Fizzing fun with vinegar and baking soda plus a bubbly batter recipe to liven up a few of your five-a-day…

Ingredients

Supper

• Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• Vinegar
• Flour
• Salt
• Oil
• A selection of vegetables such as onions chopped into rings, peppers, courgettes or carrots chopped into thin sticks

Science

• Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• Vinegar
• Foil
• Egg cup or shot glass
• Plate
• Tray
• Food colour or paint (red, yellow or orange)
• Washing up liquid

Method

Science

1. Use foil to make your volcano around the egg cup or shot glass (sit it on a tray to contain the mess)
2. Add 1 tsp baking soda to the egg cup
3. Add some red, yellow or orange food colouring, or paint if you have any, plus squirt of washing up liquid
4. Add a spash of vinegar and watch it erupt

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• 

Supper

1. Mix half a cup of flour with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp baking soda
2. Add half a cup of water and 1 tbsp vinegar and mix well
3. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan or wok
   1. Dip the vegetables in the batter and fry in batches until golden (take care with the hot oil and lay away from you as you put them in)
4. Drain on kitchen paper and sprinkle with a little salt

Science in a Sentence

Vinegar (an acid) reacts with the bicarbonate of soda (a base) to produce the bubbles of a gas called carbon dioxide.

Notes

Experiment with different containers (thin tubes work well), colours and quantities for the volcano. Can you make a rainbow one? There are some great videos of vinegar volcanos online; check out this one from Ryan’s World.

The batter works well with fish – serve with chips and peas for the perfect Friday night supper. If you find the batter doesn’t stick, try dusting with flour first.