kaBOOm Exploding Baggie Ghosts Chemistry Activity

Looking for a chemistry experiment that will get your kids excited about science?

This KaBOOm Exploding Baggie Ghosts activity combines chemistry, problem-solving, creativity, and a little bit of suspense into one unforgettable STEM experience. Using just a few common household materials, kids will create a chemical reaction powerful enough to inflate a sealed bag until it suddenly pops!

While this experiment looks like pure fun (and let’s be honest, the explosion is definitely the highlight), it also provides a hands-on opportunity to explore acids, bases, gases, and chemical reactions.

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My original goal was to teach the kids how chemical reactions create new substances and produce observable changes.

The kids had a different goal.

They wanted to make something explode.

So we spent some time talking about acids, bases, reactants, products, and chemical equations. I may have talked about chemistry a little longer than they would have preferred. There were probably a few dramatic sighs and eye rolls along the way.

Then the bag expanded.

And expanded.

And expanded.

And suddenly…

KaBOOm!

The reactions on their faces were priceless.

The best STEM activities are the ones that make kids forget they’re learning, and this exploding baggie experiment does exactly that.

Important Safety Note: This activity should always be completed outdoors and with adult supervision.

Why Kids Love Exploding Baggie Experiments

There is something incredibly exciting about predicting what will happen during a science experiment and then watching it unfold in real time.

This activity captures children’s attention because it combines:

• A surprising chemical reaction
• Hands-on learning
• Prediction and observation
• Creativity and design
• Safe outdoor fun
• A dramatic result

Students become scientists as they make hypotheses, conduct an experiment, collect observations, and analyze results.

At the same time, they get to watch a ghost bag inflate and explode.

That’s a pretty good combination.

What Is Happening Inside the Exploding Baggie?

Although the reaction happens quickly, a lot of chemistry is taking place inside the bag.

The experiment uses two common substances:

• Vinegar
• Baking soda

When these substances are mixed together, they undergo an acid-base reaction.

Vinegar is an acid.

Baking soda is a base.

When the acid and base combine, they create new substances:

• Sodium acetate
• Water
• Carbon dioxide gas

The carbon dioxide gas is the star of the show.

As more gas is produced, it begins filling the bag.

Because the gas has nowhere else to go, pressure builds inside the bag.

Eventually, the pressure becomes greater than the bag can contain.

That’s when the bag bursts.

The explosion is actually a great demonstration of gas production and pressure in a closed system.

The Science Behind KaBOOm Exploding Baggies

This activity demonstrates an acid-base reaction.

When vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) are combined, they react to form sodium acetate and carbonic acid.

The carbonic acid quickly breaks down into:

• Water
• Carbon dioxide gas

The bubbles you see during the reaction are carbon dioxide escaping from the liquid.

In an open container, the gas simply rises into the air.

Inside a sealed bag, however, the gas becomes trapped.

As more carbon dioxide is produced, pressure builds until the bag can no longer contain it.

The result is an exciting explosion that demonstrates a fundamental chemistry principle.

Interestingly, this same type of reaction is used in baking.

When baking soda reacts with acidic ingredients in cakes, muffins, and quick breads, carbon dioxide gas forms and creates air pockets that help baked goods rise.

The chemistry that makes your exploding ghost bag pop is similar to the chemistry that helps make a cake fluffy.

How cool is that?

Why STEAM Activities?

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. STEAM learning encourages children to ask questions, investigate ideas, solve problems, and think creatively.

Rather than memorizing facts, students actively explore concepts through hands-on experiences.

Most importantly, STEAM activities help kids discover that learning can be fun. At our house, some of our favorite learning experiences happen when curiosity, creativity, and a little bit of mess come together.

Key Chemistry Terms to Share With Your Kiddos

Before beginning the experiment, it’s helpful to introduce a few basic chemistry vocabulary words.

Don’t worry about memorizing complicated definitions. The goal is simply to help students connect what they observe during the activity with real scientific concepts.

Acid

An acid is a substance that has a higher concentration of hydrogen ions than water. Many common household items are acids, including:

• Vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Orange juice
• Tomatoes

In this experiment, vinegar acts as the acid.

Base

A base is a substance that has a lower concentration of hydrogen ions than water.

Common household bases include:

• Baking soda
• Soap
• Toothpaste
• Laundry detergent

In this activity, baking soda acts as the base.

Neutral

A neutral substance has a balance of hydrogen ions. Pure water is one of the most common examples of a neutral substance.

Chemical Reaction

A chemical reaction occurs when substances interact and create new substances. During a chemical reaction, atoms rearrange to form products that are different from the original materials.

