Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Decorating the Volcano
• Method 2 of 3: Using Soda Water and Mentos
• Method 3 of 3: Using baking soda and vinegar
• Warnings
• What do you need

Making a volcano in a soda bottle is a classic science experiment that deserves a little mess. A volcanic eruption can be made from a variety of materials. Two classic options are a soda and Mentos mints volcano (if done correctly, the eruption can be up to 50 centimeters high) and a volcano made from a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. With a few tools at your disposal, you can have a fun volcanic eruption in your backyard.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Decorating the Volcano

1. 1 Select the base of the volcano. This could be a plastic cutting board, an unwanted piece of wood, or some other hard, flat object. Do not use cardboard as it may not be strong enough.
   • If you use unnecessary material as a stand, you can additionally decorate it to resemble a picturesque landscape. Paint the base, cover it with moss, cover it with grass-like green cloth, attach miniature trees, and so on.
2. 2 Attach a closed 2 liter soda bottle to the base. Since the volcano will erupt from the bottle, secure it in the center of the stand. The method depends on what exactly you are using as the base. If it's a cutting board, glue a lump of plasticine to it and lightly press the bottom of the bottle into it. If you have an unwanted wood board, use wood glue.
   • Try to find a caramel-colored soda - it looks more like volcanic lava than clear drinks. For this experiment, both regular and diet soda will work, although the latter erupts higher.
   • If you are gluing the bottle to the stand, wait for it to warm up to room temperature. The cold bottle is covered with moisture, which will prevent it from adhering properly. Do not use hot glue as it can melt the bottom of the bottle and soda pop out.
   • If you are going to make a volcano using baking soda and vinegar, attach an empty bottle to the stand.
3. 3 Build a volcano around the bottle. For a mountain-like shape, attach a wire mesh cone to the bottle and cover it with papier-mâché. Instead of papier-mâché, you can stick plasticine around the bottle. To make the structure look more like a mountain, use green, gray or brown plasticine.
   • Do not close the neck of the bottle, otherwise you will not be able to activate the volcano. You must have access to the neck so you can pour Mentos or baking soda into it.
4. 4 Paint the volcano. After the papier-mâché is dry, paint it with acrylic paint (it will also help to retain moisture). Paint the top of the volcano brown and orange and add a green that looks like grass at the bottom.
   • You can even press pebbles, earth, or moss into the volcano to give it a more natural look.

Method 2 of 3: Using Soda Water and Mentos

1. 1 Get everything you need ready. For this volcano, you will need a two-liter bottle of Coca-Cola, a packet of Mentos mints and enough free space. It looks like Diet Coke is better suited for this purpose than regular Coke (and leaves behind a less sticky surface). The caramel-colored sparkling water looks more like lava than yellow or orange lemonade.
   • This experiment is best done outdoors. If you do it indoors, cover the floor with cellophane wrap or tarpaulin.
2. 2 Place the volcano in a large enough area outside and open the bottle. Do not conduct this experiment indoors, otherwise soda will splatter everything around. Set up a volcano outdoors - soda can spew quite high. Then open the bottle.
   • Warn potential viewers to stay away.
3. 3 Get ready to toss the entire Mentos pack into the bottle. When Mentos comes into contact with soda, a reaction starts, as a result of which the carbon dioxide contained in the liquid pushes it out of the water. The more "Mentos" you immediately throw into the bottle, the stronger the eruption will be, but for this you have to try. There are several methods to throw Mentos pills into a bottle.
   • Method 1: Fold paper into a tube the same width as the neck of the bottle. The tube should be long enough to hold any Mentos pills you are about to throw into the bottle. Place a cardboard card on the neck of the bottle, place a tube on top and fill it with Mentos.When you are ready for a volcanic eruption, yank out the card so that Mentos spills out into the bottle.
   • Method 2. Loosely cover the Mentos dragee with tape. When the time is right, toss them directly into the bottle.
   • Method 3. Insert a funnel into the bottle with a wide enough neck so that the dragee can pour freely through it. After that, fill in the "Mentos" funnel and immediately remove it as soon as it is in the bottle.
4. 4 Put "Mentos" in the bottle and run aside. It is quite difficult to pour all the dragees into the bottle at once. If you fail to do this, the liquid will rise only a few centimeters. Try tossing as many Mentos dragees as possible into the bottle several times until the soda runs out. After the "Mentos" falls into the bottle, run away from it about a meter and watch the eruption!
   • If you are throwing Mentos through a paper tube, yank out the cardboard card that holds the pills in place so they all fall into the bottle at once.
   • If you are using duct tape, simply throw the duct taped into the bottle.
   • If you are using a funnel, pour all the dragees into it at the same time. Remove the funnel as soon as all the pills fall into the bottle and run to the side.

Method 3 of 3: Using baking soda and vinegar

1. 1 Prepare the necessary materials. For this volcano, you will need 400 milliliters of vinegar, 200 milliliters of water, a drop of liquid dish soap, a large spoonful of baking soda, an empty 2 liter bottle, and red food coloring.
   • Experiment a bit to find the right amount of each ingredient to get the desired volcanic eruption.
   • For a more natural lava color, use red wine vinegar. You can also take white vinegar and add red or orange food coloring to it.
   • A smaller plastic bottle can also be used, but in this case all ingredients should be reduced accordingly.
2. 2 Combine vinegar, water, and a drop of dish soap. Pour these ingredients into your volcano. The liquid soap will reduce the surface tension of the water, resulting in a more powerful eruption.
3. 3 Place the volcano on a plastic wrap-around table or linoleum floor. Although this method will leave less dirt than the Mentos method, you probably don't want to clean up a carpet or rug from eruptions.
   • Weather permitting, take the volcano outside.
4. 4 Add a spoonful of baking soda to the mixture. The baking soda will react with the vinegar-containing solution, causing a volcanic eruption! If you want a stronger eruption, use more vinegar and baking soda.

Warnings

• If you drink soda and then swallow Mentos, not worry - the acid in your mouth and stomach will prevent the reaction in your stomach from starting.
• Do not use a 3- or 1-liter bottle, as they have too wide a neck compared to the volume. A three-liter bottle will give a fountain about 15 centimeters high, and a one-liter bottle will simply foam.
• Step aside as soon as the volcanic eruption starts so you don't get splashed.

What do you need

Volcano decoration

• Unnecessary board or cutting board for the base of the volcano
• Plasticine or ornamental clay
• Papier-mache (instead of plasticine)
  • Wire mesh
  • Strips of paper
  • White glue (PVA)
  • Water
  • Acrylic paint

With sparkling water and Mentos

• 2 liter bottle of sparkling water (preferably dietary)
• Pack or box of "Mentos" (preferably mint)
• Funnel, cardboard card or tape

Using baking soda and vinegar

• Empty two liter bottle
• Baking soda
• Red wine vinegar
• Dish soap
• Water
• Food coloring

1. ↑ http://www.weatherwizkids.com/experiments-volcano-soda-bottle.htm
2. ↑ http://www.weatherwizkids.com/experiments-volcano-soda-bottle.htm
3. ↑ http://www.weatherwizkids.com/experiments-volcano-soda-bottle.htm
4. ↑ http://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/how-to-make-a-volcano/
5. ↑ http://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/how-to-make-a-volcano/