Baking Soda Volcano

Overview:
Create quite a fizzle by mixing baking soda/sodium bicarbonate - a base with vinegar/acetic acid. Well.. it's theoretically 'edible' but I wouldn't recommend tasting it (yuck!).

Equipment:
1. Baking Soda - Make certain the box says 'soda,' and not 'powder.'
2. Vinegar
3. A container to hold your reaction. In 4th grade we made a plaster of Paris volcano with a well in the middle to hold the 'reagents.'
4. paper towels, depending on the extent of mess you plan to make.

Safety:
Though the reagents are harmless, it might be a good idea to take precautions to make sure the stuff bubbling off doesn't get in your eyes.

How to do the experiment:
1. In a container place some of the baking soda.
2. Pour in some vinegar
3. Watch what happens.

Explanation:
The above reaction represents an acid base reaction, specifically:

   baking soda  acetic acid                        acetate ion
         |         |                                   |
       NaHCO3 + CH3COOH --> CO2 + H2O + Na+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq)
       (aq = aqueous, or in solution)

to break it down further:

CH₃COOH ↔ H⁺(aq) + CH₃COO^-(aq)

H⁺ + HCO₃^- ↔ H₂CO₃ (carbonic acid)

H₂CO₃ ↔ H₂O + CO₂

The acetic acid neutralizes the basic sodium bicarbonate. Note that carbon dioxide is given off in the process, creating the fizzes, pops and crackles.