Homeschool Science – Floating Soap Bubbles

This is a perfect homeschool science project for anyone who has ever wanted to be able to look at soap bubbles for a prolonged period of time. By observing soap bubbles, you can learn a lot about the physics of light wavelengths and about chemistry. In order to observe soap bubbles closely, it is important to be able to create an environment in which the bubbles will be sheltered. This homeschool science project helps you to create that environment!

Here are a few things that you will need to complete this project:
    •    A solution to make soap bubbles
    •    A bubble wand (which usually comes with a bottle of bubbles)
    •    A large container. Must be transparent and have an open top. I recommend using a fish aquarium.
    •    ½ cup of baking soda:
    •    1 cup of vinegar
    •    A shallow dish that you will place within the larger container (usually a baking dish fits nicely)

Once you have these materials gathered together, you’ll be able to begin your science project! Oh - by the way, this is a great experiment, but you might also want to download a free copy of the Homeschool Science Experiment Guide and workbook to find more great experiments

Here are the steps you’ll need to take:
    •    Place your large container on a table where you can easily see through all sides of the container. Also, be sure that the container is away from drafts, such as a draft from an open window.
    •    Put your smaller dish into the bottom of the container.
    •    Pour the baking soda into the dish.
    •    Add the vinegar to the dish with the baking soda.
    •    You’ll notice that the mixture will immediately begin to fizz. The vinegar and baking soda are reacting to form carbon dioxide gas. This gas will stay in the larger container, but you won’t be able to see it.
    •    When the vinegar and baking soda stop fizzing, blow soap bubbles over the top of the container (but not into the container). They will fall into the container. This is a cool homeschool science project because you will notice that the bubbles don’t sink to the bottom of the container. Because of the carbon dioxide in the container, they will seem to float within the container on top of the layer of carbon dioxide so you can observe them.
    •    The bubbles will float gently about on top of the carbon dioxide layer, giving you an excellent opportunity to observe them up close. Record your observations, such as color, size, changes, positions, and movement of the bubbles within the container.

Light and Wavelengths. After you have had a chance to observe the bubbles within the container, you’ll notice that bubbles have different colors in them. These colors are caused by light reflections. Each color of light has a different wave length. Because of the curved shape of the bubble, light will be reflected back to you in different wave lengths, causing the different colors.

You have also learned about chemical interactions. The carbon dioxide that you created within the container made it possible for the bubbles to float for a longer amount of time than they would be able to float in air. Because they floated for longer, you were able to observe them. Gas, you’ve learned, is heavy; it can hold up bubbles while air makes bubbles fall to the ground.

Be sure to record all of your observations for you science report. You’ve learned a lot about chemistry and physics in this simple experiment!