Lockdown chemistry

Fun chemistry experiments you might choose to do at home.

Safety first

Do not stand over, put your face close to or point a bicarbonate rocket at anyone during launch. Stand well back and enjoy.

DO NOT USE GLASS BOTTLES

Requirements
A small plastic bottle
A bung (cut from a rubber pencil eraser to fit the mouth of the plastic bottle)
10ml vinegar, approx.
0.5g of sodium hydrogen carbonate, approx.
Half a square of soft toilet tissue

Procedure
Pour the vinegar into the bottle to a depth of 0.5 to 1 cm
Spread the sodium hydrogen carbonate onto the tissue paper and fold the edges of the paper forming a cylinder with the sodium hydrogen carbonate inside
Fold the tissue paper into a U shape and twist the two ends light together
Holding the bottle almost horizontal, insert the tissue paper until the end just protrudes from the mouth of the bottle
DON'T LET THE PAPER COME IN CONTACT WITH THE VINEGAR AT THIS STAGE
Insert the rubber bung, trapping the end of the paper
Place the bottle vertically on a flat surface, standing on the bung and stand back for lift-off

Enjoy and repeat as necessary

The chemistry of the chemical reaction between ethanoic acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate can be explored

acid + carbonate = salt + carbon dioxide + water

Have fun with small scale chemistry and microscale chemistry

The clip was originally filmed on an iPhone at 120fps

Inspired and encouraged by Bob Worley, Jonathan Barton and Abdul Khan