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Lemon Volcanoes 
Target Age: Any 
Topics: Biochemistry 
Concepts: Reactions  
Estimated Time: 15 minutes  
 
Brief Description:  
Lemon contains citric acid and when you add baking soda it begins to fizzle, flowing 
out of the lemon. You add more colors to make it colorful, add dish soap to increase 
the length of explosion, or add more lemon juice to create a more violent explosion.  
 
The Science Behind It: 
● Lemon is a citrus fruit - contains citric acid  
● Why is soda fizzy? contains dissolved carbon dioxide  
● When we add baking soda it reacts to form carbon dioxide which causes the 
liquid to fizz 
 
Safety: 
This experiment is very low risk, just make sure no child tries to eat the lemon  
 
Materials: 
● Lemons  
● Baking soda  
● Lemon juice  
● Food coloring 
● Popsicle sticks  
● Dish soap  
● Tray  
● Cups  
● Spoons 
● Knife  
 
Procedure: 
1. Slice the bottom of the lemon & remove core 
2. Place lemon on tray & mush inside  
3. Place food coloring in the lemon  
4. Add dish soap & lemon juice to lemon  
5. Add baking soda & stir  
 SciExcite Inc. 
www.SciExcite.org 
SciExcite@gmail.com 
www.Facebook.com/SciExcite 
 
 
Discussion Questions: 
● Why does the lemon bubble and fizz?  
● What happens when you mix baking soda & lemon juice?