Easy, Fun, and Safe Explosions

No, I haven’t lost my mind.  The kids think this activity is a real hoot.  Its simple, its cheap, and all ages enjoy it.  Just buy lots of alka selzer tablets!

Supplies:

Alka Selzer Tablets (generic work fine and are cheaper)
Empty Film Canisters (clear ones work best)
Hot Water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Draw a line around bottom of film canister about 1 cm from bottom (a little less than 1/2" for the metrically impaired).   This helps you to fill the film canister over and over again without having to remeasure each time.
2. Fill up to that line with very warm tap water.  You could fill up a container of very warm water into a pitcher and take it with you outside so that you don’t have to keep running in and out for water.
3. Place one quarter of an alka seltzer tablet in the canister and immediately secure lid, turn upside down and place on sidewalk/driveway or similar surface in open, outdoor area
4. Stand back and wait for the "explosion" as the gases build up and the film canister bottom goes FLYING, sometimes as high as 20 feet.

This is tremendously fun for children’s parties or as a science fair experiment going on outside.

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