GAS LAWS ACTIVITY
Name:
Section:
ACTIVITY 1 – Balloon Inflation
Hypothesis: If baking soda is mixed with vinegar inside the bottle,
then carbon dioxide gas will be produced and inflate the balloon.
Materials:
• Toy balloon
• Empty bottle
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Rubber band
Procedure:
1. Pour half a cup of vinegar into the empty bottle.
2. Place 1–2 tablespoons of baking soda into the balloon.
3. Attach the balloon to the bottle opening without allowing the
powder to fall in.
4. Lift the balloon to release the baking soda into the vinegar.
5. Observe the balloon inflate due to the gas produced.
Explanation: The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar
produces carbon dioxide gas. As gas volume increases, the balloon
expands, demonstrating Charles’ Law.
ACTIVITY 2 – Crushed Can
Hypothesis: If a heated can filled with steam is rapidly cooled, then it
will collapse due to the sudden change in internal pressure.
Materials:
• Empty soda can
• Aluminum basin or metal bowl
• Cold water or cracked ice
Procedure:
1. Place a tablespoon of water inside the soda can.
2. Heat the can until the water boils and steam escapes.
3. Quickly invert the can into a basin of cold water.
4. Observe the can collapse instantly.
Explanation: Steam condenses rapidly when cooled, lowering internal
pressure. Atmospheric pressure outside becomes greater and crushes
the can, demonstrating Boyle’s Law.
ACTIVITY 3 – Syringe and Colored Water
Hypothesis: If the plunger of the syringe is pushed, then the air inside
will compress; if pulled, the air will expand.
Materials:
• Syringe
• Glass of colored water
Procedure:
1. Fill half the syringe with colored water.
2. Flip the syringe so its facing upwards.
3. Pull the plunger back and observe the air bubble expand.
4. Push the plunger and observe the air bubble compress.
Explanation: Boyle’s Law states that pressure and volume are
inversely related. Decreasing volume (pushing) increases pressure,
while increasing volume (pulling) decreases pressure.
ACTIVITY 4 – Mentos and Soda
Hypothesis: If Mentos are dropped into a bottle of soda, then a rapid
release of dissolved gas will occur, causing an eruption.
Materials:
• Bottled soda
• Mentos candy
Procedure:
1. Place the soda bottle on the table.
2. Open the bottle carefully.
3. Quickly drop 2–4 Mentos candies inside.
4. Step back and observe the soda fountain.
Explanation: When Mentos are dropped into Coke, the rough surface
of the Mentos causes carbon dioxide bubbles to form very quickly. This
rapid release of gas increases the amount of gas inside the bottle.
According to Boyle’s Law (pressure increases when volume
decreases), the gas builds up pressure because it has limited space.
The high pressure then forces the liquid upward, causing the explosive
Mentos and Coke eruption.
CONCLUSION
The experiments demonstrated the different gas laws through
observable changes in gas pressure, volume, and solubility. Activity 1
highlighted gas production and expansion; Activity 2 showed the effect
of pressure differences; Activity 3 illustrated the inverse relationship
between pressure and volume; and Activity 4 demonstrated rapid gas
release due to decreased solubility. These activities collectively
confirm that gas behavior follows predictable scientific principles, even
in simple household experiments.