Fluffy Soap
In this activity, you will
discover the properties of bar soap and compare how various brands differ in this simple and surprising science experiment.
Supplies Required
Bowl of water
Bar of soap: Lever 2000
Bar of soap: IVORY
Bar of Soap: Olay
Bar of Soap: Dial
Bar of Soap: Irish Spring
Microwave-safe Plate
The Challenge
Ivory soap is made by whipping a whole bunch of air into the mixture. Little air pockets get trapped in the soap, making it light and fluffy. The air pockets make the soap less dense than water, so the soap floats. When Ivory soap is cooked in the microwave, it expands like a soap soufflé. This happens because water molecules stuck in the air pockets heat up and turn into water vapor. The water vapor escapes from the soap mixture, making it puff up and expand as it goes. Other brands of soap have varying degrees of air whipped into them. How are they similar to/different from Ivory brand soap?
Problem and Hypothesis
[contact-form-7 id="18628" title="STEM book form SCI 1"]Let’s Experiment and Build!
Instructions
- Place the bar of Ivory soap into the bowl of water to see if it sinks or floats. Record your observations.
- Test out the other bars of soap one by one to discover if they sink or float.
- Place the bar of Ivory soap on a microwave-safe dish. Cook it in the microwave for 1 minute, watching it through the door of the microwave. What happens? **Caution: The soap will be hot when it comes out of the microwave, so be careful not to touch it right away. If at any point you smell something burning in the microwave, turn it off immediately.**
- Place the other bars of soap one by one in the microwave for 1 minute. (Remember: If you smell any burning soap, turn off the microwave immediately.) Record your observations of each brand.
- Observations: Is there a relationship between the density of a bar of soap and how it behaves when it is cooked in the microwave?
Experiment, Analysis, and Conclusion
[contact-form-7 id="18626" title="STEM book form SCI 2"]Think about it and Additional Resources
Now Try This! Weigh the bar of soap before and after it is cooked in the microwave. Does the weight change? Why?
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#FluffySoap
#ProjectExploration
#StemAtHome
Tag a friend and challenge them to do it, too!
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Call or text us for help: 312-772-6634
In these videos, you will learn…
- More about molecules
- More about how to make soap