lemon volcano experiment video

How To Make A Lemon Volcano

After successfully making a lemon battery I suddenly found myself with a pile of lemons begging to be used in another epic science experiment. So what did we do? Build a lemon volcano! And because we had so many lemons, we were able to create something really beautiful incorporating all the colours of the rainbow. Check out this great way to use those lemons!

Lemon Volcano Experiment For Kids

What you will discover in this article!

My kids love any experiment that erupts . So when I proposed we use our lemon battery cells to create exploding lemons, they were excited!

First, exploding lemons is probably creating the wrong impression. This is not Fruit Ninja and no fruits actually explode. They do however erupt in a spectacular way. These yellow pieces of summer sunshine bubble over into a gorgeous lemon volcano.

Next, I have to say this is one of the most beautiful, amazing smelling, sensory rich science experiments. Just the visual play of the food colouring during the reactions was mesmerizing. Plus the whole time you are enveloped in the wondrous smell of fresh lemons. Now this is some gorgeous science!

Video Of Erupting Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Sometimes it is easier to watch the whole experiment first before tackling it yourself. So I had my trusty helper join me to create a video of our Lemon Volcano experiment. If you can’t see this video, please ensure your adblockers are turned off, they also block our video feed.

Lemon Volcano Supplies

The best part of this science experiment is that is uses items you already have around the house.

Lemons! We used the 4 lemons from our lemon battery experiment . Knife Cutting board Craft sticks Food colouring Dish soap Baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) Large dish (to catch all the eruption mess)

How To Make A Volcano Out Of A Lemon

Safety first! We are working with an acid. Use your best judgement on the capabilities of your children. Use gloves, safety goggles, aprons as needed, and always ensure kids do these experiments under responsible adult supervision.

The first thing we did was cut all of our lemons in half after rolling them. If you know anything about lemons, you know rolling them is important to get the juices flowing before you cut. In this experiment, the juices are critical, so we want our lemon nice and juicy. Simply roll it on the table with some pressure on it from your hand to start those lemon juices flowing.

Once they are cut in half, use a craft stick to poke into the flesh of the lemon and release those juices a little more.

Set your lemons on your large plate. If they won’t stand up, simply cut a flat part onto the bottom.

Add a few drops of food colouring. We really enjoyed mixing up our colours and creating a rainbow of volcanoes.

Next add a dribble of dish soap to each lemon.

Now is when the chemistry and science fun starts! Sprinkle the top of the lemon with a generous layer of baking soda. You will notice a little bit of reaction starts immediately.

But we want our lemon volcanoes to have epic eruptions!

So now we need to take our craft sticks and poke our lemons to really push the baking soda into the lemon and mix it with the lemon juice.

We have a lemon volcano eruption!

Lemon Science – Why Does A Lemon Volcano Erupt?

So what makes our lemons explode with such awesomeness? It all comes down to one of our favourite chemistry reactions, the interaction between acids and bases which results in the release of carbon dioxide CO 2 gas (the bubbles). The dish soap helps capture the gas so we can see it as bubbles during the reaction.

In many of our experiments we use vinegar for our acid, but lemons work as well. Why? Because lemons are full of citric acid. That is what gives them that sour flavour. That acid reacts with baking soda (a basic) and gives us our big reactions.

Here is the chemical reaction taking place in our lemon volcano: H 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 (aq)  + 3NaHCO 3 (s)  → 3CO 2 (g)  + 3H 2 O  (l)  + Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 (aq)

More Ways To Explore The Chemistry Behind Volcano Experiments

We have done entire experiments focused on exploring the acid-base chemical reaction . Kids love experiments that erupt and bubble. The spectacular results are sure to get all kids thrilled about chemistry.

In addition to the traditional Volcano Experiment using paper mache, you can also make other volcano experiments such as: Apple Volcano , Pumpkin Volcano and even Volcano Slime .

More Lemon Science Project Ideas

Once we were done with our lemon battery and lemon volcano experiments we started brainstorming even more ideas for what we could do with our lemons.

