Create a cornstarch explosion inside a coffee can to demonstrate the reaction when a fine powder combustible material interacts with oxygen. Remove the lid and the contents of a large coffee can. Puncture a 1/2-inch hole into the side of the can about an inch from the bottom. Thread the end of a 1/2 inch-diameter, 20-inch length of tubing into the hole. Secure the tubing to the outside of the hole with a piece of tape to prevent it from moving out of place while experimenting. Pour into the can enough cornstarch to form a mound and surround the opening of the inside tubing. Place a lighted candle in the can and replace the lid. Stand as far back as possible and blow through the tubing until the cornstarch ignites and creates a ball of fire. Use caution when performing this experiment.
The exploding lunch bag project demonstrates an explosion when a gas is created by mixing two chemicals. This project should be performed in the sink or outdoors. Pour 1/4 cup of warm water and 1/2 cup of vinegar into a sandwich-sized zip-lock freezer bag. Wrap 3 teaspoons of baking soda in a tissue and then quickly place it in the freezer bag and zip close. Place the bag in the sink or on the ground outdoors. Within minutes, the bag will expand and explode. The expansion and explosion is caused because the gas created requires more space than the individual ingredients.
Similar to the exploding lunch bag, the materials used in an antacid grenade cause a chemical reaction that results in an explosion. While outdoors, pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar in a small plastic water bottle. Add three halves of antacid tablet. Work quickly while adding the tablets and cap the bottle quickly. The antacid and vinegar mix together and form a gas that will cause the bottle to bulge. At that point, throw the bottle up as high as possible in an area where it will land on a hard surface. The bottle will explode due to the impact and the insufficient space needed by the gas.
The soda explosion project needs to be performed outdoors on a hard, level surface. In this project, Wintergreen Lifesavers act as a nucleation site to which the bubbles of carbon dioxide gas found in the soda will adhere. (The process of forming gaseous bubbles is called nucleation.) An explosion occurs when there is not enough nucleation sites for the large amount of bubbles to adhere. To perform this project, drop six unwrapped Wintergreen Lifesavers at the same time in a 2-liter bottle of soda. Immediately move away as the soda will explode out of the top of the bottle.