Soda Pop Potion - Another Crack At Homemade Cola

The kids have witnessed the fizzy reaction that takes place with a baking soda, acid/base combination, a number of times, in experiments from pop bottle rockets, to simple in the bowl demonstrations. We've never tried carbonating our soft drinks with baking soda before though (using lemon juice instead of vinegar this time). So, when my oldest took interest in the "Soda Pop Potion", on the page of Kid Concoctions & Contraptions, next to the "Super Bubble Ooze", I figured why not give it a try.

We gathered our ingredients:

• 4 Tbs. lemon juice


• 2 tsp. baking soda


• 2 Tbs. confectioner's sugar


• 2 quarts cold water
  

We also added 1 tablespoon of vanilla, and a pinch of cinnamon, hoping to give our concoction a cola, rather than a lemon lime, sort of taste. But, first we did a quick test with a little baking soda, lemon juice, vanilla, and cinnamon, just to make sure there wasn't anything in the vanilla, or cinnamon, that would neutralize the reaction.

Then, we mixed all of our ingredients together, saving the lemon juice for last.

Satisfied, that a reaction was taking place, and we had a fizzy drink, I poured a sample for my oldest - the official taste tester.

Apparently, while the lemon juice did react with the baking soda to produce bubbles, it did nothing to neutralize the baking soda taste.

It's great to be a homeschooler.