The first thought was to use our colourful lemons to create art. Simply scrap off most of the reaction leaving the colourful flesh of the lemons. Press the lemons onto a sheet of paper to create beautiful designs and patterns.

The boys also thought it would be fun to have a contest to see who could create the tallest reaction, or longest lasting reaction by manipulating the variables in our volcano science.

Another area might experiment with next time, is to use baking powder and see how the eruptions compare to those using baking soda. We have done comparisons between baking soda and baking powder in the past and found some interesting results. In many ways we preferred the reactions created using baking powder. So how would that change our lemon volcano science experiment? Sounds like a great science fair project!

5 Days of Smart STEM Ideas for Kids

Get started in STEM with easy, engaging activities.

How to Make a Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

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A lemon volcano is a fantastic hands-on science experiment that brings a little zest to learning! This activity combines a simple chemical reaction with sensory play!  It will excite and engage young learners while introducing them to some basic scientific principles. I love that you can bring science to life with everyday materials like lemons!

Whether you’re homeschooling, teaching in the classroom, or simply looking for a fun educational activity at home, lemon volcanoes are popular with kids of all ages. In this post, I am going to dive into the science behind it, give you some step-by-step instructions, and tell you the educational benefits of this extra fun science experiment.

The Science Behind Lemon Volcanoes

The lemon volcano is an acid-base reaction. Lemons contain citric acid, a naturally occurring weak acid. When you mix this with a base, like baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), a chemical reaction occurs. This reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, which creates the fun fizzing and bubbling effect that looks like a mini volcano erupting.

As the lemony citric acid reacts with the baking soda, carbon dioxide bubbles form and create a foamy eruption. Food coloring can be added to enhance the visual effect, making the reaction even more exciting.  Add a little dish soap for an even foamier reaction! 

How to Make a Lemon Volcano

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Add Food Coloring (Optional): For a colorful volcano, drop a few drops of food coloring inside the lemon. Red, orange, or yellow work well to mimic a real volcanic eruption! We used blue because I loved the cool contrast! Use all of the colors in different sections and make a rainbow of volcanoes!
• Add Dish Soap (Also optional): To make the reaction frothier, squeeze a little dribble of dish soap on top of the lemon pulp.

Volcano Variations:

Try the experiment with a different type of citrus fruit such as limes, or grapefruit.  Make an apple volcano or pumpkin volcano using baking soda and vinegar. 

Educational Benefits of the Lemon Volcano Experiment

Intro to Chemical Reactions: Lemon volcanoes are a fun and easy way to introduce kids to chemical reactions. They can observe how acids (citric acid) and bases (baking soda) react to form new substances, such as carbon dioxide. This can give a foundation for understanding more complex chemistry later on.

Sensory and Hands-on Learning: We love all kinds of hands-on learning here! This activity engages many senses—sight, smell, touch, and even hearing (bubbling sounds). Involving many senses increase the learning. 

Critical Thinking: You can encourage children to come up with a hypothesis and make predictions about what will happen when baking soda is added to the lemon. Will it fizz right away? Will more soap create bigger bubbles? Asking questions like this get kids thinking and helps them develop a scientist mindset! Turn it into a science fair project. 

Fine Motor Skills: Working with the lemons, squeezing juice, and stirring the mixture helps young children develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Encourages Curiosity and Exploration: Once children see their first fizzy eruption, they’re going to want to try it again. This curiosity can lead to more questions and experimentation (like with other citrus fruits!). It can really help kids develop a love for science and exploration.

Simple STEM Learning : This activity is a great introduction to basic STEM principles. It allows children to explore cause and effect, make observations, and apply basic math concepts (like measuring ingredients).

I hope you’ll give these lemon volcanoes  a try!  They combine science and fun, making them the perfect activity to spark curiosity and excitement in children. Whether you’re looking to enrich your homeschool curriculum or just want a fun activity for a rainy afternoon, lemon volcanoes will definitely bring some amazing smelling excitement to your day!

