer recently posted..{Project 101: Weekly Library Challenge} Week #2: Feeling A Little Frenchy!
This is awesome! I love how you tied in the Valentines/heart theme! I’m going to share this on my PreschoolPowolPackets Facebook page!
Carla recently posted..Bears & Butterflies: 41+ Hibernation Activities Ebook
Thanks, Carla!
What a fun experiment, my kids love science and I always need ideas for them!
Jen recently posted..Valentine’s Day Mantel
I hope they have fun with this one, Jen!
I am prepping this activity tonight with a clover mold! Can’t wait for my boys to discover it tomorrow! Thank you for the inspiration! ~ Marnie
Marnie recently posted..The Art of Observation: A Study of GREEN
Oh how fun! Can’t wait to hear how it goes!
I love this twist on an old favorite! Thank you for the inspiration!
Oh, what fun!! We will definitely have to give this a try. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
Carrie recently posted..Simple Valentines–Made by a Preschooler
I have these ingredients ready to use on the kitchen counter, but have been having issues coming up with an exciting play invitation. THIS I LOVE! Thank you so much. I’ve pinned this if that’s ok?
Popping over from the Fun Sparks linky.
TheBoyandMe recently posted..Silent Sunday
Yay! So glad you like it.
And yes, you are most welcome to pin!
My comment from the other day isn’t here so I’ll try it again:
SO COOL!!!!
Megan @ Coffee Cups and Crayons recently posted..Alphabet Activities for Preschool: Heart Puzzles
Oh no, where did it go? Thanks for trying again and for the lovely comment!