Materials you'll need
- Small seashells
- Glass or tall jar
- Warm water
- Baking soda
- A splash of white vinegar
Step-by-step tutorial
Step 1: Fill your glass about halfway with warm water.
Step 2: Drop a handful of small seashells into the glass so they sink to the bottom.
Step 3: Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the glass and stir until it dissolves.
Step 4: Pour in a splash of vinegar and watch your seashells start to dance. When the action slows down, add a little more vinegar to keep the party going.
Learn more
When you mix baking soda and vinegar together, a chemical reaction happens that produces a gas called carbon dioxide — the same gas that makes soda fizzy. The CO₂ bubbles rise up through the water and cling to the rough surfaces of the seashells. When enough bubbles attach to a shell, it acts like a tiny life jacket: the shell-and-bubble combo becomes lighter than the water around it, and up it floats. At the surface the bubbles pop and release the gas, so the shell sinks back down — only to collect new bubbles and start the ride all over again. Adding more vinegar gives the baking soda new acid to react with, making fresh bubbles and more dancing.
