Discovery Express
  • Welcome!
  • Blog
  • Ask Dr. E!
  • Check out our store!
  • 9 Apples Math Game
  • Your questions answered!
  • Events and Announcements
  • About/Contact

Exploding glow-in-the-dark art!

10/18/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
https://thedressingroommelbourne.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/glowart_large.jpg
A while back, we experimented with baking soda and vinegar to make exploding sandwich bags! If you missed this experiment, check it out here: http://discoveryexpress.weebly.com/homeblog/experimenting-with-eggs-acid-base-reactions-and-osmosis. 


The focus of this activity was learning about acid-base reactions. Vinegar is an acid; baking soda is a base. When you mix the two together, they react and create carbon dioxide gas. When that reaction is contained in a zip-locked plastic bag, the gas that is being created continues to expand and pushes against the walls of the bag until POP! The bag explodes! 


Today, we are going to try a similar activity with a little twist. Instead of just using baking soda and vinegar, we are going to use glow-in-the-dark vinegar to create super cool glowing paint bombs! When the paint bombs explode over your paper, you’ll be left with awesome glowing paint-splatter art! This would be a great activity for a Halloween party! 


For a quick explanation of acid-base reactions, check out this link: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/chemical/acidbase.html


Want an even more in-depth explanation? Check out this Crash Course video: ​
Picture
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgXHT9l4f7I/T1aXzeZZKuI/AAAAAAAADPw/wm5Lt8rPC9g/s1600/IMG_9015.JPG
Why do things glow in the dark? Learn more here: http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-things-glow-in-the-dark.


YOU WILL NEED
  • Glow-in-the-dark paint
  • Vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Plastic zip-lock bags
  • Toilet paper squares
  • Poster board


Here’s what to do! 
  1. First of all, we recommend you do this activity outside, because it will get a little messy! Before you can create your exploding paint bombs, you need to concoct the glow-in-the-dark vinegar. Add one cup of vinegar and one tablespoon of glow-in-the-dark paint to a mixing bowl. Glow-in-dark paint is available at craft stores or on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/DecoArt-DS50-3-Glow-in-the-Dark-Paint-2-Ounce/dp/B001B2P498/ref=sr_1_8?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1445224020&sr=1-8&keywords=glow+in+the+dark+paint). Stir the two ingredients together until they are fully blended. Use separate containers to mix other colors of glow-in-the-dark vinegar. You could also use fluorescent paint to create even more colors: (http://www.amazon.com/Color-Black-light-Fluorescent-Acrylic/dp/B00E1P4BRS/ref=sr_1_7?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1445224020&sr=1-7&keywords=glow+in+the+dark+paint). 
  2. Once your glow-in-the-dark vinegar is mixed, dump it into a plastic zip-lock bag and seal the bag shut. Set the bag aside. 
  3. Place the poster board on the ground. Get ready to create some glow-in-the-dark splatter art!
  4. Next, you need to create your baking soda reactor. Sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda onto the center of one square of toilet paper. Fold the edges inward so you have a toilet-paper ball with baking soda in the center. 
  5. Pick up your plastic bag full of glowing vinegar and open it up. This is the toughest part, because you will need to move quickly! Carefully drop the baking soda reactor into the plastic bag full of glowing vinegar and quickly seal the bag shut. Place the bag on the poster board and watch what happens! 
  6. The bag will expand as vinegar and baking soda react. That carbon dioxide gas will eventually cause the bag to EXPLODE! into beautiful glow-in-the-dark art! 
  7. Repeat steps 1-6 with different colors of glow-in-the-dark vinegar to add more colors to your artwork. After you’re done, shut the lights off to see what you’ve created! 


Extension: Time how long it takes for your glow-in-the-dark paint bomb to explode. Adjust the levels of vinegar or baking soda and time again. Does more vinegar or more baking soda affect the time it takes the paint bombs to explode? 


References:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/09/glowing-exploding-art.html
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/09/homemade-glow-in-dark-vinegar.html
1 Comment
Birthday Suppliers link
5/9/2016 07:34:03 am

Great!! really nice info regarding glow in the dark paint

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Follow us on Pinterest!
    Picture
    Check out our new game for math education, grades 1-7!

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

      Tell us what interests you most, and we'll send you a free PDF of a lesson in that subject!

    Submit

    Categories

    All
    Age 10 12
    Age 12 14
    Age 14 16
    Age 16+
    Age 8 10
    Anatomy/Physiology
    Biology
    Chemistry
    Engineering
    Food Science
    Geology/Earth Science
    Health Science
    Math
    Microbiology
    Physics
    Plant Science
    Psychology
    Weather Science

Proudly powered by Weebly