Expanding Glove Experiment

How can a glove just inflate like that?

In this experiment, we will be using a carbonated soda drink to expand a flexible container. What is making the glove expand?

Materials

Let's get started!

1 one-liter bottle of carbonated soda (or larger)

It can be any type or brand of soda, as long as it is carbonated this experiment can work!

1 rubber glove (or small uninflated balloon)

1 big rubber band

Steps:

1. First open the bottle of soda (and be careful not to shake it!)

2. Take the glove and put it over the bottle of soda while the soda’s lid is off

3. Take the rubber band and tightly wrap it around the glove so that the glove becomes airtight

4. Wait for an hour or two and watch as the glove fills up with carbon dioxide from the soda!

Conclusion

How does that even happen?

When soda companies like Coca-Cola make their soda, they make carbon dioxide fuse with the water (that means that the carbon dioxide is added like an ingredient into the soda). What you see and hear when you open a bottle of soda are the bubbles of carbon-dioxide coming back out of the soda. When you use a glove to trap the carbon-dioxide, the gas fills up the glove, making it become larger and inflated just like a balloon!

Video

If you had trouble doing this project using the listed steps, you can use this video to help you finish your project!