# Fizzing Apple Art
> Paint paper apple cut-outs with baking soda "paint", then dab on colored citric acid, Fun Dip or vinegar solution and watch them fizz into vibrant, textured art. A simple science experiment and art project in one.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-kids-fizzing-apple-art/
- Ages: 3–7 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 25 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 2 kids
- Skills: science, acid-base-reactions, color-mixing, fine-motor
- Cautions: food-dye, citrus

## Materials (one batch)
- 2 piece Apple cut-outs (paper)
- 2 tbsp Baking soda (household)
- 1 tbsp Citric acid
- Fun Dip, apple flavor (optional)
- 2 drop Food coloring (red, yellow, green)
- Water (household)
- 3 piece Small cups for solutions (household)
- 1 piece Paint brushes (household)
- Twine (optional) (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of citric acid: Colored white vinegar (Same fizz; the author just prefers citric acid.)
- Instead of citric acid: Apple Fun Dip dissolved in water (Another weak acid that fizzes on the baking soda paint.)

## Safety
- Citric acid stings eyes and cuts — use small amounts and wash hands after.
- Fun Dip is candy; the solution is for painting, not eating.

## Before you start
- Cut apple shapes from paper.
- Mix the colored citric acid solutions in separate cups.

## Steps
1. Mix 2 tbsp baking soda with water, a little at a time, into a paint that isn't too watery.
2. Mix 1 tbsp citric acid, 2.5 tbsp water and 1–2 drops of food color in a cup. Make one cup for each color.
3. Paint an apple cut-out all over with the baking soda paint — just wet enough.
4. While the paint is still wet, dip your brush in a colored acid solution and gently touch it to the apple.
5. Watch the tiny fizzes, then try another color on the same apple.
6. Lay the finished apples flat to dry.

## Tips
- Keep the baking soda paint wet enough to react — touch the acid on before it dries.
- The fizzy spots dry with lots of texture and dimension, and the colors stay vibrant.
- We taped a few to the window and were surprised that they made decent sun catchers.
- You're painting with a base (baking soda) and adding a weak acid to make the reaction happen. (from readers)

## FAQ
**What makes it fizz?** The acid (citric acid, Fun Dip solution or vinegar) reacting with the still-wet baking soda paint.
**Where does the Fun Dip come in?** After the baking soda paint, use either the Fun Dip solution, the citric acid solution or vinegar to create the fizz — any one of them works.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2016)

Ready for some cool & crisp air? Can't wait for warm soups and fragrant cloves and cinnamon. Fall is its own kind of fun. Try some our great **fall activities for kids** ranging from **fall sensory jars**, **fall maracas**, **fall art project** to making **cardamom playdough.** We of course kick of the season with apple activities. This fall activity is a simple science and art project rolled in one.

All our [**apple crafts and art activities here.**](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/apples/)

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Materials

- **[Citric Acid](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014UCJ8Q/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Fun Dip Apple Flavor](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NMI7VO/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Americolor Food Color](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KCUXRLC/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- Baking Soda
- Apple cutouts



The idea is the one we used in our [**Fizzing Shamrock Art**.](https://www.funlittles.com/st-patricks-day-art-fizzing-color-mixing-shamrock-art/) Since kids activities based on acid-base reactions pretty much rocks any child's world we try to turn that science experiment into art by basically doing the experiment on a sheet of paper.



The process is amazing and the kids were familiar with it from our [fizzing shamrock art](https://www.funlittles.com/st-patricks-day-art-fizzing-color-mixing-shamrock-art/).

### Fall Activities for Kids: Fizzing Apples Art Project

- Make Baking Soda "Paint" { 1 TBSP Baking soda mixed with about 2-3 tsp of water to make a paintable solution}

- Make Apple Flavored Fun Dip solution

- Make Citric Acid Solution in red and yellow colors { Citric Acid + water + food coloring} We always use the Now brand **[Citric Acid](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AC1SHS/?tag=blmemo-20).**

- You can always use colored vinegar instead of citric acid solution. We just happen to like [**lemon eruptions**](https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-rainbow-lemon-eruptions/) a lot better



### Apple Art Activity Process

The child first coats the apple cut outs with baking soda "paint" Then either the Fun dip solution, citric acid solution or vinegar is used to gently touch the baking soda to enjoy the tiny fizzes.



We have done so many **baking soda vinegar experiments** that the kids now know what to expect. The multi colored apple fizzes were a treat to watch and photograph.



Once all the apples are done we let them dry for a while.



The colors turned out so vibrant and the place where the fizzes were created gave the art so much texture and dimension.



We took a few of them and tried taping them to the window and they shone brilliantly against the sun.



We were surprised that they made decent sun catchers.





Another option is to string all the apples on a twine and hang them as a garland. See all the themed [**garlands**](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/garland/) we have done before.



I have received many emails asking me to explain the process even further. Here is the step by step rundown

1. I would start by making some baking soda paint which is just water mixed with baking soda. {add 2 TBSP of baking soda and slowly add water until you get a solution that is not too watery}

2. Paint the cutouts with this paint { don't make it too watery but just wet enough}

3. Make several cups of colored citric acid solution { 1 TBSP of citric acid + 2.5 TBSP of water + 1-2 drops of food color}

4. When the baking soda paint is still wet, dip your paint brush in colored vinegar and place it on the apple cut. It will start to fizz.

5. Experiment with multiple colors.

Check out [**Lemon Suds Eruptions activity**](https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-kids-lemon-suds-eruptions/)