Reactants

Reactants are the substances present before a chemical reaction begins. In this experiment, the reactants are vinegar and baking soda.

Products

Products are the substances created during a chemical reaction. The products in this activity include sodium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide gas.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a gas produced during the reaction between vinegar and baking soda. This gas fills the bag and ultimately causes the explosion.

KaBOOm Exploding Bags Supplies

One of the best parts of this experiment is that it uses simple materials that many families already have at home.

You’ll need:

• Ziploc Sandwich Bag
• Paper Towel
• Measuring Cup
• 1½ tablespoons baking soda
• ½ cup vinegar
• ¼ cup warm water
• Permanent Markers

Optional:

• Safety glasses
• Food coloring
• Stopwatch
• Measuring tape
• Science notebook for recording observations

Before beginning the experiment, gather all materials and move outside. Trust us on this one. Outdoor cleanup is much easier.

Exploding Baggie Ghosts Chemistry Activity for Kids

Before starting the experiment, invite your child to decorate their bag.

We chose to create spooky ghost faces using permanent markers, which is how these became our famous KaBOOm Ghost Bags.

Students can also create:

• Monsters
• Pumpkins
• Aliens
• Silly faces
• Favorite characters

Adding artwork gives kids ownership of the experiment and incorporates a fun artistic element into the activity.

Although the reaction is safe, the bag will burst unexpectedly. The surprise is part of the fun, but everyone should stand back once the reaction begins.

Step 1: Check Your Bag for Leaks

Before adding any ingredients, fill the bag with water. Turn it upside down and gently squeeze.

If water leaks out, grab a new bag and test again. A leak-free bag is important because the experiment relies on trapping gas inside the bag.

Step 2: Create Your Baking Soda Packet

Tear a paper towel into a square approximately six inches by six inches.

Place 1½ tablespoons of baking soda in the center of the paper towel. Fold the towel lengthwise, like a hot dog bun, over the baking soda.

Then fold both ends inward to create a small packet. The paper towel slows the mixing process long enough for you to seal the bag.

Step 3: Add the Liquid Ingredients

Pour:

• ½ cup vinegar
• ¼ cup warm water

into your plastic bag.

Be careful not to spill the mixture. At this point, the baking soda packet should remain completely separate from the liquid.

Step 4: Seal the Bag

Hold the baking soda packet in the upper corner of the bag. Carefully seal the bag while keeping the packet away from the vinegar solution.

Double-check that the bag is completely closed. A small opening can allow gas to escape and prevent the experiment from working properly.

Step 5: Start the Reaction

Once the bag is sealed, allow the baking soda packet to fall into the vinegar mixture. The paper towel will quickly dissolve and release the baking soda.

Shake the bag gently to help the ingredients mix. Place the bag on the ground and step back.

Step 6: Observe

Watch carefully.

You should begin seeing bubbles almost immediately.

The bag will start to inflate as carbon dioxide gas forms.

As pressure builds, the bag will continue expanding until…

KaBOOm!

The bag bursts and releases the trapped gas.

Why Does the Bag Explode?

Many students assume the bag explodes because of the liquid ingredients. The real reason is pressure.

When baking soda and vinegar react, carbon dioxide gas forms. Because the bag is sealed, the gas cannot escape.

As more gas is produced, pressure builds inside the bag. The bag stretches farther and farther as the pressure increases.

Eventually, the pressure becomes stronger than the bag itself. When that happens, the bag bursts.

This demonstrates an important scientific concept: Gases take up space.

Even though carbon dioxide is invisible, it occupies volume and creates pressure inside the container.

This same principle is used in:

• Inflating balloons
• Carbonated beverages
• Airbags
• Pneumatic systems
• Rocket propulsion systems

What Kids Learn from This Chemistry Experiment

This simple activity teaches a surprising number of science concepts.

Chemical Reactions

Students observe two substances combining to create entirely new substances.

States of Matter

The reaction produces a gas that students cannot easily see but can clearly observe through its effects.

Observation Skills

Children practice paying attention to changes in color, texture, temperature, pressure, and volume.

Scientific Inquiry

Students make predictions, conduct an experiment, and analyze the results.

Cause and Effect

The relationship between mixing ingredients and producing gas becomes immediately visible.

Scientific Vocabulary

Students learn and apply real chemistry terms in a meaningful context.

Because the results are dramatic and memorable, many students retain these concepts long after the experiment ends.

Questions to Discuss After Your Experiment

Encourage scientific thinking by discussing the results together.

Try asking:

• What is a chemical reaction?
• What were the reactants in this experiment?
• What products were created?
• Why did the bag inflate?
• What gas formed during the reaction?
• Is vinegar an acid or a base?
• Is baking soda an acid or a base?
• What evidence showed that a chemical reaction occurred?
• What would happen if we changed the amounts of the ingredients?
• What surprised you most about the experiment?

