Easy Erupting Volcano Project

There comes a time in most schools when making model erupting volcanoes becomes a required project, either in class or as a take home assignment. This project should not daunt your child, or you for that matter. From constructing a basic set up of a volcano model, to taking it a step further and making it realistic, all of your needs can be found right here in this simple guide to successful erupting volcanoes.

Understanding how to make your volcano erupt, and the process that brings it to that point, is the first step to this particular project. When a real volcano erupts, it spews lava out of its core. Lava is very hot molten rock that runs deep within a volcano. When it is at rest, it is more commonly known as magma. This project will teach your child what happens when an acid, such as vinegar, meets with a base (baking soda). The reaction from the two joining will cause a byproduct of carbon dioxide, a fizzy liquid created from this simple interaction. For intermediate uses, the exact chemical reaction is as follows:

HC₂H₃O₂ (vinegar = acetic acid) + NaHCO₃ (baking soda = sodium bicarbonite) = CO₂ (carbon dioxide gas) + NaC₂H₃O₂(sodium acetate) + H₂O (water)

Mind boggling for some, right? No need to worry. This experiment doesn’t require you to know the gritty details. It is just the scientific way of explaining why things happen the way that they do.

For this experiment, you will need to gather the following items. It is a good idea to wear old clothing and cover the work area with newspapers to minimize any staining that could occur when this project gets messy.

-Paper plate

-Small empty soda bottle that has been dried completely

-3 to 4 tablespoons baking soda

-1/2 cup vinegar

-2 or 3 drops liquid dishwashing detergent

-Funnel

-Measuring spoons and cups

-Red food coloring

-Glitter (optional)

This will make a basic unit that will allow you to see what happens when the reaction occurs. If you are looking for a realistic looking volcano for your project, use the following simple recipe to make a basic clay. You will need:

-3 cups flour

-1 and 1/2 cups salt

-6 teaspoons cream of tartar

-4 tablespoons vegetable oil

-3 cups water

-Food coloring

In a medium sized pot, stir together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Add the oil, water, and food coloring, then mix thoroughly until there are no lumps and the color is even throughout the mixture. Place over medium heat and stir constantly until the mixture forms a ball and starts to pull away from the sides of the pot. Let the mixture cool completely. When it is cooled, mold the clay around the small soda bottle after setting it on the paper plate. Being careful not to get any clay inside the bottle, shape the volcano around the bottle until it resembles a realistic version.

Now it is time to form the chemical reaction that will cause your volcano to explode. Using a dry funnel, dump all of the baking soda carefully into the soda bottle/volcano. Add the dishwashing detergent and half a cup of water to the baking soda. In a small cup, mix red food coloring with all of the vinegar to create the desired color. At this point, you may add 1/2 teaspoon glitter if you wish. For the final step, pour the vinegar and food coloring mixture into the funnel, then very quickly remove the funnel from the soda bottle. The reaction will form instantly, and can be very messy.

Other quick ideas for the volcano construction include allowing the model to set for a day or so, then paint with anything that will not run when exposed to liquids. You can also add glitter to the clay itself, you can do this by sprinkling a tablespoon at a time into the clay then kneading it through to make it uniform. This method uses a lot of glitter for the desired effect, so be prepared.