There's something almost magical about bubbles, those little bits of almost nothing, which occupy space and reflect a rainbow of colors, before disappearing with a sudden "pop."
What are Bubbles?
Bubbles are balls of air or gas surrounded by a solid or liquid. You might even think of a toy balloon as a kind of bubble. Soap bubbles are a sort of sandwich of water and soap molecules. A thin layer of water is trapped between two layers of soap molecules. These layers are wrapped around air. Because water molecules have a strong attraction for one another, they hold the bubble together with the air or gas trapped inside. A bubble needs air to keep it from collapsing right away.
Why are Soap Bubbles so Colorful?
Bubbles are colorful because their wall reflects light like a prism. When light shines on a bubble the colors of the rainbow become visible. The thicker the bubble solution, the thicker the bubble wall becomes, and the more intense the color.
Recipe for Making Lots of Bubbles
Ingredients:
- 1/2 gallon of water
- 1/2 cup dishwashing liquid (Joy or Dawn works best.)
- 1/4 cup glycerine, corn syrup, or one package (about 1/4 ounce) of unflavored gelatin.
Directions:
- Mix ingredients together in a wide container.
- If using immediately, try not to agitate the solution. Foamy solution does not make the best bubbles. If the solution become too foamy, wait for it to settle.
- Find straws, tea strainers, funnels, sieves, etc. for making bubbles. Dip these in the bubble solution.
- Blow or wave bubbles into the air.
- Store any leftover solution in a a closable container. The bubble solution will get better with age.
Why Is Glycerine, Corn Syrup or Gelatin Added to the Bubble Solution?
When bubbles dry out, they break. Glycerine, corn syrup and powdered gelatin all help to thicken the bubble wall so it can last longer. They also help to slow down the drying process. (Of these three, gelatin is the most changeable. Its unique qualities make it great for use in science activities and children's food recipes.) However, if none of these substances are readily available, try additing 1 Tablespoon of sugar to the bubble solution instead.
A Bubble Experiment
Blow a bubble and put a marble or small toy inside it.
Directions:
- Find a plastic bottle such as a soda pop or liquid detergent bottle.
- Cut off the bottom. (Young children should get assistance from a parent.)
- Cut parallel slits about 1/2 inch apart and 1/2 inch deep all around the cut off portion of the bottle.
- Bend the edges back so that they resemble a flower.
- Wet an area of a tabletop with bubble solution. (Kids be sure to get permission first.)
- Dip the fanned-out end of the bottle into the bubble solution. Hold it near the wet tabletop, and blow a large bubble onto the table.
- Try rolling a wet marble or small plastic toy through the bubble wall and into the center of the bubble.
The above experiment may take several tries. Just remember to keep the rolling toy wet. Adjust the speed and force of the roll until the object comes to rest inside the bubble.
Bubble blowing is an activity that naturally brings on smiles. Participants and onlookers alike enjoy its simple pleasure. Bubble making, though, is more than fun; it's science. But you don't have to tell the kids.