There are no wrong answers during scientific discussions. The goal is to encourage observation, curiosity, and critical thinking.

Real-World Uses of Acid-Base Reactions

One of the best ways to help kids connect science to everyday life is by showing them where the concepts appear outside of experiments.

Although exploding ghost bags are certainly more exciting than most daily activities, the same type of acid-base reaction occurs all around us.

Baking Cakes and Muffins

One of the most common examples is baking.

Many cake, muffin, pancake, and quick bread recipes contain baking soda along with an acidic ingredient such as buttermilk, yogurt, lemon juice, or vinegar.

When these ingredients combine, carbon dioxide gas forms.

Those tiny gas bubbles become trapped in the batter and help baked goods rise.

Without that reaction, cakes would be much denser and flatter.

Antacid Tablets

Have you ever taken an antacid tablet for an upset stomach?

Many antacids work by neutralizing excess stomach acid through an acid-base reaction.

The fizzing you sometimes observe is similar to the reaction that occurred in your exploding bag.

Cleaning Products

Many household cleaners use acids or bases to break down dirt, grease, and mineral deposits.

Understanding acids and bases helps scientists develop products that make cleaning more effective.

Fire Extinguishers

Some fire extinguishers use chemical reactions that generate gases to help suppress fires.

While the chemistry may differ from this experiment, the principle of producing gases through chemical reactions remains important.

Environmental Science

Scientists study acids and bases when monitoring water quality, soil conditions, pollution, and environmental health.

Acid-base chemistry plays a major role in protecting ecosystems and natural resources.

Manufacturing

Many products are created using chemical reactions.

Everything from medicines to plastics to food products may involve carefully controlled chemical processes.

The simple reaction you observed in your exploding bag is part of a much larger world of chemistry that impacts our daily lives.

Add More STEAM to This KaBOOm Exploding Bag Experiment

One of the reasons this activity is such a strong STEAM project is that it naturally incorporates multiple disciplines.

Here are several ways to extend the learning.

Science

Science is the primary focus of this experiment.

Students can:

• Form a hypothesis
• Conduct the experiment
• Record observations
• Analyze results
• Draw conclusions

Consider creating a science journal where students track:

• Time until explosion
• Size of the bag
• Amount of inflation
• Weather conditions
• Ingredient quantities

Technology

While this activity doesn’t require technology, students can use technology to document and analyze their experiment.

Ideas include:

• Recording slow-motion video
• Creating a digital presentation
• Making a science report
• Editing a highlight reel
• Taking before-and-after photos

Many kids love sharing their results with friends and family.

Engineering

Engineering is all about designing solutions and improving systems.

Challenge students to investigate questions such as:

• What type of bag works best?
• How can we make the reaction last longer?
• Which packet material performs best?
• How can we maximize the size of the bag before it bursts?

Students can test different materials and compare results.

This introduces experimentation and design thinking.

Art

Bring creativity into the project by decorating the bags before beginning.

Students can create:

• Ghosts
• Monsters
• Pumpkins
• Animals
• Superheroes

Another fun idea is to add food coloring to the liquid.

When the bag bursts, use sidewalk chalk to trace the splash pattern and transform it into artwork.

Mathematics

Math can be incorporated in many ways.

Students can:

• Measure bag circumference
• Calculate reaction times
• Compare ingredient ratios
• Record data in charts
• Create graphs of results

Older students can even design experiments that compare multiple variables and analyze patterns in the data.

Try These Ideas to Experiment Even More with KaBOOm Bags

One of the most important lessons in science is that a single experiment often leads to even more questions.

Once you’ve completed the basic activity, encourage students to investigate additional variables.

Does Bag Size Matter?

Try using:

• Sandwich bags
• Quart bags
• Gallon bags

How does bag size affect the reaction?

Do larger bags require more ingredients?

Warm Water vs. Cold Water

Repeat the experiment using cold water.

Then compare the results with warm water.

Did the reaction occur faster or slower?

Different Packet Materials

Instead of paper towels, try:

• Toilet paper
• Tissue paper
• Coffee filters
• Construction paper

Which material dissolves most effectively?

Different Acids

Try replacing vinegar with:

• Lemon juice
• Lime juice
• Orange juice

Do all acids create the same result?

Different Amounts of Baking Soda

Increase or decrease the amount of baking soda.

How does the size of the explosion change?

Different Amounts of Vinegar

What happens when you change the amount of vinegar?

Is there a point where adding more vinegar no longer affects the reaction?

Record Your Results

Scientists carefully document their findings.

