Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Never Run Out of Bubbles - Summer Fun

Never a need to run out of bubbles when you have this inexpensive recipe.  And with this great storage idea, the kids can do the refills themselves.


Recipes  - her's many ideas for you to try.  See what works best for you.

 1/4 cup liquid dishwashing detergent
3/4 cup cold water
5 drops of glycerin
(available in pharmacies or chemical supply houses)


1/2 cup of dishwashing liquid
2 cups of water
2 teaspoons of sugar


 2/3 cup dishwashing soap
1 gallon water
2 to 3 tablespoons of glycerin


Here is a complete and super recipe, along with how to instructions about EVERYTHING needed.  This is a true bubble science project.  

Super Soap Bubble Solution

You can blow bubbles with any mixture of soap and water, but add a "secret" ingredient and you'll get bigger and stronger bubbles! Just follow this recipe.
Materials:
  • Liquid dish soap (Joy or Dawn brands work best. Try to find one that doesn't say "Ultra")
  • Distilled water (tap water is okay, but distilled water makes the best bubbles)
  • Clean container with lid
  • Glycerin or light corn syrup
What To Do:
  1. Measure 6 cups of water into one container, then pour 1 cup of dish soap into the water and slowly stir it until the soap is mixed in. Try not to let foam or bubbles form while you stir.
  2. Measure 1 tablespoon of glycerin or 1/4 cup of corn syrup and add it to the container. Stir the solution until it is mixed together.
  3. You can use the solution right away, but to make even better bubbles, put the lid on the container and let your super bubble solution sit overnight.  (Note: If you used "Ultra" dish soap, double the amount of glycerin or corn syrup.)
  4. Dip a bubble wand* or straw into the mixture, slowly pull it out, wait a few seconds, and then blow. How big of a bubble can you make? How many bubbles can you make in one breath?
*You can make your own bubble wand by cutting off the end of the bulb of a plastic pipet. Dip the cut end in solution and blow through the narrow end.
components of a bubbleWhat's Happening?
The soap mixture on the outside of a bubble is actually made of three very thin layers: soap, water, and another layer of soap. This "sandwich" that is on the outside of a bubble is called a soap film. A bubble pops when the water that is trapped between the layers of soap evaporates. The glycerin or corn syrup mixes with the soap to make it thicker.  The thicker skin of the glycerin bubbles keeps the water from evaporating as quickly, so they last longer. It also makes them stronger, so you can blow bigger bubbles. 
Bubbles That Don't Pop!
After you make the super bubble solution and let it set for at least one day, try doing this cool bubble trick!
  1. Set the lid of your bubble container on the table so that the part with the lip is facing up. Fill the lid with bubble solution.
  2. Dip a straw into the bubble solution container so that it is wet half way up the straw. Touch the straw to the lid and blow a bubble on the lid. Slowly pull the straw all the way out of the bubble.
  3. Now dip the pointed end of a pair of scissors into the container of bubble solution. Make sure they are completely wet. Poke the scissors through the wall of your bubble. Watch what happens. Try it again with other pointed objects (pencils, etc.), just make sure anything you touch to the bubble is wet. Can you stick your finger through the bubble?
What's Happening?
You should have been able to push the scissors through the wall of the bubble without popping it. When something wet touches a bubble, it doesn't poke a hole in the wall of the bubble, it just slides through and the bubble forms right around it. The bubble solution on the scissors filled in the hole that would have been made. If you try poking dry scissors through your bubble, you will see it pop instantly! (If it popped when you put the wet scissors in, something was probably too dry. Try it again and make sure anything that touches the bubble is completely wet with bubble solution.)
Try a couple more tricks:
  • Make a big dome bubble on the lid like you did above, then get the straw wet again, insert it into the bubble, and see if you can blow a smaller bubble inside the bigger one!
  • Get one hand completely wet in the bubble solution then use the other hand to hold your bubble blower and blow a big bubble in the palm of your wet hand

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