See More Sensory Rich Science Experiments:

Erupting Volcano Slime

Lemon Battery Experiment

How to Make an Awesome Volcano Science Project

Tapioca Pearl Sensory Play

Five Senses Activities for Kids

Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!

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Written by Brenda • Jan 13, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Lemon Volcano Science Experiment for Kids

Try this fun science experiment and make a lemon volcano with your kids today! A straightforward but fascinating scientific experiment mixes the thrill of volcanoes with the sour taste of lemons. This activity is one of our favorite science experiments!

Engage kids in learning about volcanoes and simple chemical reactions in a playful way. The supplies needed for this experiment are affordable and you probably already have them in your kitchen! 

A few lemons, baking soda, dish soap, and optional food coloring are all you need to make a spectacular explosion.

Activities involving the lemon volcano not only give kids a fun experience but also give you a great chance to educate them about chemical reactions, acids and bases, and other natural wonders of the planet. 

Kids’ Lemon Volcano Experiment

The easy science experiment lemon volcano, which mixes the excitement of volcanoes with the tanginess of lemons, is now available. Children will like this hands-on exercise very much while learning about chemical reactions and the beauties of nature. 

Children may make a captivating eruption with just a few cheap and basic supplies like lemons, baking soda, dish soap, and food coloring (optional). They see a frothy eruption that resembles a volcano by watching how baking soda and lemon juice react.

 Lemon volcanoes are useful educational tools in addition to being entertaining. They provide a useful technique to explain ideas like acids and bases while arousing interest and promoting scientific inquiry. 

So gather your young scientists and go off on this exciting adventure to learn more about this amazing smelling variation on the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment. 

Video of the erupting lemon volcano

Baking soda and lemon science.

The lemon and baking soda volcano experiment, one of the many fascinating experiments, stands out because it blends the exhilaration of volcanic eruptions with the tart flavor of lemons. 

Children may learn about chemical reactions in an engaging and exciting way by delving further into the science behind these eruptions. Lemon volcanoes provide a starting point for comprehending the basic tenets of chemistry and the production of carbon dioxide (CO2).

 Children may build a captivating eruption that mimics the powers of nature by using common items like lemons, baking soda, dish soap, and optionally food coloring. 

In terms of the science, the transformation is brought about by a chemical reaction between the lemon juice and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). 

An effervescent eruption is produced as a result of the reaction between these two chemicals, which produces carbon dioxide gas (CO2).

Lemon Volcano Supplies

• Lemons (you can also use limes or oranges, grapefruit, or any type of citrus fruit)
• Baking soda
• Food coloring (you can use a variety of colors)
• Tray or large plate (to catch any spills)
• Paper towels (for cleaning up)
• Safety goggles

How To Make A Lemon Volcano 

Start by cutting off the top of the lemon and the bottom of the lemon. This should be done by an adult or under responsible adult supervision. 

Removing the top and bottom of the lemon will keep the lemon steady as the kids do the experiment. 

Cut the upright lemons in half through the center of the lemon. You can do this by using a knife and carefully slicing through the middle.

Squeeze each half of a lemon slightly to loosen the juice. Be careful not to squeeze too hard, as you don’t want to remove all the juice from the lemon. 

You can also poke holes into various sections of the lemon to release more carbonic acid. 

Add some color to your lemon volcano, you can add a few drops of food coloring to each half of the lemon. Use multiple colors to create a rainbow of volcanoes. 

Place the lemon halves on a tray or plate to catch any spills or overflow. 

Take your spoon and scoop baking soda on top of one of the lemon halves. Start with a small amount and add a generous amount of baking soda into the lemon as needed. 

Create a mound of baking soda on top of the flesh of the lemon. 

Now, it’s time to watch your lemon volcano erupt which is the best part of this science experiment!

Put on safety goggles.

Slowly pour some lemon juice onto the baking soda mound. Use your best judgement for how much juice to use.

As the lemon juice reacts with the baking soda, it will create a fizzy and bubbly acid base as the reaction starts the first round of erupting the citrus volcano, to form carbon dioxide bubbles, which resembles the eruption of a volcano.

