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Fizzy Snowflakes

If you like activities that are also educational, then you have to try these Fizzy Snowflakes. Kids will love seeing these snowflakes fizz and learn about the science in the process!

RELATED: Fizzy Dinosaur Eggs

Fizzy Snowflakes Science

 

Fizzy Snowflakes Science Activity

Not only are these fizzy snowflakes a great way to incorporate a little bit of STEM into your winter themes, but it’s a fun activity for the whole family.

Using the pipette or dropper is also a great way to practice fine motor skills while older kids can help with measuring and mixing. Adult supervision required.

Fizzy Snowflakes Science Experiment

 

This would be the perfect activity to try during a cold, wintry day or as a classroom science activity too!

Vinegar and Baking Soda Snowflake

The Science

You see the bubbling and foaming when the vinegar reacts with the baking soda but what is causing this reaction?

The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base while the vinegar (acetic acid) is an acid and what you are seeing is an acid/base reaction. Initially, the reaction makes carbonic acid which is unstable and breaks down into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water which is what creates all of the fizzing and bubbles as the gas leaves the water.

Baking Soda Fizzy Snowflake Science

 

Supplies Needed To Make Fizzy Snowflakes

  • Baking Soda – we like this large 5 lb bag for activities
  • Food Coloring Gel (blue) – we like to use this liquid food coloring gel since it’s concentrated and makes the colors really vibrant
  • Dropper
  • Water
  • Vinegar
    • Tip: to save vinegar mix it with half water and the experiment will still work!
  • Silicone Snowflake Moldwe used this one. If you don’t have this mold or don’t want to purchase it, you can also make square fizzy blocks using an ice cube tray. Also check the dollar store as they tend to have molds for much cheaper.

 

 

How To Make Fizzy Snowflakes

1. Add 2 cups of baking soda to a bowl. 

Add Baking Soda into Bowl

2. Add 5-6 drops of food coloring to 1/2 cup of water. 

If you do not have concentrated food coloring you will need a lot more drops. The water should look pretty concentrated in order to color the baking soda. You’ll need a lot to make it vibrant.

Keep in mind the more coloring you use, the more it might stain. So protect your surfaces and use a tray. Clean the tray after use to prevent the food coloring from staining it.

 

Note: Depending on the size of your mold you may not need as much. If you have a much smaller mold you can halve the recipe.

Add Food Coloring to Water

 

 

3. Mix the colored water into the baking soda. 

 

Add Water to Baking Soda

 

Mix until it becomes a crumbly texture you can mold. If you find the mixture feels too wet to mold, add a little more baking soda in.

Baking Soda & Water for Snowflakes

 

4. Take some of the baking soda mixture and press it into the bottom of your mold or ice cube tray. 

Fill Snowflake Molds

 

5. Freeze the mold or tray for 30 minutes or until it feels solid.

 

6. Carefully pop the snowflakes out of the mold.

Take Snowflakes Out of Mold

 

7. Use the dropper with vinegar and drop the vinegar onto the snowflakes.

TIP: to save vinegar, mix it with half water and it will still work!

Continue until your snowflake is finished fizzing!

Note: If you do not plan to use the snowflakes right away, leave in the freezer until you are ready to use.

 

Add Vinegar to Snowflake

 

 

Kids will love this winter science experiment. It is a lot of fun to make the snowflakes and see them fizz!

More Activities for Kids

This dry erase marker snowflake science experiment is a lot of fun!

Dry Erase Snowflake Experiment

 

Try this salt painted snowflakes process art activity!

Salt Painting Craft

 

For a similar activity, see these fizzy dinosaur eggs.

Fizzy Dinosaur Egg Activity

 

 

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