Baking Soda and Vinegar Science: 50 Fizzy Explorations for Kids

Baking and soda and vinegar science is always popular with kids. They love the fizzy reactions. I have made a list of 50 ways to explore baking soda and vinegar. Start with the classic mixing and go from there. I get commissions for purchases made through the affiliate links in this post.

Title image for collection of 50 baking soda and vinegar science explorations for kids

50 Fizzy Ways to Explore Baking Soda and Vinegar Science

What Happens in the Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction?

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base and vinegar (acetic acid) is an acid. When combined, they react to form water, a salt (sodium acetate), and carbon dioxide gas. The bubbles produced by the reaction are the carbon dioxide gas escaping the water. If you add soap, the carbon dioxide gas will blow soap bubbles. You’ll get stable bubbles or frothy foam depending on what type and how much soap you use.

Start Simple

Start with simple baking soda and vinegar explorations. Let your child experience the basic reaction.

Add some color and dish soap for a little extra excitement. Compare the reaction with and without dish soap.

Color surprise – Hide the liquid watercolor or food coloring under the baking soda. When vinegar is added, the color will appear.

Set up an experiment to find out what reacts with baking soda. Here’s another way to setup the baking soda experiment.

Answer the question: what makes the biggest eruption? with this experiment idea from No Time for Flashcards that compares baking soda, baking powder, and corn starch.

Exploding Baggies – See how carbon dioxide is formed through the chemical reaction. Use the reaction to explode some plastic baggies.

Exploding Baggie inspired by Honey Lemon's Chemistry Concoctions from Big Hero 6

Blow Up a Balloon – Use the chemical reaction to blow up a balloon with carbon dioxide. Add baking soda and vinegar to a bottle. Quickly put a balloon on top to trap the carbon dioxide. The balloon will expand as the reaction occurs.

Blow Bubbles – The baking soda and vinegar reaction can also blow bubbles.

Mix it Up

Swap vinegar for different acids to change up the explorations. Citric acid (found in the canning aisle), lemon juice, and __ are great substitutions.

See what happens when you add things to the baking soda and vinegar. Fun at Home with Kids compares the reaction when adding bubble solution and dish soap.

Also try adding corn starch, flour, salt, or other edible things from your kitchen. Does anything make the reaction bigger? Does anything prevent the reaction?

Use Kool Aid instead of vinegar for a fun sensory experience and add a secret ingredient to make the eruptions giant! Learn Play Imagine has the details.

Fizzy Color Mixing Experiment – add different colors to your vinegar and explore how the colors can mix.

Red cabbage can be used to create color changing fizzy potions. This is one of our absolute favorites.

Add baking soda to snow (or crushed ice) and make fizzy snow!

Write secret messages with baking soda – The baking soda makes invisible ink. An acid like grape juice or lemon juice will reveal the secret message.

Make a lava lamp with baking soda and vinegar. Watch the how-to video.

Build a baking soda rocket. Science Sparks has the instructions.

Science Sparks also shows us how to make a baking soda powered boat.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcanoes

Baking soda and vinegar volcanoes are a fun science exploration for kids.

Learn how to make a tape volcano or check out 10 ways to make a volcano.

A pocket volcano is a fun way to watch the baking soda and vinegar reaction.

See our collection of volcano books, science kits, and toys.

Volcanoes don’t really erupt like a simple baking soda and vinegar reaction. Learn how to change up the recipe and to create different kinds of volcanoes.

Make a fizzy slime volcano. Little Bins for Little Hands combines two kid favorites with this one.

Fizzy Doughs

If your dough includes baking soda, it will react with vinegar.

Take the baking soda clay and use it to make a fizzy snowman.

Create a fizzy snow dough sensory bin.

Fizzy Coconut Lime Play Dough – a lovely sensory experience! This dough is super soft because of the combination of cornstarch and coconut conditioner. The smell is amazing. The addition of baking soda to the dough makes it fizz when you add vinegar.

Fizzy Valentine Play Dough – another soft and squishy dough that fizzes and bubbles when you add vinegar. This one has the lime replaced with liquid water colors for a valentine theme.

Halloween Fizzy Play Dough – same recipe as above just orange for Halloween.

Fizzing Pinkalicious Cupcake Experiment – Can you create fizzing pinkalicious cupcakes with the ingredients provided. What combination produces the best/most fizz?

Fizzy Art

Baking Soda Painted Leaves – Combine baking soda and vinegar with paint to create a fun fall themed STEAM activity.

Baking soda and vinegar painted leaves are a fun way to combine science art!

Baking Soda Painted Apple Art – This apple themed STEAM activity again uses baking soda and vinegar to paint apples.

Baking Soda Painted Pumpkins – We also used the fizzy baking soda and vinegar reaction to paint pumpkins.

Baking Soda Painted Christmas Tree – Paint with baking soda and vinegar to make a Christmas tree.

Fizzy Spider Web Art – Sprinkle baking soda on a spider web drawing. Add colorful vinegar for a wonderful STEAM process activity. Take photos because this project does not save well. It’s all about the process.

Freeze It

Frozen vinegar hearts are one of our most popular ideas. Also try the summer version of frozen vinegar. You can freeze it into any shape. Freezing slows down the reaction. You will get fewer or slower fizzy bubbles.

Frozen Baking Soda Pumpins – Freeze baking soda shaped like pumpkins. Use vinegar to react with the baking soda and rescue the treasures hidden inside.

Frozen Baking Soda Dragon Eggs – Our favorite frozen baking soda idea. Help the dragons hatch from their eggs in this frozen, fizzy activity.

Make It Halloween Themed

Halloween Science: Baking Soda & Vinegar Exploration – Use halloween themed cookie cutters and orange vinegar.

kids dropper colored vinegar onto baking soda in Halloween themed cookie cutters

Fizzy juice potions lab – Fruit juice, candy, and Halloween decorations create a delicious and fun potions lab.

Make fizzy potions with fruit juice inspired by Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson. A fun Halloween science activity for kids.

What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen? Science Exploration and Potions Lab – another version of our potions lab with Halloween themed food inspired by the book, What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen?