2004
Bouncing Raisins
March 2004


“Bouncing Raisins,” Friend, Mar. 2004, 31

Bouncing Raisins

You will need: a pint glass jar, water, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) raisins, 4 tablespoons (60 ml) vinegar, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) baking soda.

  1. With an adult’s help, fill the glass jar 3/4 full with water.

  2. Stir in the vinegar.

  3. Drop in the raisins.

  4. Add the baking soda, but do not stir.

  5. Now watch the raisins bounce!

What makes this happen? When you mix the baking soda with the vinegar, bubbles of carbon dioxide form. The bubbles fasten onto the raisins, making them rise to the surface. Then the bubbles pop, and the raisins sink to the bottom again.