Erupting lemon volcanoes is a fun and easy fizzy science experiment for kids! This simple to set up STEM activity is the perfect activity for home or in the classroom.

Erupting Lemon Volcanoes Easy Science Fun
Creating lemon volcano at home is one of those super easy kitchen science experiments, every child should experience. When I set this up for my kids, they absolute loved it. Baking soda fizzy experiments are always a huge hit on our house. The colours, the smells, the sounds and the bubbles! This fun and easy chemical reaction was equal parts science and sensory!

Science for All Ages
One of the great things about this activity is that its safe for toddlers and preschoolers but exciting enough to entertain older grade school age kids as well! The main ingredient for this chemical reaction are baking soda, a common kitchen household item that is easily available at the grocery store.
Easy Baking Soda Experiments
Do you want to try more experiments with baking soda. You can also try our other fizzy experiments like our Awesome Fizzy Ice Cream Shop Sensory Bin or Fizzy Sun Sensory Bin: Summer STEAM or Super Fun Fizzy Paint Easter Bunny Craft or Fizzy Shapes Sensory Bin or Love Potions Sensory Bin: Valentine’s Day STEM or Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment for Kids.

Science Behind Lemon Volcanoes
What happens when you combine baking soda with an acid? Fizz! Unlike other baking soda experiments for this one we actually don’t need to add vinegar to act as the acid.
Why is that? Because lemons are very, very acidic and we can use the lemon juice instead to create the reaction with the baking soda.

What is Citric Acid?
The acid found in lemons is called citric acid. Citric acid is naturally found in citrus fruits like lemons. It’s the citric acid that gives lemons their tart and sour taste. Lemon juice contains citric acid which when mixed with the base, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), reacts to form carbon dioxide and sodium citrate which causes the liquid to fizz and bubble.

Just like when you combine baking soda with vinegar, when you combine baking soda with lemon juice a chemical reaction occurs. When an acid and a base mix they produce a gas called carbon dioxide. When you pour the lemon juice on to the baking soda, carbon dioxide bubbles form. And since we are adding some bubble bath, you will also get bubble bath bubbles as well!
Lemon Juice Science
Using lemon juice straight for this experiment will create a large and quick eruption and since each lemon probably only gives a little bit of juice each, I added some water to our lemon juice to make it last longer. If you have a bottle of lemon juice that you want to use, go ahead. This experiment works amazingly well with watered down lemon juice as well as with concentrated lemon juice.
A fun experiment for older kids it to test how much water in the lemon juice would actually reduce the reaction to almost nothing!
How to Make Lemon Volcanoes
- Cut lemons in half and squeeze out the juice into a measuring cup. Strain out the seeds.
- Place the lemon halves into a sensory bin.
- Add a few drops of food colouring into each lemon half.
- Add a few drops of bubble bath into each lemon half.
- Spoon in the baking soda into each lemon half. You will notice that it will start to bubble almost immediately. Thats the baking soda reacting to the residue lemon juice in the lemons! Don’t worry the really reaction is still to come.






- Use craft sticks to push the baking soda down into the lemons.


- Mix water with the lemon juice in the ratio 2:1. You can add less water if you were able to squeeze out a lot of lemon juice or if you are using a bottle of lemon juice. I added water to the lemon juice to make it last longer when doing this activity with multiple children.
- Use an eye dropper to squirt it on the lemons and watch them explode with colour.




Age Suitability
Mess Level
Difficulty to Create
Skills Developed
Supplies
- Lemons
- food colouring
- eye droppers
- water
- baking soda
- knife (Adult use only)
- craft sticks
- measuring cup
Books, TV Show & Play Kits!
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.

TV Show: Curious Crafting
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
The Best Sensory Play Kits for Kids
Shop our ready made play kits here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
WILL YOU MAKE FIZZY LEMON VOLCANOES FOR YOUR KIDS? PIN IT FOR LATER.
