A simple and exciting chemistry experiment where lemon juice reacts with baking soda to create a bubbly “volcano.” Great for kids learning basic chemical reactions.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Concepts: Chemical Reactions, Acid vs Base
Materials List
- 1 fresh lemon
- Baking soda (1–2 teaspoons)
- Liquid dish soap (optional, for extra foam)
- Food coloring (optional)
- A craft stick or spoon
- A tray or plate (to contain the mess)
- Knife (adult use)
Steps
- Cut the top off the lemon (adult supervision required).
- Use a craft stick to poke the inside and release the juice.
- Place the lemon on a tray.
- Add a few drops of food coloring inside the lemon.
- Add a small amount of dish soap for extra foaming.
- Sprinkle 1–2 teaspoons of baking soda into the lemon.
- Watch the fizzy lemon volcano erupt!
- Stir with the craft stick to keep the reaction going.
Science Behind It
This experiment demonstrates an acid–base reaction.
- Lemon juice contains citric acid.
- Baking soda is a base (sodium bicarbonate).
When they mix, they create carbon dioxide gas (CO₂), which forms bubbles and foam—making it look like a mini volcano.
The dish soap traps CO₂ bubbles, increasing the foamy eruption.
Watch the video!
Keywords: lemon volcano, baking soda experiment, lemon and baking soda reaction, acid base reaction for kids, fizzy volcano experiment, easy chemistry experiment, STEM kids activities, CO2 reaction demo, simple science project, lemon science activity, baking soda volcano, kitchen chemistry experiment