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Description

Making puffer fish using balloons, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda

Today we are going to make a chemical reaction! First, have a think… What does a puffer fish do when it feels in danger? We are going to see if we can make our balloon puffer fish PUFF UP!

Resources

Balloons
Cheap plastic gloves
Hair elastic band
Vinegar
Bicarbonate of soda
sharpie to decorate

Instructions

Cut off and fill the finger of a cheap plastic glove with vinegar and tie off with a elastic band. Get a balloon and decorate it like a puffer fish then put some bicarbonate of soda into it, (this will be easier to do with the help from a leader) then carefully put in the vinegar capsule. once the balloon has been tied up, place it onto a solid surface and give it a wack. The chemical reaction will inflate the balloon so it looks like a puffer fish.


⚠️ Before We Start – 3 Rules

1. ? Nothing in your mouth. Do not put the equipment or your fingers in your mouth. The ingredients taste nasty and could give you a tummy ache.
2. ✋ Wait for your group. Complete ONE STEP at a time. Wait until everyone is ready before moving to the next step. If someone needs help, help each other.
3. ? Be gentle with your puffer fish. Do not throw or stamp on your balloon.

Steps
1. Draw your puffer fish; Before we do any science, use a pen to draw a **puffer fish** on your balloon.
2. Put the funnel into the balloon. Measure 2 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda. Pour it through the funnel and into the balloon.
✋ WAIT for your group.
3. Add the vinegar capsule. Gently slide ONE vinegar capsule into the neck of the balloon.
⚠️ Be careful – don't burst it yet!
4. ? Move the capsule. Take the balloon off the funnel. Gently push the capsule down into the main part of the balloon. You can blow a little air into the balloon if you need to.
⚠️ Keep the capsule whole!
5. ? Let any extra air out the balloon. Carefully tie a knot in the end of your balloon.
⚠️ Don't squash the vinegar capsule.
STOP & THINK!
Don't burst your capsule yet! What do you think will happen when the VINEGAR mixes with the BICARBONATE OF SODA?
Tell someone in your group your prediction.
6. ✋Check that **EVERYONE** in your group is ready. Don't start until your leader says: Go
7. ? BURST THE CAPSULE! Put your puffer fish flat on the table. Find the vinegar capsule. Give the capsule ONE firm hit with your fist to burst it. Do not stamp on it or throw it.
8. ? WATCH & LISTEN!
Watch your puffer fish carefully.
? What can you SEE?
? What can you HEAR?
? What is happening to your puffer fish?

Tags

• balloons
• chemical reaction
• Creative Science
• reactions
• science experiment
• Science Investigator
• scientist badge

Badge Links

• Scientist - Vinegar