The Science Behind Lemon Volcanoes

Lemon volcanoes teach kids about chemical reactions with science fun and make a delightful aromatic science activity.

Kids see a change take place and learn how lemons and baking soda can interact to make new compounds by watching the reaction between the citric acid in lemon juice and the baking soda. 

Their knowledge of fundamental scientific concepts is improved by this practical experience. Children can examine the characteristics of acids and bases through the experiment, in addition. 

They discover that the combination of baking soda and lemon juice can produce a neutralization reaction since baking soda is a base and lemon juice is an acid. 

The analysis of the cause-and-effect relationship between the elements and children’s predictions are an important part of this experiment. 

Children an alter the amounts, alter the variables in the lemon volcano experiment, or experiment with other materials to see how the eruption changes, developing their analytical understanding. Adding dish soap is one easy variable to test to make big reactions.

This experiment also fosters a sense of wonder and interest about the natural world. 

When children learn about volcanoes and how they erupt, their interest in geology and the laws of nature grows. It promotes research and education beyond the experiment itself.

Try the activity with multiple lemons at a time.

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Lemon volcano science experiment, simple science for kids.

• June 27, 2020

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The Erupting Lemon Volcano Science Experiment is a favorite in our house and is sure to become a favorite in your home as well!

Kids absolutely love any kind of baking soda and vinegar experiment. This lemon volcano experiment is no exception and is a colorful, hands-on way to explore early chemistry concepts. 

The erupting lemon volcano demonstrates the effects of mixing a base (baking soda) with an acid (lemon juice) to produce a gas (carbon dioxide)! 

Continue reading for the step by step instructions and to shop this project!

Baking Soda

Craft sticks, food coloring, hands-on learning, explores cause and effect, safe way to experiment with a base and an acid , fun and engaging way to explore science, screen-free learning, shop this project.

How to make an Erupting Lemon Volcano

Step 1: roll lemons, before you begin, roll the lemons to break up some of the lemon pulp-allowing for more juice to be released, step 2: cut lemons, cut off both ends of the lemon (so they can lay flat in the tray), cut lemons in half, step 3: place in a try, place lemons in a tray, step 4: break up lemon pulp, using a craft stick, break up the lemon pulp in each lemon half to release more of the lemon juice, step 5: add food coloring, add a few drops of food coloring to each lemon half, step 6: add dish soap, drizzle dish soap to the top of each lemon , step 7: add baking soda, sprinkle baking soda to the tops of each lemon, you will begin to see a small reaction after you add the baking soda, step 8: stir, with a craft stick, stir the baking soda into the lemon to create an erupting chemical reaction, gently squeeze the lemon while you are stirring in the baking soda, step 9: add more baking soda, continue to add more baking soda-stirring it into the lemon with the craft stick, optional: drops of lemon juice, add more baking soda to each lemon , use a pipette to add drops of lemon juice onto the baking soda , what is the science behind the lemon volcano, it’s a chemical reaction, when a base and acid are mixed together- a gas called carbon dioxide is formed causing the bubbling reaction, the baking soda is the base, the lemon is the acid, new vocabulary words to introduce, chemical reaction, carbon dioxide, shop more stem activities for kids, check out these super fun science kits for kids each kit teaches different beginning science and chemistry concepts and will get your kids excited about science, bath bomb science lab.

KiwiCo offers incredibly fun and enriching Science and Art Crates for kids of all ages! KiwiCo crates come with everything you need to create engaging projects with your kids at home. 

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Lemon Volcano

Looking for an easy science experiment using items in your kitchen? Try this fun lemon volcano experiment with kids! You only need a lemon, baking soda and food coloring!

RELATED: Baking Soda Volcano

For an easy kitchen science experiment – try this lemon volcano experiment!

Kids will love learning about the science of base and acid reactions. You don’t need vinegar to do this experiment because the citric acid in the lemon will be your acid!

For another fun science experiment, try this oil and water experiment.

If you don’t have a lemon, see our baking soda volcano experiment that uses vinegar instead.