Create a table that tracks:

• Ingredients used
• Reaction time
• Bag size
• Outcome
• Observations

This transforms a simple activity into a true scientific investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Exploding Baggie Experiment

Why does the bag explode?

The bag explodes because carbon dioxide gas builds pressure inside the sealed bag. Eventually the pressure becomes greater than the bag can contain.

Is this experiment safe?

Yes, when performed with adult supervision and outdoors. The ingredients are common household materials, but students should avoid placing their faces near the bag during the reaction.

Why do you use a paper towel packet?

The paper towel delays the reaction long enough for the bag to be sealed before the baking soda mixes with the vinegar.

What gas is produced?

The reaction produces carbon dioxide gas.

Is baking soda an acid or a base?

Baking soda is a base.

Is vinegar an acid or a base?

Vinegar is an acid.

What evidence shows a chemical reaction occurred?

Students can observe:

• Bubbling
• Gas production
• Pressure changes
• Formation of new substances

These are all signs that a chemical reaction has occurred.

Can I do this experiment indoors?

We strongly recommend performing this activity outdoors because the bag will burst unexpectedly and can create a mess.

What age is this experiment appropriate for?

This activity works well for elementary and middle school students with adult supervision.

Can I use this experiment in a classroom?

Absolutely.

Teachers frequently use exploding bag experiments during chemistry, STEM, and science units because they are inexpensive, memorable, and highly engaging.

Looking for More Chemistry Activities for Kids?

If your students enjoyed this exploding baggie experiment, be sure to check out these additional chemistry investigations:

• Red Cabbage Acid-Base Indicator
• Magic Potions and Fizzing Formulas- Getting Kids’ Attention With Chemistry! from Not Just Cute
• Expanding Foam inspired by Honey Lemon’s Chemistry Concoctions from Big Hero 6 from Inspiration Laboratories
• KITCHEN CHEMISTRY: RED CABBAGE ACID/BASE INDICATOR from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
• Candy Science Activities
• Density Experiments
• Chemical Reaction Investigations

Hands-on chemistry helps students see that science isn’t just something found in textbooks—it’s happening all around them every day.

Recommended Chemistry Books for Kids

Want to keep the chemistry fun going after your exploding baggie experiment?

These chemistry-themed books help kids explore chemical reactions, scientific thinking, and real-world science concepts while building excitement for STEM learning.

The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book by Tom Robinson

Packed with hands-on experiments and easy-to-follow explanations, this book introduces children to chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering through engaging activities using common household materials.

Why we love it:

• Simple experiments
• Clear explanations
• Great for ages 7-12
• Encourages scientific thinking

Kitchen Science Lab for Kids by Liz Lee Heinecke

This book transforms ordinary kitchen ingredients into exciting science investigations. Kids learn about chemical reactions, states of matter, density, and much more through safe and accessible experiments.

Why we love it:

• Uses household supplies
• Excellent chemistry activities
• Strong STEM connections
• Family-friendly projects

Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids by Megan Olivia Hall

A fun collection of chemistry experiments that help students understand scientific concepts through hands-on exploration.

Why we love it:

• Beginner-friendly
• Engaging visuals
• Great extension activities
• Easy setup

Basher Science: Chemistry by Simon Basher and Dan Green

This unique book introduces chemistry concepts through colorful illustrations and memorable characters. Complex topics become much easier for young learners to understand.

Why we love it:

• Highly visual
• Great for reluctant readers
• Makes chemistry approachable
• Excellent science vocabulary support

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

While not strictly a chemistry book, Ada Twist encourages curiosity, experimentation, and asking questions—skills that are at the heart of every great scientist.

Why we love it:

• Celebrates curiosity
• Encourages scientific inquiry
• Great read-aloud
• Inspires young scientists

Reading science-themed books alongside hands-on experiments helps children build deeper understanding while showing them that science is everywhere. Whether your child loves making things fizz, pop, bubble, or explode, these books provide plenty of inspiration for future discoveries.

31 Days of Low-Prep STEAM Activities for Kids

This exploding baggie experiment is part of our 31 Days of Low-Prep STEAM Activities for Kids series.

Every activity in the series focuses on helping children explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

Many of the best STEAM projects combine multiple disciplines into one activity. This KaBOOm Exploding Baggie experiment is a perfect example, blending chemistry, observation, engineering, creativity, and mathematical thinking into a memorable learning experience.

Whether you’re teaching in a classroom, homeschooling, leading a STEM club, or simply looking for a fun weekend science activity, we hope this project inspires curiosity and encourages your young scientists to keep asking questions.

Because every great scientist starts with one simple question: “What do you think will happen if we try this?”

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