Q&A for How to Create a Mini Volcano

It depends on the amount of liquid you use. It should not go more than few feet high though. Ideally, the 'lava' just flows over the edges.

You can just let it air dry naturally.

You could try using dry ice for a smoky effect and paint 'lava' onto your model before using the volcano.

This is definitely best done outside because it explodes and makes a mess and that mess can be hard to clean up.

Chemical reactions occur when the baking soda and vinegar interact. Because of this the foam occurs.

It's always good to have parental supervision, especially for the baking soda and vinegar parts.

The problem in this experiment is that the volcano eruption only works one time.

The chemical reaction that takes place in this mini volcano model is the mixture of vinegar, food coloring, and baking soda.

Skip all the paint and oven work. Use a large amount of red sand, a lot of water, baking soda, and vinegar.

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, but when it reacts with the acetic acid in vinegar, it causes it to break down into carbon dioxide and sodium acetate.

No. It is a different substance altogether. Baking soda is a base mineral which, when combined with something acidic, produces carbon dioxide. Baking powder is a combination of baking soda plus another acid, in the presence of an inert stabilizer.

No. You can also use air dry clay.

You can use tinfoil, but tinfoil can break easily.

Then you just add more vinegar and baking soda. If that doesn't work, then just redo it from scratch and be careful when following the instructions.

No because vinegar contain acetic acid which makes it explode. Water does not have acetic acid therefore when mixed with baking soda nothing really happens.

Yes but you will need to use less baking soda as well. But more baking soda also means a bigger eruption, so it is really your choice.