Get ready to mix some magic with this bubbling potion experiment! Using dry ice and a few household items, you can create a frothy, foggy brew that looks straight out of a wizard’s workshop. Perfect for kids who love hands-on science with a magical twist!
WHAT YOU NEED
• A cookie sheet or cake pan
• A tall glass of water
• Dry ice (about 2 pounds)
• Liquid dish soap
• Food coloring
MIXING THE MAGIC
1. Set Up Your Station: Place a tall glass of water in the center of your cookie sheet or cake pan. This will catch any overflowing bubbles, keeping the mess to a minimum.
2. Add the Dry Ice: Carefully drop a small piece of dry ice into the glass of water. Instantly, you’ll see a foggy mist forming as the dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas. Note: Avoid touching dry ice directly with your skin! It’s so cold that it can cause burns similar to frostbite, so always use gloves or tongs to handle it safely.
3. Color the Potion: Add a few drops of food coloring to the water.
4. Create the Bubbles: Squeeze some liquid dish soap into the water. In moments, bubbles will form, filling with the foggy gas and overflowing from the glass.
5. Enjoy the Fun: Watch the bubbles grow and spill over the sides, then pop them to release the mist inside!
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE MAGIC
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, which must be kept below -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit to remain in its solid form—that’s seriously cold! What makes dry ice unique is that it undergoes sublimation, meaning it changes directly from a solid to a gas without turning into liquid first. When you add dry ice to water, it releases carbon dioxide gas, which creates the fog you see. Adding dish soap traps the gas in bubbles, causing them to froth and foam. This fun bubbling effect is a great way to explore concepts like sublimation, density, and gas formation! It’s also a bit of Halloween-style fun.