Professor Snape’s

Bubbling Potions
Explore the magical world of potions with Professor Snape. He can teach
you to create impressive bubbling, fizzing, colour-changing concoctions
to show your family and friends. Remember, potion-making is a subtle
science and an exact art, so follow the instructions carefully.

First, the potions master has some

rules for you to follow:
• Before you begin, make sure your
work surface is clean and covered
with a wipeable plastic mat.
• Tie long hair back and wear an
apron or old t-shirt.
Potion-making can get messy!
• For these potions, it’s a good
idea to have an adult around
to help you. Some of the
ingredients can be dangerous.
• You must not drink your potions
and neither should anyone else.
They have unpleasant side effects.

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© & TM WBEI. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s21)

Illustration by Jonny Duddle © Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2014.
Babbling Beverage
Watch this potion bubble and fizz in your cauldron. Warning: This
bubbling potion causes the person who receives it to uncontrollably speak
utter nonsense, so do not drink it!

You will need: Instructions:

• plastic tray 1. Begin by placing your bowl or cauldron
onto a tray on your protected work
• bicarbonate of
surface.
soda (also known
as baking soda) 2. Pour some vinegar into the cauldron.
• distilled white or 3. Next, stir in some food colouring or
malt vinegar powder paint (a colour of your choice).
• washing up liquid 4. Then, add a squeeze of washing up liquid.
(bubble bath liquid
5. Sprinkle some sequins and glitter into
also works)
the cauldron.
• food colouring or
6. Now, add some bicarbonate of soda.
powder paint
7. Stir the mixture with your
• biodegradable
magic wand or spoon.
glitter and sequins
8. Watch the potion fizz and bubble before
• a mixing bowl or
your eyes!
plastic cauldron
Snape says…
• a magic
“You can choose which
wand or spoon
colour paint powder or
food colouring to use.
Why not experiment
with a different
colour each time?”

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Illustration by Jim Kay © Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2015.

Behind the Magic
When bicarbonate of soda and vinegar are mixed, a chemical
reaction takes place. This is a process where the reactants (the
substances you put into the cauldron) are changed into one or more
new substances (the products). In this reaction, the products are
sodium acetate and carbonic acid. The
carbonic acid immediately decomposes
into carbon dioxide gas and water.
The bubbles you see in the cauldron -
these are bubbles of carbon dioxide.

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Colour-Changing Potions
These potions all have one thing in common - they change colour as you
create them. You will need to follow the instructions outlined below before
moving onto the individual potions. Remember not to drink these potions!
Make sure you have an adult to help you.

You will need: Instructions:

• red cabbage 1. Chop the red cabbage into small pieces.
• chopping board 2. Place the cabbage pieces in the glass
• sharp knife (adult bowl and cover with boiling water.
supervision required) 3. Leave the cabbage to soften in the
• boiling water water, until the water has become dark
purple in colour.
• glass bowl
4. You can blend the cabbage with the
• blender (optional) water, then strain this. Alternatively,
• sieve or coffee filter leave unblended and strain the water
paper and a funnel through the sieve or filter paper.
5. You can now use this cabbage water
in each of the following potions.
Shade in the circle to show what
colour the potion changes to.
Shrinking Solution

Using a dropper or syringe, add a few drops of the cabbage water

to a glass or jar containing water mixed with a small amount of
bicarbonate of soda. Watch the colour change - what happens?

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Fatiguing Infusion

Using a dropper or syringe, add a few drops of the cabbage water

to a glass or jar containing water. Watch the colour change -
what happens?

Love Potion

Using a dropper or syringe, add a few drops of the cabbage water

to a glass or jar containing lemon juice. Watch the colour change -
what happens?

Drink of Despair

Using a dropper or syringe, add a few drops of the cabbage water to

a glass or jar containing water and hand sanitiser. Watch the colour
change - what happens?

Forgetfulness Potion

Using a dropper or syringe, add a few drops of the cabbage water to

a glass or jar containing water and sugar. Watch the colour change
- what happens?

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Befuddlement Draught

Using a dropper or syringe, add a few drops of the cabbage water

to a glass or jar containing water and vinegar. Watch the colour
change - what happens?

Ageing Potion

Using a dropper or syringe, add a few drops of the cabbage water

to a glass or jar containing water and bleach (make sure an adult
helps you with this). Watch the colour change - what happens?

Behind the Magic

The cabbage water is a pH indicator – it has one colour when added to an
acidic liquid and another when added to an alkaline liquid. For example, the
lemon juice is acidic (a low pH number), the water is pH neutral (around
pH7) and the bicarbonate of soda mixture is alkaline (a high pH number).
See if you can order the glasses or jars of potion to show the pH scale.

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We hope you find the information on our website and resources useful. This resource refers to the use of chemicals. The use of chemicals is potentially
hazardous. It is your responsibility to assess whether it is safe to use chemicals in your classroom. You are responsible for ensuring the safe storage,
usage, labelling and disposal of chemicals in accordance with COSHH regulations (or equivalent in the country in which you are teaching). We are not
responsible for the health and safety of your group or environment and so, insofar as it is possible under the law, we cannot accept liability for any loss
suffered by anyone due to the use, storage or disposal of chemicals or any other activity carried out as a result, whether directly or indirectly, of this
resource. If you are unsure in any way, we recommend that you take guidance from a suitably qualified professional.We hope you find the information
on our website and resources useful. The activities set out in this resource are potentially hazardous. The activities are not suitable for all children and
adult supervision may be required for some of the activities. It is your responsibility to assess whether the children in your care are able to safely carry
out the activities and whether the children require adult supervision. You are responsible for carrying out proper risk assessments on the activities and
for ensuring that activities can be carried out safely. We are not responsible for the health and safety of your group or environment so, insofar as it is
possible under the law, we cannot accept liability for any loss suffered by anyone undertaking the activity or activities referred to or described in this
resource. It is also your responsibility to ensure that those participating in the activity are fit enough to do so and that you or the organisation you are
organising for has the relevant insurance to carry out the physical activity. If you are unsure in any way, we recommend that you take guidance from a
suitably qualified professional.Some ingredients and/or materials used might cause allergic reactions or health problems. You should ensure that you
are fully aware of the allergies and health conditions of those taking part. If you have any concerns about your own or somebody else’s health or
wellbeing, always speak to a qualified health professional. Activities listed within the resource should always be supervised by an appropriate adult.
Children should be supervised when using sharp items such as scissors or other tools. Please make sure you are aware that children may put craft
items into their mouths, and that they should wash their hands afterwards. By using this resource, you acknowledge that it is the responsibility of
supervising adults to ensure the safety of children in their care and that we will accept no liability as a result of the activity.

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