AIR & GASES

INTRODUCTION
You need to explain: What is air pressure? What is air, the atmosphere and what
is in it?

There is this tremendous pressure of the weight of the air pushing on us every
moment of every day. The only reason we don't get crushed is that our bodies
push back at the air with the same pressure.

1.GAS & VOLUME

MATERIALS YOU NEED

 Vinegar
 Bicarbonate Soda
 Balloon
 Small bottle

METHOD
1. Put some vinegar into the bottle
2. Fill the balloon with bicarbonate soda
3. Cover the mouth of the bottle with the mouth of
the balloon so that the balloon hangs down the side
of the bottle
4. Take the balloon from the other end and hold it up
so that the bicarbonate soda falls into the bottle

WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHY?

The balloon inflates because carbon dioxide is produced from the

reaction between the vinegar and the bicarbonate soda

MESS FACTOR This experiment is wet and clean

2.FIRE EXTINGUISHER
MATERIALS YOU NEED

 Bicarbonate soda
 Candle
 Small container (provided)
 Plasticine (provided)
 Matches
 Vinegar

METHOD

1.Place the candle in the container and

put bicarbonate soda all around it. Use
plasticine if necessary to hold the candle in place.
2. Ask your volunteer to light the candle in the container.
3. Carefully put vinegar in the container but not over the candle.
See how the flame goes out.

WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHY?

The flame goes out because fire needs oxygen and as carbon dioxide is
heavier, it falls over the flame and pushes the oxygen away.

MESS FACTOR This experiment is dry and clean

3.ICE CRUSH

MATERIALS YOU NEED

  Large plastic bottle
 Large transparent bowl
 Ice gel pack
 Hot and cold water (provided)
 Matches
 Flask
 Funnel

METHOD
1. Put some hot water into the large plastic
bottle.
2. Put the bottle into the bowl lying on its
side.
3. Pour ice water over the bottle and quickly
stand it up in the bowl.
4. Observe how the bottle collapses inwards.

WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHY?

This works because hot air expands and cool air contracts. So when
you first put water into the bottle, the air inside is expanded and hot.
As the air cools from the ice water, it contracts so the air pressure
outside is stronger and pushes the wall of the bottle in.

MESS FACTOR This experiment is wet and clean.