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Expanding Ivory Soap Experiment
We love playful science activities for preschoolers and are always exploring classic science experiments, adding our own unique and fun twists! Sensory science is an appealing form of play and learning for my son. Explore what happens to ivory soap in the microwave!
Experiment With Soap In The Microwave
Ever wondered what ivory soap does in the microwave? So easy! The photos below tell it all! Read more about the science behind this ivory soap experiment as well.
I would have to say someone (namely a 4-year-old) was pretty excited and interested about this soap experiment, and then absolutely amazed by the results!
Simple science around the house is perfect for preschool-age children, especially if you can turn it into fun sensory play. Learning and playing, hand in hand for amazing early learning development!
Think microwaved soap is tricky, think again! It’s super easy and safe to put ivory soap in the microwave. You only need to know how long to microwave your ivory soap!
Plus, microwaved soap is a simple science activity illustrating physical change and changes in states of matter ! Read more below.
WATCH THE VIDEO!
Ivory soap experiment , you will need:.
- bar of Ivory Soap
- large microwaveable bowl
- Optional; tray and play accessories
How To Microwave Ivory Soap
STEP 1. Unwrap and place your soap in the microwave.
STEP 2. Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.
Why Does Ivory Soap Expand In The Microwave?
There are two types of changes called reversible change and irreversible change. Heating ivory soap in the microwave, like melting ice is a great example of reversible change or a physical change. Learn more about physical change.
When you heat ivory soap in the microwave, the appearance of the soap is changed but no chemical reaction occurs. This soap is still useable as soap! See what fun thing we did with our expanded ivory soap at the end.
The soap expands in size because the air and water inside the soap heats up. The expanding gas (air) pushes on the softened soap, causing it to expand up to 6 times in size. Microwave popcorn works in much the same way!
ALSO CHECK OUT: States Of Matter Experiments
Baking bread or cooking something like an egg is an example of an irreversible change . The egg can never go back to its original form because what it is made of has been changed. The change cannot be undone!
Can you think of any more examples of reversible change and irreversible change?
Grab your free printable ivory soap project!
Helpful Science Resources
Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
- Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
- Science Vocabulary
- 8 Science Books for Kids
- All About Scientists
- Science Supplies List
- Science Tools for Kids
- Join us in the Club
More Fun Science Experiments
Click below for fun science activities that show reversible change. Looking for examples of irreversible change or chemical change ? Check out these fun chemical reactions .
- Melting Chocolate Science Experiment
- Solid Liquid Gas Experiment
- Melting Crayons
- Make Butter In A Jar
- Ice Cream In A Bag Experiment
- Starburst Candy Slime
Printable Science Projects For Kids
If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
- 90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
- Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
- Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
- Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
- My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!
- Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!
- Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
I couldn’t find the recipe for clean mud/ How much toilet paper ,how much water and how much ivory soap?
Hi this is not a clean mud activity which is probably why you can’t find it. This is a really cool experiment using just a bar of ivory soap! Here’s a friends clean mud or ghost mud recipe you can check out, http://happyhooligans.ca/ghost-mud-ice-cream/
Does it need to be ivory soap, or can I just use regular soap?
Ivory Soap is the preferred soap for this experiment.
- Pingback: Classic Science Experiments Must Try Science Activities
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Exploding Ivory Soap | Because Science Should Be FUN!
By: Author Charlene Hess
Posted on Last updated: July 15, 2024
This article may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.
Looking for info on how to do the exploding Ivory soap experiment? Check out this complete write up!
This exploding Ivory soap is a great example of a fun exploding STEM experiment . Preschoolers especially will love this engaging science activity.
Ivory soap is one of those classic household items that almost everyone has used at some point in their life. But have you ever stopped to think about what’s really inside of it?
Believe it or not, Ivory soap is made up of mostly air! In this blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at the science behind Ivory soap and find out why it explodes when you put it in water.
So are you ready to have some fun with science? This STEAM activity for kids is a great place to start!
Let’s go!
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What Is Ivory Soap Made Of?
