Notes: Audience members may come up to perform these demos provided they are wearing proper attire and don full PPE. Principle: The reaction between NaHCO 3 and CH 3COOH produces carbon dioxide (CO 2) that can’t escape the closed bottle this causes the pressure to build until the cork out. Hazards: The corks can pop out of the bottle with significant force, and could theoretically break something fragile or cause an injury if pointed at someone.

Alternatively, you can invert the bottle and stand it on the cork, such that the bottle launches upwards (in this case the marble may be omitted).Ĭlean-up: All waste may be rinsed down the drain with water.

To activate the demo, sharply lower the bottle onto a table, such that the marble breaks through the tissue paper and allows the baking soda to fall into the vinegar.

Keep the bottle upright to prevent premature mixing of the baking soda and vinegar.

The excess tissue paper can then be cut or torn away from the neck of the bottle, taking care not to dislodge the cork.

Push the cork into the neck of the bottle, wedging the tissue paper in place.

While holding the edges of the tissue paper to keep it from falling into the bottle, add ~1-2 grams of baking soda and a small marble to the pouch.

This creates a small pouch suspended from the top of the bottle.

Place a piece of tissue paper/kim wipe over the neck of the bottle and push a portion of it into the bottle using your finger.

Pour ~20 mL of vinegar into the bottle, making sure to keep the neck of the bottle dry.

Depending on how tightly the bottle is corked, it can fly upwards of 10-20 feet.

When the pressure from the evolved CO 2 becomes great enough, the cork will fly out of the bottle.

Make sure the neck of the bottle is not pointed at people or at fragile materials, and hold the bottle firmly.

Quickly insert the cork in the neck of the bottle, and then swirl the bottle to mix.

Pour about 20mL of vinegar into the bottle.

Place ~1-2 grams of baking soda in the bottle.

Tissue paper/kim wipe (alternate procedure) Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3) (baking soda)Īcetic acid (CH 3COOH), 5% solution (vinegar) Lab coat, safety glasses/goggles, nitrile gloves

How to make paper cannon