Science experiment gone wrong = kitchen in shambles

Dec 141 min read

So I got ambitious and let my 8yo do a "volcan" (volcano, but he says volcan) with baking soda and food coloring. Looked online real quick, thought it would be fine. He decided to quadruple the vinegar amount "to make it more epic." We have red dyed vinegar in places I didn't even know existed. On the counter, in the pantry, somehow on the ceiling, in his hair. Don't make my mistake lol. Anyone have reliable science experiment sources for this age that don't end in disaster?

11 comments257 views

Comments(11)

VVic H.RegularDec 14

This is why I stopped doing "quick online" anything. Now I do the science experiment MYSELF first when they're in bed, then we do the safe version. Lost two nights of sleep but worth not having vinegar on the ceiling.

BByron S.RegularDec 14

The good news: baking soda vinegar volcan is like the LEAST dangerous science fail. Food coloring washes out, vinegar smell goes away. Could've been worse. At least he's interested in science?

RRob P.RegularDec 16

Replying to the kitchen shambles - did your wife see it before you cleaned it up or did you go full damage-control mode? Either way the conversation matters less than "let's set up a containment zone next time" (like, bathtub).

TTravis N.RegularDec 15

QUADRUPLE. That kid math is wild. Did he at least have fun before the chaos? That's the real test - if he had 2 min of cool before disaster, still a win.

CCarl L.RegularDec 15

the fact that he calls it "volcan" is adorable and also the kitchen is probably destroyed. baking soda and food coloring alone is fine, vinegar is the wildcard. how bad was the damage?

SSteve Q.RegularDec 16

lmaooo i did a similar thing with my 7yo and the volcano erupted SIDEWAYS across the counter. turns out he'd already mixed the baking soda with like half a cup of water first, then added the vinegar. i just... cleaned it up and we called it a learning moment

DDan W.RegularDec 16

this is one of those moments where you gotta decide: is this a "don't do science experiments anymore" situation or a "next time we measure the vinegar together" situation? if it's the second, he'll remember this forever as a good dad moment

RRussell D.RegularDec 14

this is the thing nobody tells you about hands-on parenting - half the learning is cleaning up the disaster afterward. at least he'll remember this way better than any youtube volcano video

WWill R.RegularDec 16

Pro tip for next time: do volcano experiments in a baking pan inside a bigger pan. Keeps the chaos somewhat contained. Still messy but not "food coloring on the walls" messy.

NNick J.RegularDec 17

quadruple the vinegar is SENDING me. classic kid logic: if a little works, a LOT must work great

CChris P.RegularDec 14

he quadrupled it?? did he think MORE VINEGAR = MORE SCIENCE??? honestly that's pretty hilarious, and at least he was engaged enough to experiment. way better than sitting on a device