Dry Ice Bubbles

Dry ice, the solid form of carbon dioxide, is a super fun and accessible way to play around with the physics of cold materials. In this experiment, we use dry ice to create self-filling fog bubbles. See how big you can make your dry ice bubble, then pop it and watch the fog cascade across your table! Follow along with the video tutorial, and learn about some other cool variations as well!

  1. Ages: 5 - 16

  2. <30 minutes

  3. A little messy

  4. Grownup needed

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Materials you'll need

Step-by-step tutorial

  • Warning

    Grownup supervision is required, and make sure to wear insulated gloves!

  • Step 1

    Gather your materials!


  • Tip

    Make sure to buy your dry ice the same day as your experiment - it will completely evaporate within 24 hours!

  • Step 2

    Let's first make our bubble solution. Pour some water into a cup and then squirt in some dish soap or bubble concentrate. Stir these two together with a craft stick or spoon. You won't need very much!

    Photo reference of how to complete step 2

  • Step 3

    Next, take your funnel, and press it into the end of your plastic tubing. If you'd like, you can now test your bubble solution. Stick the end of the tubing in your soap solution, and blow into the funnel- a bubble should form.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 3

  • Step 4

    We cut off the top of the bottle to make the process of dropping the dry ice in the bottle a little easier. Before you cut, make sure that the funnel can still completely cover the opening of the bottle! Once the bottle is cut, fill it halfway with warm water.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 4

  • Step 5

    Use your gloved hand to put a few pieces of dry ice into your bottle. You'll see the water start to bubble and fog start to form!

    Photo reference of how to complete step 5

  • Warning

    Remember that dry ice is 109.3 degrees Fahrenheit, so don't touch it with your bare hands!

  • Step 6

    Place the funnel over the soda bottle to capture the fog.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 6

  • Step 7

    We're ready to blow bubbles! Dip the end of the tubing into the soap solution and then place the other end with the funnel on top of the bottle. A foggy bubble should form on the soapy end of the tube!


  • Tip

    To catch the bubbles on the plate, just cover it with a thin layer of bubble solution.

  • Learn moremagnifying icon graphic

    This trick works because dry ice isn’t ice — it’s frozen carbon dioxide. The chunks of dry ice are very, very cold (-109° F, or -78° C), which is why you can’t handle it with your bare hands. 

    In warm water, the dry ice turns immediately from a solid into a gas thanks to a neat feature called sublimation. Along with the water, that carbon dioxide gas creates the fog you see. (This is similar to when you can see your breath on a cold day.)

    After a few minutes, you’ll notice that the bubbles will start to slow down. Just add more chunks of dry ice to the water to keep going! For the best bubbles, you’ll also want to re-fill the warm water from time to time.

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