Butcher, baker, bath bomb maker
Look into the chemistry of clean and make some brilliant bath bombs from bicarb.
Task
Make your own bath bomb and take pictures and videos at each stage of this experiment. Include in your evidence what you can see, hear and smell while the bath bomb reacts. You should also explain why the bath bomb reaction takes place.
Resources
- Ingredients (see recipe card)
- Access to water
- Kitchen scales
- Mixing bowls
- Cups or beakers
- Whisks
- Measuring spoons
- Bath bomb moulds like empty yoghurt pots, ice cube trays or leftover Easter egg packaging
Instructions
- Print off a ‘Recipe card (Brilliant bath bombs)’ and all the ingredients and equipment you will need.
- There are instructions to tick off on the recipe card. Start by weighing out and adding the bicarbonate of soda, citric acid, corn flour and Epsom salt to a mixing bowl. Whisk the ingredients together.
- Use teaspoons and tablespoons to measure out the correct quantities of oil, essential oil and food colouring in a cup or beaker. Mix these together too.
- Slowly add the oil mixture to the dry ingredients bowl. Do this a little bit at a time and keep mixing.
- When all of the oil has been added, add a few drops of water so that the mix clumps together and keeps its shape when pressed. NB: When water is added, the mixture should fizz up a bit. Mix it quickly. If the fizzing up continues after everything’s mixed together, then the mixture is too wet. You’ll need to start again from step 2, and use less water this time around!
- Take the mould and add any decorations to the bottom of it. Pack the mixture from the bowl on top and press it down into the mould. Smooth the top with a teaspoon.
- Put the filled mould somewhere it can dry for the next couple of hours (or pack them up to take home).
- Fill a sink or bowl with water and drop in your bath bomb.
- Report your findings