Why does ivory soap explode in the microwave

Image courtesy NOAA. Soap expands for a similar reason. Soap contains small pockets of air that have water vapor trapped inside of them. Like the moisture inside of a popcorn kernel, the water vapor inside of soap heats up when the microwave is turned on. This leads to areas of high pressure inside the soap. As the soap cools down it stiffens up but keeps its new shape. Warning Do not leave the microwave unattended during the activity. Ivory soap is one of the few brands of bar soap that floats in water and can explode like this in the microwave because air is whipped into the soap during the manufacturing process.

This means there are tiny little pockets of air all throughout the soap. How does is expand like this in the microwave? It works similarly to popcorn kernels or marshmallows expanding in the microwave. The little air pockets contain water molecules that are heated up by the microwave. The water then vaporizes and the heat causes the trapped air to expand. This showcases Charles law which states the temperatures of a gas increase so does its volume. So when soap is heated the molecules of air in the soap move quickly causing them to move far away from each other forcing the soap to expand.

Add food coloring and mix it together. Let the soap air dry till it becomes hard. Place the soap into a plastic bag or treat bag for the students to take home. One bar of Ivory soap makes about two heart-shaped soaps that are about three-inches wide. Facebook Youtube Pinterest Shopping-cart. Join the List. Select options. November 9, November 5, Click here to start your 60 Day Free Trial.

You might also like Turkey Handprint Plate Freebie. Veterans Day in Kindergarten. Free Turkey Handprint Poem. Thankful Hat Free Printable. Kindergarten Word Kit. Kindergarten Intervention Kit — Endless Literacy. Today I set my microwave for The Ivory will start to expand at about the 15 second mark. To see it rolling, writhing and expanding as if it were alive is really exciting!

The plate and the soap will be quite hot for a minute or so after being removed from the microwave. They cool down quickly, but give the soap a few minutes before letting your children handle it.

You can always microwave a cup of water with vinegar or lemon juice added to get rid of the smell. I personally love the smell of Ivory soap. It takes me back to my childhood. Ivory was the gentlest soap back when I was a kid, so we used it for years as children. If you think the soapy smell might bother you, open a window before microwaving your bar of soap. Let your children investigate how the soap has changed: what started out as a hard bar of soap is now a fluffy, crumbly powder.

They also rubbed it between their hands to crush and crumble it. This is such an amazing sensory experience.

The soap is so smooth and silky. It feels lovely, and it smells incredible! Be sure to warn children not to put the powder in their eyes, nose or mouth. It IS soap after-all, and it would sting the eyes, and taste horrible.

I make it with Ivory, Borax and Washing Soda. We grab a roll of toilet paper and some water and the hooligans whip up a clean mud, also known as ghost mud or fairy mud. Recipes, experiments, art projects, printables and play ideas with links to 80 activities not featured in the book. Download your copy today for just 9. Follow the Hooligans on Facebook.

Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She began blogging in , and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe. I absolutely love your web page! Keep up the great posts and pictures!

But a huge thank you! I love that the things that I do in my small home-daycare are inspiring moms like you to get creative with your own hooligans!

I have found with kids, food coloring is dangerous! As it stains everything and anything. I stay clear of it since I made snake bubbles outside last summer with the kids wearing garbage bags over their clothes. Little did I realize it would take a couple of weeks to get the food coloring off their feet and the bubbles that blew onto the patio stained that too. No more food coloring for this grammie!

A couple of weeks? Is there something special about Ivory soap?