Big Hero 6 Science: Honey Lemon’s Chemistry Concoctions

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In Big Hero 6, Honey Lemon has a cool purse with a little chemistry lab inside. She can put together various elements and create chem-balls to help her and her super hero friends. Her concoctions include hardening foam that will stop you in your tracks, cushioning foam to catch you when you fall, ice to freeze the bad guys, and explosives when necessary. We created our own Big Hero 6 science lab using Honey Lemon’s chemistry concoctions as inspiration. It’s a great mix of pretend fun and science learning!

Big Hero 6 Release Date

Big Hero 6 is finally coming to Blu-ray and DVD. Get it at Walmart on February 24th. (That’s tomorrow!) Your purchase of the Big Hero 6 Blu-Ray/DVD + Gift With Purchase Set includes a digital movie on Vudu while supplies last! Simply scan your receipt using the Savings Catcher in the Walmart app. Then look for a message on your phone or email. Now you can watch Big Hero 6 on any device.

You can also buy Big Hero 6 merchandise and toys online at Walmart.com.

Honey Lemon’s Chemistry Concoctions

Hardening Foam (similar to Elephant’s Toothpaste)

Elephant’s toothpaste is an awesome expanding foam that’s super easy to make. It doesn’t actually harden but we can pretend. The conventional recipe for elephant’s toothpaste calls for 6% hydrogen peroxide. You have to look for that in beauty stores or buy it online. I wanted to create something that everyone can try with standard household ingredients. We’re using regular 3% hydrogen peroxide.

What You’ll Need:

• safety goggles
• plastic eggs (the larger sizes work better)
• tape
• large deep container, sink, or bathtub (or you can go outside)
• hydrogen peroxide (3% hydrogen peroxide is what is normally found in your first aid supplies. It works great for this activity.)
• dry active yeast (from the baking aisle)
• warm water (to activate the yeast)
• dish soap like Dawn (do not use an antibacterial soap)
• liquid watercolors or food coloring (optional)

1. Mix 1 teaspoon of the dry active yeast in 3-4 tablespoons of warm water. (Using water that’s too hot will kill the yeast.) Now the yeast is active and ready to work.
2. Cover the holes in the plastic eggs with tape.
3. Fill the large half of your plastic egg about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way with hydrogen peroxide. Add a squirt of dish soap and a few drops of liquid watercolors (or food coloring).
4. Add the yeast mixture to the small half of your plastic egg.
5. Are your safety goggles on? Are you over your container or sink?  Quickly put together the halves of the plastic egg. Shake the egg and place it in the sink/container.

The foam will begin to escape and break open the egg.

Watch the video below to see how it works.

If the egg breaks too quickly, try putting less hydrogen peroxide in your egg. Less liquid means more time for the foam to build up before the egg breaks.

Another way to play: Complete the steps above except leave one of the holes in the egg uncovered. Then, foam will squirt out of the hole. You can write with foam or just make fun squiggles.

Watch the video below.

What’s Happening?

Hydrogen peroxide is not very stable and readily breaks down into water and oxygen. The yeast catalyzes this reaction. The yeast speeds up the break down of the hydrogen peroxide. The resulting foam is just soap and water so it’s safe to touch. This is a exothermic reaction which means it produces heat. The egg and foam will be a little warm.

Yet another way to play: After you activate the yeast, you can just mix it with the other ingredients in a large bowl or container and watch the foam expand. (Use 1/2 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide.) Aiden played with the soapy foam, some measuring cups, a funnel, and a plastic bottle for a long while.

Cushioning Foam (Squishy Play Dough)

For a cushioning foam, let’s create something squishy and soft. Cornstarch and hair conditioner makes a lovely soft play dough.

You’ll Need:

• cornstarch
• hair conditioner (choose an inexpensive one that smells good)
• mixing bowl

Let your child mix the cornstarch and hair conditioner together. Let her experiment with the amounts to get a soft and moldable dough. A good starting ratio is 1 part conditioner and 2 parts cornstarch. You may need more or less depending on your brand.

Add toys to the play dough for extra fun. Can you make Baymax out the dough?

Explosive Chemistry

Create an exploding baggie powered by the baking soda and vinegar reaction.

You’ll Need:

• small plastic baggies with good closure (the thinner, the better)
• vinegar
• baking soda
• toilet paper or thin paper towels
• liquid watercolors or washable paint (optional)

Do this activity outside wearing play clothes. The baggies will explode and make a mess everywhere. Also be sure it’s okay to have paint in the area. Skip the paint if needed. You can also do this one in your bathtub. You might skip the paint there, too.

1. Pour around 1/3 of cup of vinegar and a few drops of liquid watercolors into a plastic baggie. (You may need to play around with the amounts of baking soda, vinegar, and paint depending on the size of your bags.)
2. Create little packets of baking soda: add about a tablespoon of baking soda to a square of toilet paper or a small piece of thin paper towel.
3. While the vinegar is in one corner of the baggie, place the baking soda packet in the other corner of the baggie. Try to leave a good amount of air in the bag, and seal the baggie well. Don’t worry if the baking soda and vinegar start to mix right away. Just quickly seal the bag.
4. Shake the bag to mix together the baking soda and vinegar.
5. Watch the bag inflate. It should eventually pop and release the paint.

Have the Big Hero 6 characters inspired any pretend play fun for you and your child?