Soda Snake Fireworks

In this activity a chemical reaction produces a gas which charms a snake from a
mound of sand.
Year groups: 6-10 (ages 10-1!
Educational objective
To explore the properties of everyday materials and observe how their
properties can change.
"oda "nake #ireworks
$ownload student activity sheet %pdf&

Key student learning
In chemical reactions gas can be released, e.g. carbon dioxide.
Heating can alter materials properties.
Materials list, per student or group
Heatproof mat
Sand
4 tsp of icing sugar
tsp of ba!ing soda
" tsp of isopropyl alcohol
#atches, taper or gas lighter
Teaspoon
Practicalities
'his e(periment can get very hot) so it is important that it is performed on a heatproof
mat or heatproof surface. 'he reaction should *e performed in a ventilated room. +o
smoke is produced) *ut the alcohol vapour has a tendency to smell.
,ake sure that the sugar and *aking soda fills the indentation evenly) otherwise your
snake may appear with mutant legs and eyes- ,aking a narrow) deep indent in the
sand with your little finger or a pencil will help to make your snake tall and slim.
'he *aking soda releases car*on dio(ide when heated a*ove 0 ./. 0urning the
alcohol creates the heat and caramelises the sugar) giving the snakes their *lack
appearance. 'he snakes grow *ecause of the pressure from the gas (/12! *eing
released. 'he reaction will cease when all the alcohol has *urned.
Warning:
$o not under any circumstances pour any more alcohol on the mound whilst the
reaction is taking place) as isopropyl alcohol is highly flamma*le.
Discussion
$hat is fuelling the fire%
How does the sna!e appear to grow from nothing%
$hat gas is produced% How do you !now%
Is the process reversible or irreversible%
Transition to KS4
$hat are the two products of the reaction%
&an you thin! what the chemical e'uation would be%
$hat lin!s are there to the dehydration of sugar%
Etensions
(dd food colouring to the sugar and ba!ing soda ) does it ma!e a
difference to the colour of your sna!e%
Try the experiment on a bigger scale. $hat is the longest class sna!e
you can grow%
!inks to everyday li"e
#aising agents in cooking
3hen dissolved in water) *aking powder - which is partly made of *icar*onate of
soda 4 reacts with the water and releases car*on dio(ide. 'he most common use for it
is in home *aking of foods such as *read and cakes. 'he gas produced helps to give a
light) spongy te(ture. 5ook at a slice of *read to see the holes where the car*on
dio(ide *u**les were produced.
,r 6ames making a sponge cake) 1789.
:iew larger

SodaStrea$
/ar*on dio(ide produces the *u**les in fi;;y drinks. "oda"tream allowed you to
*rew up fi;;y drinks in your own home.
<enwood "oda"tream 179=.
:iew larger

%ntacids
>ntacids work *y raising the p?) i.e. reducing the acidity) in the stomach. ,any use
*icar*onate of soda) which provides relief *ecause of its alkaline properties.
$r 6enner@s indigestion powder.
:iew larger

&urriculu$ links
Key Stage 2
*escribing changes to materials
#aterials and their properties
+eversible changes