"Volcano!" Return to list of pracs

Aim: This activity to illustrate the nature of volcanoes.

Equipment: The equipment you need is...  

• plasticine;
• a tray with a plasticine "volcano" in the centre;
• Bicarb of soda;
• red food dye;
• vinegar.

Method: Mix some food dye into the vinegar ready to pour into the top of your volcano. Mould the volcano using plasticine and place several teaspoons into the volcano. Pour in the vinegar.

Background knowledge: The reaction between bicarb of soda and vinegar is an acid-base reaction. The formation of carbon dioxide gas results in the formation of froth. It can be a very messy business! You can mould the plasticine in a way to introduce a small town on the lower slopes of the volcano and watch the progress of vinegar as it goes down the slope. You can obtain a "Land Forms Kit" from "Haines" (serial number H555) or "Kapla" (C924) for about $130 that contains a 3 block demo of earthquakes as well as a plastic volcano you can place vinegar and bicarb of soda in. Earthquake information is available in the Science Show link "Earthquakes".