Will’s Science Lab: How to Make a Volcano

Hi, I’m Will. Welcome to my Science Lab. Today I’m going to show you how to make a volcano using just a few materials that you probably have around the house.

First, make a volcano out of clay. My sister used most of the clay for American Doll food, so I had to make a small volcano. But it’ll work. Make sure there’s a deep hole in the middle for the lava to come out of.

Next, gather the rest of your materials. You’ll need a cup or two of white vinegar, a few drops of red or orange food coloring, and a few tablespoons of baking soda.

Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into the hole in your volcano. It’s okay if some spills out over the sides.

Pour some white vinegar into a measuring cup. Add a few drops of food coloring to make the vinegar look like lava. I’m using red.

Now pour the vinegar into the volcano.

Lava!

When the baking soda and vinegar mix, it causes a chemical reaction that makes a gas called carbon dioxide. The gas pressure builds until the “lava” bubbles out of the volcano. Give it a try.