Dancing Rice

Today Monkey and I did a science experiment that you've probably done before. It's easy to set up, uses ingredients you have at home, and ends up being pretty cool!

I loosely followed the instructions found here: http://buggyandbuddy.com/baking-soda-and-vinegar-science-dancing-rice/

Supplies: vinegar, baking soda, rice, clear glass jar, spoon, water 

To start, Monkey poured one cup of water into our glass jar. 

Next we added 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda and stirred until it dissolved. 

Then Monkey poured some rice into the jar, about enough to cover the bottom. 

I asked Monkey to tell me what happened to the rice when he poured it in. 

He said, "It all went down." We quickly discussed sinking vs floating. 

Finally, it was time for the last, and best, step. Monkey poured two tablespoons of vinegar into the jar. 

The rice started rising up right away. 

The bubbles created by the reaction of the vinegar and baking soda lift the rice up to the surface and then pop, and the rice sinks again. So the rice is dancing! Monkey noticed the little bubbles so we talked a little about the science behind this experiment. 

Monkey watched for a few minutes before his attention took him somewhere else, but the rice continued to dance for about fifteen minutes, which I thought was a really long time! 

Mar