Chemical Volcanoes

There are several ways to model volcanic eruptions using simple chemical reactions. Here's a collection of some of the best chemical volcano recipes that you can use for a volcano demonstration or make just for fun.

The baking soda and vinegar volcano is the classic chemical volcano that you see at science fairs. Watch how easy it is to make a chemical volcano that produces a memorable eruption.

Making a baking soda and vinegar volcano is safe and easy, plus it only requires a few inexpensive kitchen ingredients. Here are detailed instructions for making a volcano, plus a look at the chemical reactions involved.

Okay, it's the kitchen equivalent of a volcano, not a real one. The 'eruption' is cool all the same! It's also more or less non-toxic, which adds to its appeal. These are one-page, quick instructions.

Here are the instructions for making the classic chemical volcano. This demonstration uses ammonium dichromate to produce 'Vesuvius fire', with glowing sparks and a cone of deep green ash.

This chemical volcano features lava that changes color. The chemical volcano can be used to illustrate an acid-base reaction and the use of an acid-base indicator.

The elephant toothpaste chemistry demonstration produces copious amounts of steaming foam that looks like the toothpaste an elephant might use. Here's how to set up this demonstration and a look at the reactions behind it.

Kick the traditional smoke bomb recipe up a notch to make a firework fountain that shoots purple flames with lots of smoke. This is a fun and easy homemade firework project.

It's easy to make a mentos and soda eruption glow. All you need to do is use tonic water or diet tonic water instead of the usual diet soda and shine a black light on the fountain.

The acetic acid in ketchup reacts with baking soda to produce an extra-special type of lava for a chemical volcano. This is a non-toxic volcano recipe that is sure to please!

The elephant toothpaste demo produces a growing column of foam that looks like what you would get if an elephant squashed a giant tube of toothpaste. Here's a kid-friendly version of this classic chemistry demonstration.

The lemon fizz project is a fun bubbly science project using kitchen ingredients that’s ideal for kids to try.

Candies and diet soda together can make a chemical 'volcano' with an eruption several feet high. If the normal baking soda volcano is too tame for you, give this project a try.

This wax and sand chemical volcano is a realistic model volcano that is easy to make and erupts much like a real volcano.

Ordinary table sugar and sulfuric acid react to produce a growing black column. This demonstration is an example of an exothermic reaction and a dehydration reaction. It is good for discussions about the nature of carbohydrates, hydrogen bonds, and carbon properties.

Here's how to make a safe and easy chemical volcano using two common inexpensive household ingredients.