Supplies:
- Gummy Worms
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
- Cutting Board
- Sharp Knife
- 2 Clear Cups
Directions:
With a wet knife, cut the gummy worms in quarters, we cut 3 worms in 12 long, slender pieces. Measure 3 tablespoons of baking soda and stir into a glass filled with 1 cup of warm water. Mix worms into the baking soda and water concoction. Wait 15 minutes for the worms to soak in the baking soda mixture. Fill the second clear glass with vinegar.
As soon as the timer buzzes, quickly and carefully fish them out with a fork. Place a couple worms in the vinegar, instantly they will form bubbles. After a few seconds, the worms will start rising from the bottom, writhing their way to the surface. After several minutes, we added more worms. It turns out the extra worms just sat on the bottom. So in this experiment, less is more, with about 4 worms being the best.
Science Fact: When you add the worms soaked in baking soda, the acetic acid in the vinegar reacts with the bicarbonate in the baking soda. When an acid and base react, Co2 gas bubbles form on the worm, they pull the worm up with them, making them wriggle. As the bubbles burst, the worm falls back down until enough bubbles form to pull it up. The bubbles will continue to form until all the baking soda on the worm is used up.
