Little scientist experiments: dancing raisins

Here is another great scientific experiment for our little scientists. Little scientist Diego called this experiment dancing raisins. He learnt that the fizz in fizzy drink is called carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a gas that creates bubbles.

Tools: tweezers, magnifying glass, beaker

Extras: clear fizzy drink, raisins

Key science concept: the fizz in fizzy drink is called carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a gas that creates bubbles.

What to do: Check the video to follow the instructions from little scientist.

The scientific explanation

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a chemical compound. It is a gas at room temperature. It is made of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. People and animals release carbon dioxide when they breathe out. Also, every time something organic is burnt (or a fire is made), it makes carbon dioxide. Plants use carbon dioxide to make food. This process is called photosynthesis. The properties of carbon dioxide were studied by the Scottish scientist Joseph Black in the 1750s. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases trap heat energy. Greenhouse gases change the climate and weather on our planet, Earth. This is called climate change. Greenhouse gases are a cause of global warming, the rise of Earth surface temperature.

Can you see the dancing raisins Moving in the beaker?

Tiny bubbles from fizzy drink collect on the raisins and cause the raisins to float to the top. When the bubbles pop, the raisins sink again.

For his experiments Little Scientist used the Primary Science Lab kit available from www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk.

For more little scientist’s experiments click on the links below:

Little Scientist experiments: discovering nature with GeoSafari Utility vehicle

Little scientist experiments: Sink and float

Little scientist experiments: Shiny pennies

Little scientist experiments: Make your own mini volcano