It's Just Gas

Michaela is having a great time this school year studying science.  We are learning about chemistry in a very basic and fun way with a book of experiments written for kids (it is part of a series called Adventures With Atoms and Molecules).  The experiments are all very simple (good for me) and require things that you have in your kitchen or can pick up at the grocery store.  Today we did an experiment which asked the question,"Are gas molecules farther apart than liquid molecules?"  We opened a small bottle of Coke and quickly covered the top of it with a balloon, shook the bottle (I was a little nervous about this!), and waited to see what would happen.  It turned out to be quite fun, and I don't know why, but a little funny too.  The gas molecules bubbled (whooshed?  foamed?) right up into the balloon and filled it up.  Here are some pictures of the result. This has been the most fun of the sciences for me personally, and I'm looking forward to learning with her this year.  Like I said, it's basic stuff, but I've forgotten so much!  And it's just cool to see her so excited about what she's learning. Oh, this one's for my brother: What did one molecule say to the other molecule first thing in the morning? Up and atom!