Kindergarten Volcanoes, Automobiles, and Laundry Detergents

1 Kindergarten Volcanoes, Automobiles, and Laundry Detergents 205 7.5 Aqueous Solutions and Solubility Compounds Dissolved in Water 214 7.8 7.9 Acid-Base and Gas Evolution Reactions 223 Oxidation-Reduction 

2 Evidence of a Chemical Reaction 206 7.6 Precipitation Reactions Reactions in Aqueous Solution Reactions 226 

3 The Chemical Equation 210 7.7 Writing Chemical Equations for Reactions in Solution Reactions 228 

Did you ever make a day volcano in kindergarten that erupted when filled with vinegar, baking soda, and red food coloring for effect Have you pushed the gas pedal of a car and felt the acceleration as the car moved forward Have you wondered why laxmdry detergents work better than normal soap to clean your clothes Each of these processes involves a chemical reaction—the transformation of one or more substances into different substances. 

In the classic kindergarten volcano, the baking soda (which is sodium bicarbonate) reacts with acetic acid in the vinegar to form carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate. The newly formed carbon dioxide bubbles out of the mixture, causing the eruption. Reactions that occur in liquids and form a gas are gas evolution reactions. A similar reaction causes the fizzing of antacids such as Alka-Seltzer .  

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