BOOM! POW! There’s been an explosion! An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperature and the release of gases. Explosions can be very dangerous (like a bomb or a volcano), but they can also be really cool (like fireworks and rockets.
Explosions can occur due to chemical changes. Chemical changes result in a change of the substance’s chemical composition. In an explosion, the reactants change composition to create new products, primarily gas, due to the introduction of heat or from the interaction between the reactants. We can spot chemical changes if we feel a temperature change, see a change in color, notice a new smell, or see the formation of bubbles.
Explosions also occur due to physical changes. These reactions are strictly a physical process, as opposed to chemical. The contents of the explosion do not change their chemical properties, just their physical makeup. During a physical explosion the bursting of a sealed or partially sealed container under internal pressure often occurs. Examples include an overheated boiler, or a simple tin can of beans tossed into a fire.
Today, we will explore a chemical reaction to create a small burst. Our reaction comes from combining baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, and vinegar, which contains acetic acid.
