🧪 Science with Sarah: carbon sugar snakes 🔥🐍

Watch the video of Sarah’s school science experience at STEM Academy Neisd in the video player above.

Are you looking for something fun to do at home that has a little science behind it? This carbon sugar snake is a great way to show chemical reactions.

Make sure you consult GMSA @ 9 on Wednesday when the meteorologist Ksat Sarah Spievey demonstrates and explains science behind it. To display, click on the video player above. Discover our Science web page with Sarah For more fun scientific experiences!

Here is what you will need

For snake sugar

Pie kit
Sand
Soda bicarbonate (1 teaspoon)
Powder sugar (4 teaspoons)
Bol to mix – Small
Lighter liquid – or ethanol
Lighter

For safety

Glasses
A hair tie (if you have long hair)
A nearby fire extinguisher
Adult supervision

Experience

Step 1: Pour the sand into a mound in the pie
Step 2: Make a divot at the top of the mound
Step 3: In a mixture bowl, mix 4 teaspoons of powdered sugar with 1 teaspoon of baking soda baking soda
Step 4: Dip the divot of the sand mound in a lighter liquid
Step 5: Pour the soda / sugar baking soda mixture
Step 6: Dimin and light the lighter liquid with the lighter
Step 7: Look at the black bubbles form. Wait 5-7 minutes and a longer carbon “snake” should form

To turn off: Cover the heat with another pie or turn off with water. Make sure the fire is completely off before throwing everything

Why it works

Sugar is made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. When burned, it produces carbon dioxide and water vapor. These gases raise the snake. When we add baking soda, more gas are created. Soda bicarbonate also prevents sugar from burning completely, the creation of black carbon – or charcoal. This is why the snake is black.