Hopping Corn Experiment

Materials

• A clear glass container

• Popping corn

• 2 1/2-3 cups water

• 2 tbsps baking soda

• 6 tbsps white vinegar

• Food coloring (optional)

Directions

1. Fill your jar with water and add a couple drops of food coloring

2. Add baking soda and stir well until it’s all dissolved

3. Add a small handful of popping corn kernels

4. Add the vinegar and watch the corn start to hop up and down

What’s Happening?
When the baking soda and vinegar combine, they react to form carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. The gas forms bubbles in the water which circle around the corn kernels.  The bubbles lift the kernels up to the surface and when they get there they pop and the kernels sink again.
The “hopping” continues until the vinegar and baking soda have finished reacting.

adapted from One Time Through