It’s Wednesday…….It’s Bookbug! Did you know that Bookbug is 10 Years old?  Happy Birthday 🥳!

 

STEM Activity for today is………

You will need:

Baking Soda

Gummy worms

Vinegar

Cutting Board

Sharp Knife

2 Clear Cups

First, cut your worms into quarters, lengthways.

Next, measure out 3 tablespoons of baking soda and stir them into a glass filled with 1 cup of warm water.

Then take the cut worms (cut 3 worms in 12 pieces} and  mix them into the baking soda and water concoction.

Wait  15 minutes for the worms to soak in the baking soda mixture.

While you are waiting, fill the second clear glass with vinegar.

After 15 minutes, very carefully fish the worms out with a fork.  Start by placing just a couple worms in the vinegar and they instantly start forming bubbles.  After a few second the worms should be covered in enough bubbles that they start rising from the bottom, writhing their way to the surface.

The Science Behind It

When you add the worms soaked in baking soda, the acetic acid in the vinegar reacts with the bicarbonate in the baking soda.

And when an acid and base react carbon dioxide gas bubbles form.

These gas bubbles form on the gummy worm and as the gas bubbles rise to the surface, they pull the gummy worm up with them, making them wriggle and dance.

As the gas bubbles burst, the worm falls back down until enough bubbles form to pull it back up.

The bubbles will continue to form until all the baking soda on the worm is used up and the worm will stop wiggling.

Enjoy and have fun!