The Science

What happens when you mix lemon and baking soda?

You see the bubbling and foaming but what is causing this reaction? The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base while the lemon (citric acid) is an acid and what you are seeing is an acid/base reaction. Initially, the reaction makes carbonic acid which is unstable and breaks down into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water which is what creates all of the fizzing and bubbles as the gas leaves the water.

What is Citric Acid? 

Citric acid occurs naturally in lemons. It’s also in limes, oranges, pineapples and other fruits. It is a common additive in food and beverages added to help preserve the food from food spoilage. It is also added to some food and drinks to give a sour taste.

Supplies Needed

• Baking Soda – we like this large 5 lb bag for activities since it’s more economical
• Lemons (use 1/2 lemon per color – if you want to make all 6 colors you’ll need 3 lemons)
• Concentrated Food Coloring – we used orange, green and blue – or you can choose any color you’d like. We like to use this liquid food coloring gel since it’s concentrated and makes the colors really vibrant.
• Dish Soap – any kind should work
• A Popsicle Stick or Spoon
• A Tray – we like these plastic white serving trays for messy experiments or sensory play

Watch the Video Tutorial

How to make a lemon volcano.

1. Cut the lemons.

Start by cutting off a small part on the bottom of the lemon so that the lemon will stand up. Note: Adults to do the cutting portion of the experiment.

2. Add some baking soda to the top of each lemon.

You don’t have to measure exactly but approximately 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda to the top of the lemon will work well.

Another Method

Another way to do this experiment is to scoop out the lemon juice from inside the lemon and put it into a squeeze bottle. Then, add the baking soda directly into the empty lemons and have kids squeeze the lemon juice on top of it.

3. Add a few drops of food coloring on top.

To prevent the food coloring from dropping down the side of the lemon, make a small space in the baking soda for it to sit in.

4. To make the volcano more bubbly, add a drop of dish soap on top.

This is optional but it makes the volcano more bubbly.

5. Use a popsicle stick to mix it all together.

Note: food coloring can stain hands so kids can wear gloves or use large popsicle sticks to avoid touching the food coloring.

Kids will love mixing the baking soda and lemon together to create these mini volcanoes using science.

This experiment is a really fun way to see how baking soda reacts with lemon juice!

To keep the volcano going, you can use extra lemons to make lemon juice and use a squeeze bottle or dropper to add more lemon juice onto the lemons.

To see a version without lemons and learn about color mixing – see our regular baking soda volcano experiment !

More Science Experiments:

• Try this fun and easy Grow a Rainbow Experiment . You only need washable markers and paper towel!
• For another fun experiment, make some oobleck!  
• Try a rainbow rain cloud in the jar experiment!

More Science Experiments

Fireworks in a Jar

Color Changing Flowers

Fluffy Slime Recipe

How to Make Oobleck

Related ideas:.

How to Make Slime With Contact Solution

Grow a Rainbow Experiment

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Erupting Lemon Volcano Experiment

Learn how to make a lemon volcano! This erupting lemon volcano with dish soap is incredible chemistry. We enjoy all kinds of simple science experiments using common household ingredients.

How To Make An Erupting Lemon Volcano

Ensure the following supplies are on your grocery shopping list, and you will be ready for an engaging chemistry activity anytime.

• Lemons (grab a few!)
• Baking Soda
• Food Coloring
• Dawn Dish Soap
• Plate, Tray, or Bowl
•  Craft Sticks
• Lemon Juice (optional: pick up a small bottle or use the juice from another lemon)

STEP 1: First, you need to place half of a lemon into a bowl or plate that will catch the mess when it erupts.

You can juice the other half of the lemon to add to the erupting lemon volcano which you will read about below. Or you can set up two at a time! 

EXPERIMENT: Try this with a variety of citrus fruits to see which produces the best eruption! What’s your guess?

STEP 2: Next, take your craft stick and poke holes in the various sections of the lemon. This will help get the reaction started in the beginning.

