S.T.E.A.M. | The Unstoppable, Unpoppable Bubble!

Get Moving With Thibodaux Regional Health System | Healthy Habits for Children
August 5, 2020
All-Star of the Month | Allie Trahan
August 5, 2020
Get Moving With Thibodaux Regional Health System | Healthy Habits for Children
August 5, 2020
All-Star of the Month | Allie Trahan
August 5, 2020

We all know how to make basic bubbles, either with the solution from the store or even bubble bath for your tub. Bubbles are made of two simple things: an outside layer that is mostly composed of a thin film of water, and some air.

Adding soap and corn syrup to water helps make stronger bubbles, because soap and corn syrup molecules can squeeze in between water molecules and help the film of water stretch out without breaking.

When a dry pencil touches a bubble, the water in the bubble’s skin sticks to the dry pencil, breaking the skin and causing the bubble to pop! If a pencil is coated in soapy water, however, the skin of the bubble will merge with that soapy coating and it won’t pop!


What You’ll Need:

  • Water (4 parts)
  • Dish soap (1 part)
  • Corn syrup (2 parts)
  • Straw
  • Pencil
  • Food coloring – optional

What To Do:

STEP 1

Fill a bowl with water. Add a few drops of food coloring to see the water better!

STEP 2


Mix in the dish soap.

STEP 3

Mix in the corn syrup.


STEP 4

Experiment with your unpoppable bubbles! Dip the tip of the pencil into the mixture. Then, dip one end of the straw into the mixture and blow into the other end to make a bubble. Try to pop it with the pencil. You can use other objects such as paper clips or even a coin, as long as it’s coated in the solution.

Tips:

  • To blow really awesome bubbles, use a wide straw (like a boba or bubble tea straw)!
  • Swirl the straw around in the solution really good before picking it up to blow.
  • This should be an outside experiment as it can get messy!
  • Blow veerrry slowly!