Q&A for How to Make a Volcano

This is a quite safe project to perform with kids. The volcanic eruption is quite subdued and is comprised of harmless ingredients

If you follow the instructions of this article your volcano it is highly unlikely that your volcano will hurt anyone unless they happen to be allergic to any of the materials used in this project.

You could rig your volcano up to a small fog machine or build in a small humidifier (such as the portable type that can be inserted into a bottle of water).

The safest way is to use baking soda and vinegar to create foamy reaction. You can add dish soap to enhance the texture and a little red food coloring or ketchup for color. You can also create a billowing smoke effect by dropping a little dry ice into some hot water in a container at the center of your volcano. Never touch dry ice directly with your hands or use it in an enclosed, poorly ventilated space. If you’re a kid, ask an adult to help you.

You can build one out of clay, papier-mâché, or even stiff card stock bent into a cone shape around a jar or water bottle. Paint the outside to give it a natural look, then fill the central opening with baking soda and liquid dish soap. Pour in some vinegar and red food coloring to make your “lava” erupt!

Yes. There is no problem with repeating the experiment as many times as you'd like. Just be sure to use the appropriate materials and follow the steps correctly each time.

Yes, cut the top off the can because it will be easier to put the vinegar mixture and the baking soda roll into it.

There will be some mess; be sure to put newspaper or a drop-cloth around the base of your volcano.

The first two methods are just fine. Just make sure you have someone older watching. The final method should only be done by an adult, preferably as part of a carefully orchestrated science class demonstration.

Be sure you have a large enough space to make a mess. If you don't have enough space inside, consider building it in a garage, a park, or another outdoor area.

Because it blasts out in the same manner as lava emitting from a volcano.

Yes, you can! You can color your water with different colors as well, not just red, orange, and yellow! You can even use green for a space volcano!

You can use tinfoil but the effects won't be good. Also, the liquid in the volcano might leak through the tinfoil.

Yes, but they HAVE to be supervised.

Try different methods. Pinterest has some good ideas if nothing here works for you.

Yes, the results will be exactly the same, but it will be harder to fit the baking soda through the top.

Yes, you absolutely can. You can consult an adult if you need assistance, but just follow the directions and you should be able to make a volcano by yourself.

You can find it in the baking aisle of any grocery store.

Two spoonfuls should be fine.

Any vinegar will work, but distilled white vinegar works best.

Yes, just make sure you have enough room to do it and a that you an ask an adult first.

About one cup of vinegar should be sufficient.

Yes. You can crumple pieces of newspaper and use masking tape to hold them together in a circle, and then put a bottle in the middle and cover with Plaster of Paris.

Yes, of course! There are simpler ones using just Coke and Mentos, or vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap. The first one is messy, kind of like an explosion. The second one just foams and goes over the top and sides. I would recommend you put a towel down or just place the volcano in a pan.

It makes the lava foamy. If you don't want the lava to be foamy, you can skip it.

You can use rocks that are about the same size as the bricks would've been.

You can. The article just suggests a can because it has a wider opening. Bottles have thinner openings.

I don't see why not. A small mess on a table will be fine, as long as there is a container or box surrounding the volcano.

It will not be dry, which could cause it to be defective. You should wait an hour and make sure that it is dry so that it functions properly.

You can use a hairdryer on a low or medium setting.