STEP 3: Now you can place drops of food coloring around the different sections on the top of the lemon.

Alternating with different colors of food coloring will give a fun effect. However, you can also stick with just a couple of colors or even one-color! 

STEP 4: Pour some Dawn dish soap all over the top of the lemon.

What does dish soap do? Adding dish soap to a reaction like this produces some foam and bubbles! It’s not necessary, but a fun element to add if you can.

STEP 5: Go ahead and sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the top of the lemon.

Then use a craft stick to press some of the baking soda down into the different sections of the lemon to get the eruption going.

Wait a few minutes for the reaction to begin taking place. Slowly, your lemon will begin to erupt into a variety of colors. Additionally, you can use the craft stick to mash the lemon and baking soda around a bit more!

Did you know that you can make fizzy lemonade for edible science?

You can add some baking soda after the first round of erupting takes place to continue the reaction !

TIP: This experiment produces a prolonged eruption of color. If you would like things to move a bit faster or to be more dramatic, you can also pour a little extra lemon juice on top of the lemon .

Volcano Science

We love everything that erupts! Some of our favorite volcanos with baking soda and vinegar include apple volcano , pumpkin volcano , and a Lego volcano ! We have even tried erupting volcano slime .

💡 NOTE: If you want to learn more about how real volcanoes work, learn volcano facts and set up a volcano demonstration here.

What is the Science Behind the Lemon Volcano?

Let’s keep it basic for our younger or junior scientists! When you mix the baking soda with the lemon juice, it combines together to form a gas called carbon dioxide, producing the fizzing eruption you can see.

This chemical reaction occurs because an acid {the lemon juice} mixes with a base {baking soda}. When the two combine, the reaction occurs, and the gas is created.

If you add dish soap, you will notice a more foamy eruption like in our  watermelon volcano .

Our exploding lemon volcano is simple chemistry you can do at home or in the classroom that isn’t too crazy, but is still lots of fun for kids!

Free Printable Science Activities Guide

Use The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is tested with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity. Here’s how to apply it:

💡 To learn more about the scientific method, click here.

• Compare the reaction using various acidic fruits like oranges, limes, or grapefruits instead of just lemons.
• Change the amount of baking soda added to the lemon to observe how it affects the reaction.
• Investigate how the temperature of the lemon juice affects the reaction.
• Test whether the size of the cavity in the lemon (where the baking soda is placed) affects the eruption.
• Investigate how different bases react with the lemon juice to create the volcano effect. Instead of just using baking soda, try other bases like washing soda, baking powder, or even toothpaste.

💡 Learn more about setting up a science fair project [here].

What Else Can You Do With Lemons?

Grab the free instant lemon activities guide below to get started!

More Fun Science Experiments

Check out our big list of science experiments for even more ideas!

• Homemade Lava Lamp
• Egg in Vinegar Experiment
• Oobleck Recipe
• Salt Water Density with Eggs
• Osmosis Science Projects

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
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Hi thanks for this. We had fun noticing the lemons needed to be poked a lot! One point we would like to add is slicing the tip of the lemon off Would help it would sit better. Also, citric is spelled incorrectly.

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RAINBOW LEMON VOLCANO EXPERIMENT

By: Author Agnes Hsu

Posted on Last updated: June 16, 2020

Categories Create , Latest

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Watch the video below to see this fun  Rainbow Lemon Volcano Experiment in action .  Make sure to subscribe to our  YouTube channel  for more fun videos!

This rainbow lemon volcano experiment is a colorful science experiment kids can make with just a few household ingredients and smells great!

We have been loving baking soda experiments lately and this Rainbow Lemon Volcano Experiment is no exception! Unlike our Giant Baking Soda Balloon or Rainbow Baking Soda Volcano , this experiment smells really great and not all of vinegar! 

What we love about these easy science experiments for kids at home is that they requires basic household kitchen ingredients like baking soda so you can start creating and learning right away.

What do you need to make these lemon volcanoes?

