This document provides instructions for building a homemade volcano that erupts. It lists the necessary materials, which include a plastic bottle, baking powder, vinegar, food coloring, play dough, and other common household items. The instructions are in 5 steps: 1) making the cone shape with the bottle and play dough, 2) adding newspaper and tin foil for the volcano's sides, 3) preparing the activation fluid of vinegar, soap and food coloring, 4) loading the baking powder into the crater, and 5) erupting the volcano by slowly pouring in the activation fluid. An explanation is given that the baking soda and vinegar react to produce carbon dioxide gas, which causes the eruption. Suggestions are made for variations to change

1. FIRST PROJECTFIRST PROJECT
Building your very own volcanoBuilding your very own volcano
IES Primeiro de Marzo. BaionaIES Primeiro de Marzo. Baiona.
Bilingual GroupsBilingual Groups

2. This project is completelycompletely
safesafe. But during the
process, you'll have to
wear some safety
goggles, lab coat and
gloves because you'll be
dealing with corrosive
chemicals.

4. You will need:
• Baking powder (Bicarbonate of
Soda)
• Red food colouring
• Vinegar
• Wash liquid
• Water
• Empty plastic bottle (300 ml,
coke, water,...)
• Cardboard
• Tin foil (half a metre)
• Play dough (any colours you like) or clay
• Paper sheets (newspapers)
• Table spoon
• Adhesive tape
• Toothpicks and banner pieces
• Measuring beaker (300 ml)

5. Step 1 – Making the Cone
• Cut the top of the bottle
approximately 2cm below the
lid. Turn this up-side-down to
represent the magma
chamber. Place the remaining
top half inside of the bottle, cut
to size.
• Secure the upturned top of the
bottle with some clay or play
dough to seal the edge.

6. Step 2 – Making the volcano sides
• Crush newspaper sheets into small balls, and join them
together around the bottle to make a cone (use tape to finally
join the pieces).
• Roll your volcano cone with the tin foil, and then mould the
play dough around it using your choice of colours
• *Extras: decorate your volcano with extras such us: labels,
twigs, toys, talcum powder (snow). Use tooth picks to place
labels onto the volcano structures. MAKE IT AS
IMPRESSIVE AS POSSIBLE!

7. Step 3 – Making the activation
fluid
• To make your activation fluid, pour the following
ingredients into the measuring beaker:
– 150 ml vinegar
– 3 tablespoons of washing up liquid
– Half tablespoon of red / orange food colouring powder

8. Step 4 – Loading the volcano
• Carefully spoon the baking powder into the crater
making sure that it is no more than half-full (this will use
about 2 teaspoons of baking powder)

9. Step 5 – Erupting the volcano
• Slowly pour some activation fluid into the crater and
watch the lava as it flows out of your volcano!
• The lava will only erupt if there is baking powder in the
crater. When your volcanic eruption has finished, it
would be a good idea to take out the crater and give it a
quick wash before having another go!

10. How is this happening?
• The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is
a base while the vinegar (acetic acid) is
an acid. When they react together they
form carbonic acid which is very
unstable, it instantly breaks apart into
water and carbon dioxide, which creates
all the fizzing as it escapes the solution.

11. Things to try
• Try loading the crater with different
amounts of baking powder. How does
this affect your eruption?
• Try pouring the activation fluid into the
crater at different speeds. What effect
does this have?
• Try adding more washing up liquid or
some fresh water to the activation fluid
mixture. What happens?

12. -Follow the intructions
-Cooperate with your classmates
-Be original
Now