Baking soda ice cubes

Today is the first day of the summer holidays for us, and I have a big plan to post a science activity every day for the whole six weeks. We’re kicking off with a favourite reaction, baking soda and vinegar. The reaction between baking soda and vinegar is a great first chemical reaction for children to learn about, and these baking soda ice cubes are brilliant fun.

Ingredients

• Ice cube tray
• Food colouring ( optional )
• Bicarbonate of Soda ( Baking Soda )
• Water
• Vinegar

How to make Baking Soda Ice Cubes

• Mix some baking soda with water and food colouring. I didn’t measure how much baking soda, but you need about two teaspoons per large ice cube.
• Freeze for a few hours or overnight.

Warning – this bit might get messy, so go outside or use a big tray. Be careful not to get vinegar into little eyes as well.

• Let the cubes defrost a little, and then add some vinegar
• Watch the fizzing.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Reactions

Vinegar (an acid ) and bicarbonate of soda ( an alkali ) react together to neutralise each other. This reaction releases carbon dioxide, a gas which is the bubbles you see.

As the Baking Soda is frozen in the ice, it takes a while for the reaction to start in this activity, but it’s worth the wait.

Don’t forget to pop back tomorrow to see another fun science activity for kids.

Inspiration Laboratories froze the vinegar instead of the baking soda and also had great results. I really want to freeze both now.

More Baking Soda Experiments

If you enjoyed this activity, you’ll love our other baking soda experiments for kids too.

Last Updated on July 5, 2023 by Emma Vanstone