Experiment | Volcano Model
Approximate time to complete: 1-2 hours + drying time + questions and journal time
About this experiment
In this experiment, you’ll build a model volcano using salt dough and create a chemical reaction to represent an eruption.
What you’ll learn
- There are 3 components that make a good volcano model; a solid crust, red liquid, and gas bubbles.
- 3 cups flour
- 1 ½ cups salt
- 1 ½ cups water
- Large mixing bowl
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ cup vinegar
- 3-5 drops liquid dish soap
- 3-5 drops red food coloring
- Tray
- Paint – black, red, and orange (optional)
- Paint brushes (optional)
- Can you describe a volcano?
Part 1: Build the Model
- Mix flour, salt, and water in a large bowl until it turns into dough.
- Put the dough onto the tray.
- Mold the dough into a cone.
- Create a hole in the center of the cone.
- Let the cone dry overnight.
- Optional: paint the cone to look like a volcano.
Part 2: Make the Eruption
- Pour baking soda, liquid dish soap, and red food coloring into the center of the volcano.
- Mix them together.
- Pour the vinegar into the center of the volcano.
- Repeat if you want!
- What happened when you mixed the baking soda, soap, and food coloring together? What happened when you added the vinegar?
- Are there any parts of this experiment you could change to cause a different outcome?
- How is this similar to what happens in a real volcano?
- You just made a volcano out of salt dough. What are real volcanoes made of?
- Are there volcanoes where you live? Are you sure?
- Why do volcanoes form in some places, but not others?