Description:
Bath bombs can be a lot of fun! They fizz, they turn the bath water pretty colors, and they smell good! But did you know that every time you use a bath bomb, you’re doing science? All those little bubbles that happen when you drop a bath bomb into the water are caused by a chemical reaction!
The two most important ingredients in a bath bomb are baking soda and citric acid. Those are the two things that make it fizz! Baking soda is a white powder that’s used in baking to help cakes rise. It can also be used for cleaning, or even brushing your teeth! Citric acid is what makes your favorite sour candy taste sour. It’s made from lemons and looks a lot like sugar.
Why do those two ingredients make fizzy bubbles? Citric acid is an acid, which is considered anything with a pH less than 7. Baking soda is a base, which means it’s above 7 on the pH scale. You can think of acids and bases as opposites, and when the two are mixed together, they try to neutralize each other. This creates a chain of chemical reactions, which means the molecules break apart and then rearrange to create carbon dioxide – the same gas that is released from our lungs when we exhale! Because carbon dioxide is a gas, it creates bubbles.
How it’s Done…
- Step 1: Combine all your dry ingredients in your bowl.
- Step 2: Add olive oil and essential oil. Use the measuring cup to add 1/2 tsp water. Mix well with popsicle stick.
- Step 3: Fill your plastic cups with the bath bomb mixture and pack it down with your fingers. Seal tightly.
- Step 4: Allow your bath bombs to harden for 2-3 days, then drop them in the bath and watch them fizz!
