Do you know how to inflate a balloon without blowing? Perhaps it is something that does not cross our minds 'a priori'. Since we have very internalized having to blow hard so that the balloon begins to have its shape. But sometimes science can pleasantly surprise us. It is time to talk about chemical reactions. These do not always have to be done in a laboratory. There are many ways to experiment with them at home with materials you almost certainly have on hand.
Do you want to explain to your children in a simple and practical way what a chemical reaction is? Well pay attention because today I bring you an experiment for your children to visualize the yeast fermentation in a fun and surprising way. Of course, the best thing is that you are always present, to show him step by step.
What ingredients do I need to inflate a balloon without blowing?
We are already fully involved in one of the experiments with which you can leave everyone speechless. But to start, it is clear that we need a series of ingredients. They are very easy to get, so you will not have a problem doing it. So that thanks to the fermentation process, you will achieve the result you have proposed. What do I need for all this?
- A bottle. The best thing is that it has a narrow mouth, but you can always get the model that you have closest to hand.
- A tablespoon of baker's yeast. It will always be better, but if you don't have one, a sachet of chemical yeast can help you.
- A tablespoon of sugar
- water that is lukewarm
- A funnel if the bottle has a narrow mouth.
- A balloon.
How to prepare the fermentation experiment
Now that you have all the ingredients, you have to fully enter the process. To do this, we start by filling the bottle with water, but not to the brim, but approximately halfway. The water should not be very hot, much better if it is lukewarm, as we indicated before.. We already have the bottle and the water, so now we start to pour the baker's yeast into it. Try to do it by crumbling it well, since as you know this product has a great consistency. Right after adding it, we have to add the tablespoon of sugar.
Now is the time to stir well, so that the ingredients are integrated and, above all, the sugar can dissolve well. At this time, it will be when you place the balloon on the top or mouth of the bottle. Bubbles will begin to form in the mixture we have made, in just a couple of minutes, and after a little more time… Surprise! The balloon will start to inflate without the need to blow. When you see that the balloon does not inflate any more, remove it and add sugar to the mixture again. Attach another balloon and watch it re-inflate.
Why can a balloon be inflated without blowing?
Now that you've seen how you can actually inflate a balloon without blowing, thanks to yeast and that chemical reaction, maybe it's time to explain it further. Why does all this happen? Because the baker's yeast, 'saccharomyces cerevisiae', It is a microscopic organism that obtains energy by transforming sugars through a process called fermentation..
When we buy it, the yeast is in a latent state, but when we add water and sugar, we activate it and the fermentation reaction begins, transforming the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 is a gas and is responsible for inflating the balloon. When we repeat the experiment without sugar, the yeast has nothing to feed on and therefore no fermentation takes place, so no carbon dioxide is produced and the balloon does not inflate. Now try filling a bottle with just water and yeast. See what happens. Does the balloon inflate? After a while you will see that nothing has happened.
Other options to consider
The truth is that with baker's yeast we already see what happens. But it is true that also you can inflate a balloon by adding baking soda instead of yeast and vinegar instead of hot water. You will have to add a third of the bottle of vinegar. The reaction is similar, which causes you to see how the balloon inflates without having to blow. In addition to being a perfect trick for all the little ones in the house, it can also be of great help when you need to inflate a large number of balloons and you see that your lungs are not enough. Did you know about this experiment? Have you ever tried it?