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Happy, dancing raisins experiment

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Carbonated water makes for happy, dancing raisins

We only need two supplies for this experiment so let’s make some raisins boogie!

  1. Fill a glass or bottle half full of carbonated water.
  2. Drop three or four raisins into the carbonated water.
  3. Wait around for the show to begin…

What happens? Why do the raisins bob to the surface? Carbonated water contains dissolved carbon dioxide gas. This gas will collect on the uneven surfaces of the raisins. When enough gas has collected, it will actually lift the raisins to the surface (kind of like little tiny parachutes) before the gas is then released into the air as tiny little bubbles. With the gas now gone, the raisins lose buoyancy and will sink back to the bottom where the process begins anew. This action will continue until all of the carbon dioxide has escaped.

Dancing Raisins Experiment Notes

Carbonated water is produced by adding carbon dioxide gas to water under pressure. The gas makes the water bubble and fizz.

Dancing Raisins Experiment Supplies

Supplies: Raisins, Carbonated water

1 thought on “Happy, dancing raisins experiment

  1. […] Happy, dancing raisins Remember the dancing raisins commercial on TV? No? Well it doesn’t matter anyway, they have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with this experiment. Now, let’s make some raisins boogie! […]

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