Rising Raisins and Pop Bottle Fountains - A Science Inquiry Experience - Part 2

In Part 1 of this experience, students worked withsomething could be hidden under it, but that's not what
"Rising Raisins". There they found that bubbles preferis going to happen. Using the hammer, pound the nail
to form on a surface and just not come out of solutionthrough the top of the cap to make a hole. You are
on their own. Here, we take that knowledge anddone with the hammer and nail.
attempt to get lots of bubbles to form in one smallRun the string through the hole so that the cap is
area to create a "Pop Bottle Fountain".halfway up the string. Attach one Mentho to the end
For this, you will need a two liter bottle of seltzerof the string that is going into the cap. Use some tape
water. Soda will work fine but it tends to make ato do this. This attachment will be flimsy at best. Draw
sticky mess. Seltzer water will just evaporate leavingthe attached Mentho up into the bottle cap by pulling
no sticky residue. As far as clean-up is concerned,on the string that leaves the top of the cap. Screw the
seltzer water is the winner.cap (with the Mentho inside) tightly onto the bottle. Do
You will also need a hammer, nail, a piece of stringnot let the Mentho touch the seltzer water. You're
about two feet long, some tape, and a candy Menthos.ready for the fountain. Make sure it is pointing at no
Menthos are mint flavored chewy candies found in theone.
grocery check-out. There are six or eight in a package.Count down, "Three, two, one!", and pull the string. The
Have the students make observations about aMentho will be freed from the string and tape and drop
Mentho. They will note that its white, smooth, and notinto the seltzer water. There, the Mentho will provide
round. Ask them to observe the shell more closely. Itlots of surface for bubbles to form very quickly. The
really isn't as smooth as it appears on first glance.pressure will build inside the bottle and the water will
What do you think will happen if we place this inspray from the bottle as a gorgeous, though short
seltzer water?lived, fountain. Quite exciting, indeed. Did the students
Carefully remove the cap from the seltzer bottle.guess correctly?
Some gas will escape. Don't worry. Place the cap onNext time, more science activities to try. Until then,
the sidewalk so that the top is facing up. In this wayhave fun!