What will happen if you mix baking soda and vinegar together?

Author: Miss Catharine Keebler  |  Last update: Sunday, February 15, 2026

Mixing baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid) causes a chemical reaction that produces a salt (sodium acetate) and water, as well as carbon dioxide gas. In this demonstration, baking soda is placed in a balloon that is attached to a flask holding vinegar. This creates a closed system.

Is mixing vinegar and baking soda safe?

Mixing baking soda and vinegar is generally safe and often used in various cleaning and household tasks due to their chemical reaction. When combined, they create carbon dioxide gas, which produces bubbles and fizz.

What do plumbers say about baking soda and vinegar?

In summary, while baking soda and vinegar are generally safe for most plumbing systems when used occasionally and in moderate amounts, caution should be exercised, especially with older or less durable pipes. For persistent clogs or plumbing issues, it may be best to consult a professional plumber.

What happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar in a glass?

What happens? As Sciencing puts it, ``the cup will soon overflow with foam and bubbles.'' The reason this happens is that alkaline baking soda reacts to acidic vinegar by releasing carbon dioxide gas bubbles (just like soda bubbles), according to Hyperphysics.

How does baking soda react with vinegar?

The sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and weak acetic acid in vinegar react and trap the carbon dioxide to form bubbles. The mixture of the baking soda (solid) and vinegar (liquid) creates a gas and a liquid, which in turn results in a foam (a mixture of gas and liquid, or a colloid).

Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiments

What not to mix with baking soda?

Baking soda is commonly combined with another solution, such as vinegar or water, to create a cleaning paste. (But be careful not to combine baking soda with certain solutions such as chlorine bleach, ammonia, or alcohol because these can cause dangerous chemical reactions.)

When you mix baking soda and vinegar, is it a physical or chemical change?

The classic baking soda and vinegar reaction provides evidence of a chemical change due to the formation of a gas and a temperature change. Students tactually experience the formation of a gas as carbon dioxide fills up the balloon and sense a change of temperature.

What is the best combination of vinegar and baking soda?

For most purposes, Harris recommends combining one part baking soda with two parts white vinegar. That combo can cut through grease and lift stains, sometimes better than store-bought cleaners, she says. Important: Never combine vinegar with bleach.

Can you mix vinegar and Dawn dish soap?

To make the solution is simple and easy on the wallet! Pour equal parts of vinegar and Dawn into a spray bottle. Gently shake, then spray liberally onto the surface to be cleaned. I have found the best results is when I use it to clean chrome shower and sink fixtures.

What happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar and hot water?

When you combine these, a reaction happens where molecules get exchanged, creating carbon dioxide and water that bubbles through the clog, breaking it up to create loose material.

What happens when you put baking soda and vinegar in toilet?

That fizzing may help to break down the clog into smaller particles, making them easier to flush! You may also find that baking soda and vinegar is a helpful pipe-cleaning solution. The fizzing foam can sometimes help remove gunk from the insides of your pipes.

Can you leave baking soda and vinegar in the drain overnight?

Allowing the baking soda and vinegar mixture to sit in the drain for an extended period, such as overnight, can improve its effectiveness. The prolonged contact with the clog helps break down the build-up more thoroughly, making it easier to flush away with hot water the following morning.

What will dissolve hair in a drain?

Heat 2 or 4 liters of water on your stove or in a kettle to just short of boiling. Add about 1/2 cup of salt. Try pouring this down the drain, then wait 15 minutes before seeing if it will clear more easily. If you need a stronger cleaning, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then add 1/2 cup of vinegar.

Is distilled vinegar the same as white vinegar?

White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.

What happens when you mix baking soda and lemon juice?

Lemons and other citrus fruits are rich sources of naturally occurring citric acid. When a person mixes lemon juice and baking soda, the citric acid reacts with the sodium bicarbonate to produce a buffer called sodium citrate. A buffer refers to a weak acid or base that prevents drastic pH changes.

What should vinegar not be mixed with?

There are certain substances you should never mix with vinegar, including bleach and ammonia, because these combinations will produce chlorine gas and toxic vapors, says Ryan Sinclair, an environmental microbiologist and associate professor at the Loma Linda University School of Public Health.

Can I mix Dawn and baking soda?

Combine baking soda and dish soap to form a thick paste. Store in a small glass jar. To use: Take some paste, thin out with a bit of water and apply. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, then scrub and rinse with water.

What is the best homemade all-purpose cleaner recipe?

DIY All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
  1. 1/4 cup vinegar.
  2. 12-20 drops essential oil.
  3. 1 tsp castile or phosphorous-free dish soap or washing soda.
  4. 2 cups boiled or distilled water.

What is baking soda and vinegar combined called?

The first reaction is the acid-base reaction. When vinegar and baking soda are first mixed together, hydrogen ions in the vinegar react with the sodium and bicarbonate ions in the baking soda. The result of this initial reaction is two new chemicals: carbonic acid and sodium acetate.

Is baking soda good for kidneys and liver?

Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is also used in the treatment of kidney disease. The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) recommends the use of sodium bicarbonate to treat metabolic acidosis. This condition occurs when there is an excessive buildup of acid in the blood.

What happens after mixing baking soda and vinegar?

A chemical reaction between the vinegar and the baking soda produces bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. The dish detergent in the vinegar helps the bubbles last longer than they would with just vinegar and baking soda.

Why do baking soda and vinegar react?

They react because one is a base while the other is an acid. Acids and bases each have different parts of H2O, or water. Bases contain an OH, or an oxygen and hydrogen atom, which together is known as hydronium. Acids contain the other H, one hydrogen.

What happens when you mix vinegar and coke?

The acidic properties of Coca-Cola make it a surprisingly effective cleaner. It serves as a strong component in this homemade cleaner, helping to break down grime efficiently. Adding 100 mL of white vinegar further boosts the mixture's ability to cut through grease and sanitize, enhancing its overall cleaning power.

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