The basic ingredients you need are just lemons and and baking soda! You can add colors to make them rainbow via gel colors, or you can also add additional lemon/vinegar juice to make crazier eruptions! You can also add dish soap to make it super fizzy!

What causes the baking soda volcano reaction?

Like our rainbow baking soda volcano experiment , this is experiment is an acid/base reaction. Lemon is acidic and baking soda is a base. When you mix an acid with a base, two new chemicals form, carbonic acid and sodium acetate. The new acid then decomposes into water and carbon dioxide which causes bubbling. 

What creates this lemon volcano is when you mix the lemon juices with the baking soda. We added dish soap to make it extra foamy and food coloring to make them rainbow. 

Rainbow Lemon Volcano Experiment – Materials: 

Lemons , baking soda, food coloring (we recommend  gel colors  for vibrancy instead of water base), lemon juice, a plastic bin to keep the volcano mess contained, popsicle sticks or any utensils will do.

The video will show you the process but it’s as simple as adding baking soda, food coloring  and dish soap to cut lemons! You can make it extra fizzy and create epic eruptions by adding a blend of lemon juice and vinegar. 

INSTRUCTIONS 

(Watch the video in the post)

Step 1. Cut your lemons in half. It helps to cut the tip off one end so the cut lemon stays upright. Save some halves for lemon juice.

Step 2. add your cut lemons inside a plastic bin. with the other halves not in the bin, squeeze lemon juice out of them and add to a separate container, diluted with half vinegar. set that aside for your experiment. you could use all lemon juice but we thought it was a waste of good juice so we diluted half with vinegar instead. , step 3. use a popsicle stick or any utensil to cut through the upright lemons in the bin, you just want to start releasing some juice for the experiment to work. , step 4. add a few drops of food coloring, one color per lemon, in rainbow order. , step 5. add about a tablespoon of baking soda over each lemon half., step 6. to erupt the lemons and create a volcano you can do this one of two ways. you can 1) use a popsicle stick and mix in the baking soda so it comes into contact with the lemon juice as you break it down. this results in a small volcano. you can also help it along with pouring the lemon juice/vinegar mixture on top of the lemons you can do this in a grand way as shown in the video by pouring over all lemons, or you can pour over just one and then continue to use the popsicle sticks to keep watching it foam and fizz. .

You can continue to add more gel colors, dish soap, baking soda and lemon juice/vinegar after the first eruption. Keep erupting those lemon volcanoes!

Test theories out with your kids. What happens when we add more or less of an ingredient? 

This is such a fun science experiment that smells so great as you’re creating! 

If you love this Rainbow LemonVolcano Experiment, check out some more fun science experiments

Rainbow bubble snakes, giant balloon baking soda experiment, rainbow volcano experiment .

Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.

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Summer School with Live Science: Lemon volcanoes

This Friday (June 11), we will explore the eruptive realm of acid-base chemistry in our new kids video series: Summer School with Live Science.

In this week's installment, Live Science producer, Diana Whitcroft, will demonstrate the reaction between sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and citric acid (lemon juice, in this case). This fun experiment is a great way to introduce young minds to the world of chemistry .  

Every Friday at 3 p.m. EDT (12 p.m. PDT), Diana will host Summer School With Live Science, which you can find live on Live Science's Facebook , YouTube and Twitter pages. Every week, the series will explore a different field of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) through simple hands-on experiments that you and your child can follow along with at home. 

Disclaimer: It is strongly advised that all science experiments, recipes and methods be attempted only under adult supervision. Adults are required to handle or assist with any potentially harmful utensils and ingredients. Always wash hands thoroughly after trying any experiment. Avoid touching your face and eyes when performing any experiments, and if possible, wear glasses or safety goggles. Do not ingest any of the ingredients during or after performing this experiment.

Lemon Volcanoes: Materials

Age Range: 5-10 years

• Tray or Cookie sheet
• Paper (optional)
• Cutting knife
• Popsicle stick
• Food coloring
• Baking soda

Step One: Prep Your Work Station

Place your tray on a surface that has been well-covered with newspaper. Optional: Place paper on your tray; this is where you'll be erupting your volcanoes and if the paper catches the colorful liquid, you can turn it into artwork.

