Fizzy Bath Salts

The holidays are right around the corner, so I thought I would introduce a great science activity that also makes a great gift. With just a few ingredients and a little science, you and your children can create some great smelling, fizzy bath salts. Forget Bath & Body Works. You don’t need Bed, Bath & Beyond. You’ve got science!

Here’s What You Need

• 1 cup Baking soda
• 3/4 cup Citric acid
• 1 cup Fine sea salt
• 1/2 cup Corn starch
• 1 cup Epsom Salt
• Lavender essential oil
• Food coloring
• Large mixing bowl

Note: You can find citric acid at many health food shops

Here’s What You Do

Combine the epsom salt, sea salt, and citric acid in a large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of essential oil and food coloring. If you want a stronger smell or a darker color, you may want to add more. Once the ingredients are mixed and dry, add corn starch and baking soda. It is very important that wait until the first mixture is dry before adding the corn starch and baking soda. Store your mixture in an air tight container. When you are ready for a bath, sprinkle some of the mixture in a tub full of warm water and let the your worries fizz, fizz, fizzzzzzzzzz away!

The Science Behind the Fizz

Why do the bath salts fizz? Well, it has everything to do with two of the ingredients used in the bath salt mixture: citric acid and baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate). Whenever you mix citric acid and baking soda together in water something very special happens. The two things mix together and create new things. Chemists call it a chemical change. In this case, citric acid and baking soda are changed into sodium citrate and carbon dioxide gas. As the carbon dioxide gas is formed, it creates lots and lots of little bubbles…or fizz. This same principle is used to make the well known fizz created by Alka Seltzer when you add it water.
You might be wondering why we added all the other ingredients (like the corn starch, epsom salt, and sea salt) to the mix. All of these other ingredients help to make you skin feel nice after the bath!

Fast Fact

Citric acid was first isolated from lemon juice by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, in 1784. You find it in all kinds of things. Next time you drink a fruity drink, check the list of ingredients. You will probably find citric acid there. It is also used in candy to make it taste fruity.