Wiggling Snakes Science Experiment
Little kids love exploring and discovering. That is why hands on science is so much fun for preschool and elementary-aged kids. At this stage, discovering how things react is a big part of science. In this wiggling snakes science experiment, kids learn about how vinegar and baking soda react to make carbon dioxide gas in a fun and almost creepy way. Kids will love how delightfully gross the experiment is. Try using other gummy snacks aside from gummy snakes, like frogs, bears, or gummy fingers!
How to Do the Wiggling Snakes Science Experiment
Kids will be delighted at how their gummy snakes come to life in this fun science experiment!
You’ll need just a few things for this project:
- Gummy snakes (you can also try other gummy snacks)
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Large clear jar
Add about 1/3 a cup of baking soda to a glass of warm water. Stir until mostly dissolved.
Cut the gummy snakes into about four pieces each vertically, exposing the sticky insides. Drop the snakes into the baking soda mixture. Wait 20 minutes.
Fill a glass with vinegar.
Drop the gummy snakes into the vinegar one at a time. They will wiggle and move and seemingly come to life. When one snake stops moving, add another to the jar.
Talk to kids about how baking soda and vinegar make carbon dioxide while they are dropping the snakes into the liquid.
Wiggling Snakes Science Explained
When you soak the snakes in the baking soda solution, the baking soda is infused into the gummy snack. When the snakes are dropped into the glass of vinegar, the snakes bubble and fizz when the acid of the vinegar reacts with the base of the baking soda. The carbon dioxide produced makes the snakes wiggle just like snakes that are alive.
What other baking soda and vinegar reaction activities can you think to try? Share your ideas with us!
