Science Experiments for Adults with Special Needs | Lemon Volcanoes

Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate enough to have some of the most astounding sights nature has to offer. Among these sights are a plethora of mountains such as Mount Rainier, Mount Saint Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Shasta, Glacier Peak, and Mount Baker.  Some of our mountains, for example, Mount Saint Helens, are still active volcanoes.

At Stephen’s Place, we have a few different volcano arts and crafts and experiments that we enjoy doing. One of these activities is a science experiment called Lemon Volcanoes. For this activity, the magic is in the chemical reaction that takes place between the acidity in the lemon juice and the baking powder. Specifically, the reaction happens when the citric acid in the lemon juice mixes with sodium bicarbonate (a.k.a baking powder). You can get a similar effect by using vinegar and baking powder (interestingly, this also makes a fantastic bathroom cleaner when mixed with dish soap).

To make lemon volcanoes, you will need:

• 2 Lemons per Volcano
• Baking Soda
• Food Coloring
• Craft Sticks
• Dish Soap
• Knife
• Tray
• Cup

Instructions

1. First of all, juice one of your two lemons into a cup and set aside. This will provide extra lemon juice to keep your volcano going later.
   
2. Next, you’ll want to slice the bottom of the other lemon off to make it look like a volcano, as well as to keep it sturdy while you’re experimenting.
   
3. Core your lemon on the opposite side to the side you just cut.  You want it to look like the top of a volcano (see image above).
   
4. Put your cored lemon in the center of the tray.
   
5. Use the craft stick to push inside of the top opening and mash the inside of the lemon.  Be sure to keep as much lemon juice inside of the lemon as possible.
   
6. Next up, pick your favorite food coloring and add a few drops to the center of the lemon opening.
   
7.  Optional: Add a decent squeeze of dish soap into your lemon. This step is to make your chemical reaction frothier and last longer.
   
8. This is where it gets good! Add a spoonful of baking soda into the lemon. As it starts to react, stir the lemon juice you already have inside of the lemon.
   
9. To keep your volcano erupting for longer, you can add more baking soda and more lemon juice (from the stock you set aside in the cup earlier). You can also add different food colorings to make a spectacular array of eruptions!

Note: Squeezing the lemon will also make it react more, as will stirring it with the craft stick.

And there you have it! An easy peasy and fun way to spend a couple of hours.

About Stephen’s Place

Stephen’s Place is an independent apartment community for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, located in Vancouver, WA (7 minutes from Portland, OR).

If you have a loved one with developmental or intellectual disabilities, who is looking for a community to live in, please contact us for more information. 

Stephen’s Place is a private-pay apartment community due to our state-of-the-art amenities and programs. We are a nonprofit and do not profit from our community. We are private pay because we spend more than some housing communities to ensure that our residents are comfortable and can safely live their lives with independence and dignity.