Step Two: Ready Your Lemon

Have an adult cut a small portion of the bottom off the lemon so that it stands upright. Then, cut off the top of the lemon, exposing the inside pulp and juice. Using your popsicle stick, mash the inside of the lemon so that the "meat" or fleshy interior is completely pushed down and the lemon is filled with mostly juice. Be careful not to puncture the lemon rind.

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Step Three: Choose a Color

Squeeze a few drops of your food coloring into your lemon. The amount of food coloring you use is dependent on the size of your lemon and how much juice it yields. Small lemons with very little juice: 2-3 drops. Large lemons with a lot of juice: 4-5 drops. Try different color combinations and see what comes out! You can even erupt two or three lemons at a time for a tie-dye effect on your paper. Then, give a good squirt of dish soap into your lemon.

Step Four: Erupt Your Volcano

Using your spoon, sprinkle into your lemon a few teaspoons of baking soda. Again, depending on the size of your lemon, you'll need to adjust the amount. Small lemons with little juice: 2-3 tsp. Large lemons with a lot of juice: 4-5 tsp. Right away, you should see bubbling and fizzing, but it is likely that you'll need to use your spoon or popsicle stick to better mix the juice and baking soda. Your lemons will now start to overflow with colorful bubbles. 

Document this experience and send images to us either on social media or to [email protected] . We'd love to see your results so that we can feature them in our photo gallery!

Step Five: Paint!

Now that the explosive fun is over, it's time to get creative. Using your hands, a paint brush or even sponges, create your own works of art from the colorful liquid left behind on the paper. Simply remove your lemons and go to town! Be sure not to over-paint your paper. Combining your colors too much will turn your colorful canvas into a big grey blob, (unless of course you really like the color grey!).

The science behind lemon volcanoes

When the baking soda was added to the lemon juice, it bubbled and foamed. That is because when sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and citric acid (lemon juice) are combined, they react by forming carbon dioxide gas as well as a chemical compound called sodium citrate. It's the carbon dioxide that causes all those bubbles (remember CO2 is the gas that makes your can of soda or seltzer water fizz). We know that carbon dioxide is the primary gas we exhale when breathing. It occurs naturally in Earth's atmosphere and is emitted by natural sources like geysers (and volcanoes) as well as industrial processes. 

Sodium citrate is the sodium derived from citric acid. It is used in a variety of everyday items. It is used as an anticoagulant for blood products, as well as an acidity regulator in food.

Diana Whitcroft joined Live Science and Space.com in the fall of 2017. After receiving a B.F.A in Directing & Producing for Film and Television, she worked as a video editor at CNBC in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. During her time in broadcast television, she created a role for herself as a "Science Preditor" in which she produced and edited content specific to the business aspect of the private sector space industry. Searching for a deeper role within the science journalism sector, Diana came to  Space.com  and Live Science as a Social Media Producer, handling multimedia content for all social pages. She is a hardcore trekkie, comic nerd, environmentalist, video-gamer and all-around space geek.

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Citrus Volcanoes Experiment

Materials you’ll need.

• Baking soda
• Plate or tray

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1: Grab a grownup and have them slice your fruit in half. Set one half to the side.

Step 2: Using a fork, poke the fruit’s flesh to make it even juicier.

Step 3: Sprinkle a spoonful of baking soda over the top of your fruit halves. Your volcano should start to erupt!

Tip! If your reaction isn’t strong enough, try squeezing the juice of the other half of your fruit over your volcano to get the fizz started.

This is a citrus twist on the well-known baking soda/vinegar volcano! The acidity of vinegar fuels this classic reaction, so we’ll be replacing it with another acidic item: fruit. The juice from citrus fruits contains citric acid which, when mixed with a base (like baking soda), reacts to form bubbles made of carbon dioxide gas. When using fruits that are more acidic for our volcanoes, we get bigger reactions! But fruits that are sweeter, or less acidic, create a smaller reaction.

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