Ivory soap is one of the most recognizable brands of soap on the market. It has been around for over 140 years and is known for its characteristic white color and simple, clean scent.
But what is ivory soap made of? The answer may surprise you.
Ivory soap is actually made from a couple of different kinds of oil – palm oil and castor oil. These oils are combined with sodium hydroxide (lye), water, and a few other inconsequential ingredients(magnesium for example) to create what is called “soapstock.”
This soapstock is then mixed with air and passed through a machine that transforms it into the familiar bars of Ivory soap.
Finally, the bars are stamped with the Ivory logo and packaged for sale. So there you have it – the next time you reach for a bar of Ivory soap, you’ll know exactly what’s inside.
Now the question is what can we do with this information?
What Are Some Other Fun Science Experiments For Kids?
Before we dive into the exploding Ivory soap science experiment, be sure to take a look at these other fun science experiments and STEM activities for kids!
- STEM activities for preschoolers
- STEAM activities for elementary
- The Ultimate Collection of STEM Activities
If your kids like science,they are sure to love some of these amazing activity ideas!
Scientific Method Worksheets – Free Download
Before you move on, we’ve got some free scientific method worksheets for you to download and enjoy. These printable worksheets are useful for any science experiment, science project, STEM challenge, or STEM projects your students might be engaging in.
Turn every science project and STEAM activity into a thought-provoking STEM challenge. Plus give left brain and right brain kiddos alike a chance to utilize their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Get yours now!
About The Exploding Ivory Soap Science Experiment
Whoever decided to put soap in the microwave is amazing! Putting Ivory soap in the microwave will be an experiment that you and the kids will talk about as it’s simple and exciting to watch.
If you aren’t sure you have any Ivory brand soap around the house a quick way to check is by putting it in a bowl of water. If it floats, you have Ivory soap.
How To Make Ivory Soap Explode
Your kids are going to love this quick and easy science experiment!
- Ivory Brand Soap
- Microwave Safe Dish
Instructions
- Unwrap soap and place it on a microwave-safe dish.
- Watch the soap as it “explodes!” You will see this start to happen within the first 10 seconds or so.
- If you want to touch the soap be careful, it is warm, especially underneath all the “fluff.”
- When we were done with the soap “fluff” the kids used them in the shower, it was fun and they were squeaky clean.
- We looked at Ivory soap and how it was different from other soaps by putting it in water first to see if it floats compared to other soaps. Ivory soap floated while the other soap sank.
- After we had the Ivory soap in water we put it in the microwave to see if a wet Ivory soap would “explode” more compared to a bar of dry Ivory soap. We notice the wet Ivory soap grew faster and larger than the dry Ivory soap.
- The soap is brittle and fragile to touch after it comes out of the microwave so if you are wanting it to stay whole be gentle.
- You can stop the microwave and move the soap “fluff” if it is getting too big or about to fall off the plate.
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Did you try this yourself?
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Follow-Up Questions And Activities
Use the following questions and activities to keep the learning going!
- What would happen if we microwaved other types of soap?
- What happens if you microwave wet or dry soap?
- What is so different about Ivory soap than other soaps?
- Learn about the soap-making process and make your own soap. Consider exploring a lesson on entrepreneurship.
- Look at Ivory soap and how it is made, try and recreate it.
- Measure the height and weight of your soap before and after the microwave.
- Conduct an experiment using the scientific method (and these free scientific method worksheets ) where you compare and contrast various brands of soap. Compare things like explosion rate, short-term effect on the skin, long-term effect on the skin, smell, effect on hair, etc.
Why Does Ivory Soap Explode In The Microwave? The Science Behind Exploding Ivory Soap
Ivory soap is made with air bubbles therefore it is lighter than other soaps and reacts differently when heated up in a microwave.
Since Ivory soap has all of those air pockets when it is heated up in the microwave, water molecules inside the air pockets cause it to expand or “explode” and make this amazing project!
Free Printable Exploding STEM Project
Want a free project sample? Sign up to have one of the projects sent to you so you can get an idea of the type of experiment guides you’ll get in our STEM Made Easy Digital Subscription!
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