Super Bubbles!

Instructions

Assembly:

  • Measure 6 cups of warm water into container

  • Pour 1 cup of dish soap into the water

  • Slowly stir until the soap is mixed in, being careful not to let it foam or bubble

  • Add 1 tbsp of glycerin or 1/4 cup of light corn syrup

  • Stir solution until well mixed

  • For best results, let sit over night

Observation:

  • Dip your bubble want into the mixture and BLOW!

Materials

  • Large container with lid

  • 1 cup of dish soap (Joy or blue Dawn brands work best. Do not use Ultra, if possible)

  • 6 cups warm water (distilled preferred)

  • 1 tbsp of glycerin OR 1/4 cup of light corn syrup

Additional Equipment

  • Bubble Wands

  • Pro-Tip! Use pipe cleaners to create your own bubble wands and experiment with shape and size!

Questions:

  • What kind of surfaces are best for catching bubbles, and why?

  • How could the shape of the bubble wand affect the shape of the bubble?

  • How does the concentration of a substance, like glycerin or corn syrup, in the bubble solution affect how long a bubble lasts?

  • Can you design a bubble want that creates the largest possible bubble?

What is happening?

The soap mixture on the outside of a bubble is made of three very thin layers: soap, water, and another layer of soap. This "sandwich" on the outside of a bubble is called soap film. A bubble pops when the water that is trapped between the layers of soap evaporates.

When you mixed the glycerin or corn syrup with the soap, it made it thicker. The thicker bubble keeps the water from evaporating as quickly making them last longer.