Science Saturdays - Lemon Fizz

Several experiments were done today (such as Mentos and Diet Coke, and a vinegar with baking soda fizz), but the next door neighbors were feeling left out and insisted that we make yet another experiment. Instead of hightailing it to the store, I decided to do a simple Google search to find something that would be in my home already. After a few minutes, I found the Lemon Fizz Project (courtesy of www.chemistry.about.com).

In it were all things I have in my house, and only took about 2 minutes to combine and carry out.

You will need:

Baking soda (the more you use, the bigger the fizz)
Liquid dish soap
Food coloring (this is optional, we didn't use any)
Lemon juice

In a cup, put in a teaspoon or more of baking soda. Then put in a few squirts of the liquid dish soap. This is the point that the food coloring is added. We chose to go the easier route and just have a white colored experiment. If you do want to make it with color, add a food coloring jell or capsule, or simply use a Kool-Aid packet. Now it is time for the action. Begin pouring in the lemon juice, and watch the mixture immediately begin to fizz.

The first time we tried the experiment, I placed about 2 teaspoons of baking soda in the bottom of the cup, and it took a lot of the lemon juice to work. The second time, I filled the cup a quarter of the way full with baking soda, and it took only a few drops of the lemon juice to get the results seen in the picture. The experiment is easy to clean up after, and is not a danger if it comes in contact with skin.