February 11, 2023
Science For Someone Special
The latest Praxis ‘Science Smarts’ column in the Medicine Hat News. The article may also be found in the Medicine Hat News (paper) or digital copy at https://medicinehatnews.com/life/local-life/2023/02/11/science-smarts-for-that-someone-special/ or via PressReader at https://www.pressreader.com/article/281715503781080.
We all know what “holiday” is coming up next week — Valentine’s Day of course! I am not about all of the “commercial” things that surround this holiday, but I do like to enjoy a good themed science experiment.
This week, I thought we could do some science all the while creating something to give that special someone in your life. Note: you can get all of the materials at a bulk grocery store here in town quite easily.
Let’s get started!
*Make sure you ask an adult before doing this experiment.
Materials
- Citric acid
- Baking soda
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Measuring spoons
- Vegetable oil
- Food colouring (optional)
- Essential oil (optional)
- Mixing spoon
- Ice cube tray/muffin tin/ mold for your bath bomb
- Cup
- Pipette/medicine dropper
- Two mixing bowls
Procedure
- Prepare your ice cube tray by adding 5 mL (one teaspoon) of vegetable oil to each compartment so the bath bombs will not stick! Use your fingers and rub it around all over.
- Note: The instructions below will make ONE bath bomb. Adjust your recipe to make as many as you wish.
- Measure 45 mL (three tablespoons) of citric acid, 30 mL (two tablespoons) of BOTH baking soda and cornstarch and put into the mixing bowl.
- In the second mixing bowl measure and add 5 mL (one teaspoon) EACH of water and oil. Mix well. If you desire, add a couple of drops of food colouring (to your desired colour) and essential oil.
- Using the pipette, add a couple of drops of your wet mixture to the dry mixture; stirring well after each addition. Be careful you do not want to dissolve the mixture; you just want to add enough moisture so that it will stick together.
- Carefully spoon the mixture into the ice cube tray compartment. Press down FIRMLY after each addition.
- Repeat to make more bath bombs if you wish!
What is going on?
When it is time to use the bath bomb is when the real science is going to happen! When you add the bath bomb to your bathtub, you will see it begin to react immediately. The baking soda and citric acid create a reaction when it is submerged in the water. You should see carbon dioxide bubbles forming!
If you want a bit of additional science, this is actually an acid base reaction. The baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) is a weak acid. When you add it to the citric ACID in this experiment, it reacts producing the vigorous bubbles.
You could easily make this into a first time science fair project — adjust the amounts of acids and bases and investigate reaction time for instance. The possibilities are endless really!
The Southeast Alberta Kiwanis Science Fair is coming up. Details at https://praxisscienceconnection.wordpress.com/2023/02/07/2023-southeast-alberta-kiwanis-regional-science-fair/
Teachers — if your school is interested in having a science fair club, make sure you call soon so I can pop by and give you some great pointers!
Also, Praxis Science Outreach still continues to do science outreach in southeastern Alberta but because of financial constraints, we are making some program changes. See https://praxisscienceconnection.wordpress.com/2023/02/09/praxis-science-outreach-society-program-changes/ for the details regarding our programs.
Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant – PRAXIS: Connecting Science and The Community of SE Alberta
Webpage: https://www.praxismedhat.com/
We also have another blog for events, activities and services that we offer at https://praxisscienceconnection.wordpress.com/ – we are involved in many community activities in SE Alberta.
If you wish to support us (Praxis Science Outreach is a registered charity) please consider doing so at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/praxis-society-southeastern-alberta-sciencing-and-teching-center/?mprompt=1.
We are located at #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7
Phone: 403.527.5365 or email: praxis@praxismh.ca
Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts Column 
Reblogged this on lochsloidh and commented:
The latest Praxis Science Outreach Science Smarts column in the Medicine Hat News.
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