Activity Overview
Watch in amazement at what happens when you put a bar of Ivory Soap in the microwave oven. Scientific minds of all ages will enjoy this astounding transformation that occurs right before their eyes. This experiment is very easy to perform and only requires a couple of materials. The soap gets very hot, so adult supervision is recommended for this activity.
Ivory soap is manufactured using a whipping process that infuses air bubbles into the bar of soap. The air creates a less dense environment in the bar of soap which is why a bar of soap floats in water. When the bar of soap is heated, these tiny air bubbles which contain water molecules, expand rapidly and cause the bar of soap to move and grow into a fluffy cloud like structure. When it cools, however, it hardens.
Materials Needed
- A bar of Ivory Soap
- A paper plate
- Microwave
How to Do It
- Place the bar of Ivory Soap onto a paper plate and place in the microwave.
- Set the microwave oven for 1-2 minutes press start.
- Pull up a few chairs and observe what happens to the bar of soap over time.
- Remove the plate of soap from the microwave and let it cool for a few minutes before you examine it.
