Classroom Science

Here's a picture of Larien holding our chilly hand experiment. It's really simple. It's a reaction of acetic acid (vinegar) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Mixing the two together results in the release of carbon dioxide gas that fills up the latex glove. The reaction is endothermic; you can feel the chill of the reaction. The real trick is to make up a spooky story while you hide the limp, chemical filled glove behind your back. After I do the demonstration, I let the kids make their own chilly hand. We had fun.

Here's the chemical equation:
NaHCO₃(s) + CH₃COOH(aq) → CH₃COONa(aq) + CO₂(g) +H₂O(l)