Raindrops trickle down the window. Their gentle pitter patters tap against the glass. It’s quite the rhythm; it’s quite the harmony.
Outside, people scatter to find a covering. Their bodies blur into one. Inside, you watch, though, as New York City becomes a canvas. You wait for inspiration to burgeon, while the muted watercolors bleed into the noon sky.
There’s something about rainy days that demands a solution—a way to turn the mundane into something colorful. While you could read books, watch movies, listen to music, or play video games, there comes a point where those activities become dull—almost lethargic, monotonous. But science? That’s one exciting adventure of uncertainty!
With just a few ingredients (that are probably lying around your kitchen), let’s wave goodbye to a sullen afternoon and say ‘hello’ to a relaxing time. Welcome Fizzy Art, where a captivating acid-base reaction drives creativity.
The Experiment
Materials:
- Baking soda
- Cups
- Food coloring
- Pipettes
- Paint brushes
- Tray
- Vinegar
- Watercolor paper
Steps:
- Prepare the watercolor solutions: Add a drop of food coloring and a tablespoon of baking soda to a cup of water.
- Place the paper in the tray.
- Begin to paint. Let your heart lead your decisions. Paint intuitively! Remember: you are the artist. Don’t be afraid to experiment and seek out fun shapes and textures. They can be great additions to spice up a vivid canvas!
- Once finished, use a pipette to drip vinegar onto the painting.
- Watch as the bubbles fizz while the colors prance across the page!
The Science
Congratulations, you have just created abstract art! But, before you leave to frame your beautiful creation, let’s unravel the chemistry behind what you see: an acid-base reaction.
Essentially, vinegar (acetic acid) reacts with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in a neutralization reaction to produce sodium acetate and carbonic acid.
Reactants: CH3COOH (aq) + NaHCO3 (aq)
Products: CH3COONa (aq) + H2CO3 (aq)
But wait, this reaction isn’t complete yet! And these products do not explain the fizzing you see. In fact, the bubbling is attributed to escaping carbon dioxide molecules. You might be curious as to where it came from. Was it generated out of nowhere? Was it from the surrounding air? Well...in reality, we can thank carbonic acid. Because the molecule is so unstable under standard temperature pressure (STP) conditions, it quickly decomposes. Thus, resulting in the following reaction:
Reactants: CH3COOH (aq) + NaHCO3 (aq)
Products: CH3COONa (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)
Isn’t that cool!?
All in all, chemical reactions aren't just for fun. From complex natural events like volcanic eruptions, to simple smaller ones like baking a fudgy brownie, science is all around us; it is fundamental.
Yet, in the quiet moments, where a rainbow triumphs a foggy sky, art prevails to reveal something larger, something more meaningful. It isn’t always about drawing the straightest line, tracing a predetermined truth, or even following a perfect vision. It can be about actions, reactions, and most importantly, chaos. With Fizzy Art, science meets artistry, rain becomes inspiration, and an easy experiment becomes a masterpiece.
So, the next time the sky gets engulfed with dark, ominous clouds, don’t just watch the rain. That’s no fun. Make it fizz! :)
Citation
Kelly. “Fizzy Art - Baking Soda Paint.” Typically Simple, 23 Sept. 2023, typicallysimple.com/fizzy-art-baking-soda-paint/.
