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PortugueseSimple and Fun: How to Make a Ghost Pumpkin
When fall arrives, pumpkins make the perfect vessel for cool fizzing experiments.
SUPPLIES:
- Ghost Pumpkin (white pumpkin) or an Orange Pumpkin
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
- Dish Soap (optional but will provide a more dramatic visual affect of eruption)
- Food Coloring and Glitter (Optional but cool)
- Containers, Basters, Measure Cups, Spoons, Towels
SET UP:
STEP 1. Gather your supplies. We use some sort of tray or storage container lid with high sides to catch the mess. Keep some towels handy just in case.
STEP 2. Carve your pumpkin (adults only!).
STEP 3. Pour vinegar into a separate bowl and have a baster or scoop ready.
*** If you don’t want to carve a face, just remove the top. You will still have a pumpkin volcano***
STEP 4. Add a few scoops of baking soda.
STEP 5. Next, add glitter and food coloring if desired. Then add a few drops of dish soap if desired
STEP 6. Finally, add vinegar and get ready to say WOW! Repeat the process until you run out of baking soda or vinegar.
If it’s nice outside, try it outdoors!
WHAT’S THE SCIENCE?
This ghost pumpkin science eruption is called a chemical reaction. When the baking soda (base) and vinegar (acid) mix, they react. The reaction is a gas called carbon dioxide. Therefore, you can see the bubbling fizzing action the gas produces.
The addition of dish soap creates suds that make for a more dramatic appearance. Try it both ways. Without the dish soap, you can observe the chemical reaction more closely. You can hear, see, and feel the bubbling, fizzing action.
What happens when you add extra soap? You get an extra bubbly ghost pumpkin science eruption.
Share your Ghost Pumpkin Experiment!
Share your projects with us at rsa@edupix.org so we can share it with everyone!