How to Launch a Rocket with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Here’s an easy tutorial on how make a rocket with baking soda and vinegar! Making a bottle rocket with baking soda and vinegar is always a fun and explosive (but safe) science experiment.

When the baking soda reacts with the vinegar, it forms carbon dioxide and water. The carbon dioxide builds up inside the bottle until it launches into the air!

Step-by-step directions to make your own Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket:

Supplies needed:

Empty water bottle
4 Chopsticks
Tape
Paper
Scissors
Markers (or paint, crayons, etc.)
Vinegar
Baking Soda
Paper Towel
Cork

First Make Your Rocket:

1- Take a sheet of paper and color one side. This will be the outside of your rocket.

2- Cut out a circle, cut a slit halfway, wrap it to make a cone and tape it in place. This is the top of your rocket.

3- Tape three or four chopsticks to the upside-down bottle, with a few inches extending past the top opening. These will be your rocket legs, so make sure they are even, and the bottle can stand on its own.

4- Wrap the decorated paper around the bottle, over the chopsticks and tape into place.

5- Tape your pointy cone to the top. You should now have something that resembles a rocket!

6- Wrap tape around a cork until you can plug the bottle easily but not too tightly. If it is too tight, it won’t shoot out.

Prepare to Launch your Baking Soda Rocket:

1- Take a square of paper towel and put about a tablespoon of baking soda in the center.

2- Wrap it up to create a little baking soda packet. This delays the release of the baking soda and gives you time to put in the cork and get out of the way.

3- Fill your bottle about 1/3 with vinegar

4- Find a nice flat surface outside where you don’t care about the splatter. It makes a big mess when it explodes, but it is all easily washed away with water.

5- Push the baking soda packet into the bottle and VERY QUICKLY put in the cork. Make sure it is secure enough but not pushed in too far or it won’t pop out.

6- Give it a few shakes, flip it over and then RUN!

Launching a Baking Soda Rocket

It’s not as easy as it looks to launch the rocket, as sometimes it goes off too soon! Check out the video evidence on YouTube:

When you mix baking soda and vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs, producing carbon dioxide gas and water. This reaction creates a build-up of carbon dioxide inside the bottle. As more carbon dioxide accumulates, pressure increases until the cork pops out, and the bottle launches into the air.

The process is both exciting and educational, making it a popular experiment for young scientists! Read more about the science behind the process below.

The Science Behind the Baking Soda and Vinegar Bottle Rocket

A baking soda and vinegar rocket works based on the principles of chemical reactions and Newton’s Third Law of Motion.

The Science Behind It

1. Chemical Reaction (Acid-Base Reaction)
   • Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO₃) is a base.Vinegar (acetic acid, CH₃COOH) is an acid.When mixed, they undergo a neutralization reaction, producing:
     • Carbon dioxide gas (CO₂)Water (H₂O)Sodium acetate (CH₃COONa) (a salt dissolved in water)
   The reaction equation: NaHCO3+CH3COOH→CO2+H2O+CH3COONaNaHCO₃ + CH₃COOH → CO₂ + H₂O + CH₃COONaNaHCO3​+CH3​COOH→CO2​+H2​O+CH3​COONa
2. Gas Expansion and Pressure Build-Up
   • The reaction rapidly produces carbon dioxide gas.
   • In a closed container (such as a plastic bottle), this gas builds up pressure inside.
   • Once the pressure exceeds the strength of the seal (cork, cap, or stopper), the gas forcefully escapes.
3. Newton’s Third Law of Motion (Action-Reaction)
   • Newton’s Third Law states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
   • When the gas rushes downward out of the bottle, it creates an opposite force pushing the bottle upwards, launching it like a rocket.

Factors Affecting the Rocket’s Performance

• Amount of Reactants: More vinegar and baking soda produce more CO₂, increasing thrust.
• Container Seal Strength: A tighter seal allows for more pressure buildup, leading to a stronger launch.
• Rocket Design: A streamlined shape reduces air resistance and increases flight efficiency.
• Nozzle Size: A narrow opening forces the gas to exit more forcefully, improving thrust.

This experiment is a fun way to demonstrate basic chemistry, physics, and engineering concepts in an exciting and hands-on way! 🚀