Hooked on Science: Ghost bubbles

We've all played with bubbles, but are there ghosts inside of yours?

MATERIALS

* Rubbermaid MixerMate clear 2-quart bottle with chili red lid

* half-inch vinyl tube

* Dishwashing liquid

* Warm water

* Dry ice

* Fuzzy glove

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: Attach the vinyl tube to the Rubbermaid MixerMate clear 2-quart bottle chili red lid.

STEP 2: Pour warm water into the bottle, add a few pieces of dry ice, and then secure the lid.

STEP 3: Place the fuzzy glove on your hand, put the end of the tube into the dishwashing liquid, and hold the tube over your hand allowing the bubble to fall on the fuzzy glove.

STEP 3: Pop the bubble and observe.

EXPLANATION

When dry ice is placed into the warm water, a cloud forms. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide gas and is -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit. As dry ice breaks down it turns directly into carbon dioxide gas. In science this process is called sublimation. The bubbles are filled with the cloud, which is created by the dry ice sublimating. When you pop the bubble the cloud rushes out, which looks like a ghost.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.