Kids love doing hands-on science experiments. Add the magic of bubbly, foggy dry ice to really knock their socks off and make your science lessons memorable! This collection of fun dry ice experiments is safe, exciting, and downright amazing! Plus, each experiment teaches important concepts such as changing states of matter, cloud formation, density, solubility, the pH scale, pressure vs. temperature, and properties of gases. Dive in below!
*Safety Alert* Dry ice is relatively safe, but it can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. Please see our dry ice safety FAQs for more information about safety, storage, and handling.
Dry Ice Experiments with Water
We’ve all seen how dry ice bubbles and smokes in warm water. Just plopping a chunk of dry ice into water can be entertainment enough! The dry ice science experiments below take dry ice in water to another level by both thrilling students and teaching them important science concepts along the way.
- Check out this collection of 7 Ways to Play with Dry Ice and Water
- Make a Giant Dry Ice Bubble Crystal Ball using dry ice and water
- Capture a Cloud in a Bag and then pour it out
- Blow Bouncing Smoke Bubbles you can bounce in your hands from Steve Spangler Science
- Suck a Balloon into a Bottle
- Tap into your inner artist by creating vibrant Bubble Paintings with Dry Ice
- Make a Bubble Volcano the kids can touch
- Make a Plastic Bottle Collapse into itself
- Shoot Dry Ice Smoke Rings across the table using a homemade vortex shooter from Preschool Powol Packets
Experiments with Dry Ice that Pop
The most unique property of dry ice is how it sublimes, or changes directly from a solid to carbon dioxide gas. With a buildup of gas, the pressure rises very quickly, making for some especially cool experiments with dry ice. This rise in pressure can fuel amazing pops and rocket launches that will make adults and kids alike cheer!
- Launch Dry Ice Film Canister Rockets
- Head outside and create an Exploding Baggie with Dry Ice
- Magically Inflate a Balloon with Dry Ice
Educational and Fun Experiments with Dry Ice
Sure, dry ice is super fun to play with, but there is so much science to learn through dry ice experiments, too! Present your students with an interactive pH scale demonstration, learn about solubility and density, and introduce kids to the term “nucleation” for the first time by watching Diet Coke erupt several feet into the air!
- Make your own red cabbage pH indicator and use it to learn Acid/Base Chemistry with Dry Ice and other kitchen ingredients
- Explore the Differences Between Dry Ice and Wet Ice
- Use dry ice to put out a flame in this Candle and Dry Ice Experiment from Preschool Powol Packets
- Make a simple Lava Lamp with Dry Ice
- Create an impressive Soda Geyser with Dry Ice and Diet Coke
- Learn What Creates Dry Ice Fog by putting dry ice in water and other liquids
Dry Ice Safety
As always these dry ice experiments are meant to be done under the supervision of a responsible adult. When handled correctly, dry ice is as safe as anything else. To learn more about dry ice safety and to read answers to frequently asked questions about dry ice please visit this link.
The Ultimate Dry Ice Science Kit
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Usually we do our dry ice experiments with supplies we already have around the house, but sometimes there are a few items that need to be purchased online. The link to each experiment contains a list of supplies and helpful links to specialty products. However, The Ultimate Dry Ice Science Kit from Steve Spangler has it all, including instructions and supplies for 15 breathtaking dry ice experiments! And don’t forget the safety glasses!
More Dry Ice Science Experiments for Kids
If these dry ice experiments have made you excited, be sure to follow The Science Kiddo on Pinterest to gain access to hundreds more! We are constantly pinning the latest exciting science experiments from all across the web.
And if you love doing dry ice science activities with your children and students, be sure to check out my new eBook, 8 Super Cool Dry Ice Experiments for Kids. It contains complete instructions and explanations, bonus dry ice science experiments to try, PLUS a no-prep science journal page to go along with each dry ice experiment!
