8/11/2019 Soda Snake Fireworks Lesson Plan

1/4

Soda Snake Fireworks

In this activity a chemical reaction produces a gas which charms a snake from a

mound of sand.

Year groups: 6-10 (ages 10-1!

Educational objective

To explore the properties of everyday materials and observe how their

properties can change.

"oda "nake #ireworks

$ownload student activity sheet %pdf&

Key student learning

In chemical reactions gas can be released, e.g. carbon dioxide. Heating can alter materials properties.

Materials list, per student or group

Heatproof mat

Sand 4 tsp of icing sugar tsp of ba!ing soda

" tsp of isopropyl alcohol #atches, taper or gas lighter

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/~/media/Documents/educator_pdfs/curriculum_activity_sheets/T%20R%20soda%20snake%20fireworks%20LR%20pdf.ashxhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/~/media/Documents/educator_pdfs/curriculum_activity_sheets/T%20R%20soda%20snake%20fireworks%20LR%20pdf.ashxhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/~/media/Documents/educator_pdfs/curriculum_activity_sheets/T%20R%20soda%20snake%20fireworks%20LR%20pdf.ashx

8/11/2019 Soda Snake Fireworks Lesson Plan

2/4

Teaspoon

Practicalities

'his eperiment can get very hot) so it is important that it is performed on a heatproofmat or heatproof surface. 'he reaction should *e performed in a ventilated room. +o

smoke is produced) *ut the alcohol vapour has a tendency to smell.

,ake sure that the sugar and *aking soda fills the indentation evenly) otherwise your

snake may appear with mutant legs and eyes ,aking a narrow) deep indent in the

sand with your little finger or a pencil will help to make your snake tall and slim.

'he *aking soda releases car*on dioide when heated a*ove 0 /. urning the

alcohol creates the heat and caramelises the sugar) giving the snakes their *lack

appearance. 'he snakes grow *ecause of the pressure from the gas (/2! *eing

released. 'he reaction will cease when all the alcohol has *urned.

Warning:

$o not under any circumstances pour any more alcohol on the mound whilst the

reaction is taking place) as isopropyl alcohol is highly flamma*le.

Discussion

$hat is fuelling the fire%

How does the sna!e appear to grow from nothing% $hat gas is produced% How do you !now%

Is the process reversible or irreversible%

Transition to KS4

$hat are the two products of the reaction% &an you thin! what the chemical e'uation would be% $hat lin!s are there to the dehydration of sugar%

Etensions

(dd food colouring to the sugar and ba!ing soda ) does it ma!e a

difference to the colour of your sna!e% Try the experiment on a bigger scale. $hat is the longest class sna!e

you can grow%

!inks to everyday li"e

#aising agents in cooking

3hen dissolved in water) *aking powder - which is partly made of *icar*onate ofsoda 4 reacts with the water and releases car*on dioide. 'he most common use for it

8/11/2019 Soda Snake Fireworks Lesson Plan

3/4

is in home *aking of foods such as *read and cakes. 'he gas produced helps to give a

light) spongy teture. 5ook at a slice of *read to see the holes where the car*on

dioide *u**les were produced.

,r ames making a sponge cake) 1789.

iew larger

SodaStrea$

/ar*on dioide produces the *u**les in fi;;y drinks. "oda"tream allowed you to

*rew up fi;;y drinks in your own home.

ntacids work *y raising the p?) i.e. reducing the acidity) in the stomach. ,any use

*icar*onate of soda) which provides relief *ecause of its alkaline properties.

$r enner@s indigestion powder.

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/images/ManualSSPL/10315224.aspxhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/domestic_appliances/1978-545.aspxhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/materia_medica_and_pharmacology/A601267.aspxhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/domestic_appliances/1978-545.aspxhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/images/ManualSSPL/10315224.aspxhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/images/ManualSSPL/10315224.aspxhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/domestic_appliances/1978-545.aspx

8/11/2019 Soda Snake Fireworks Lesson Plan

4/4

iew larger

&urriculu$ links

Key Stage 2

*escribing changes to materials

#aterials and their properties

+eversible changes

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/materia_medica_and_pharmacology/A601267.aspxhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/materia_medica_and_pharmacology/A601267.aspx