Simple Science Activity: Dry Ice Smoke Rings and Bubbles

Continuing on from our previous dry ice experiments – this is what you get when your sons have a geeky aunt…

Read this! Dry ice safety information:

• direct skin contact with dry ice causes the same damage as a heat burn – always use protective gloves when handling dry ice
• keep the room well ventilated because carbon dioxide from dry ice displaces oxygen and can lead to a suffocation hazard
• do not store dry ice in an air tight container because the pressure from the carbon dioxide gas can cause the container to explode
• do not store dry ice in your freezer because the extremely cold temperature will cause the thermostat to shut off the freezer

Dry Ice Smoke Rings

Here’s what you need:

• 2 plastic cups with a hole cut out in the bottom (as shown)
• some dry ice
• two rubber bands
• a roll of plastic wrap (like the kind you use to wrap left over food)
• warm water

What you do:

• put a piece of dry ice into the cup
• cover the open end with some clear wrap
• hold the clear wrap in place with the rubber band
• turn the cup upside-down
• add water into the hole that has been cut-out

Tap the end with the clear wrap and make smoke rings…

We got this from Sick Science! Watch the video:

Dry Ice Bubble

What you will need:

• dry ice
• a cup or bowl
• warm water
• wet cloth
• dish washing detergent

What you do:

• put a piece of dry ice into the cup
• add some water
• add detergent to the cloth
• run the cloth over the lip of the cup so it forms a soap bubble
• watch the carbon dioxide gas push against the soap bubble to form a “crystal ball”

We got this one from the Crazy Russian Hacker. Watch the video:

Related:

• Resources for Science Experiments
• More Simple Science Experiments you can do at home