How to Make Sodium Acetate From Household Ingredients

Step 2 Chemical Reaction

Put some baking soda in one of the containers. I used a heaping spoonful in a measuring cup.

Add vinegar very slowly. Too much and the container will overflow with foam. Add a little, wait for the foaming to subside, add a little more.

Keep adding vinegar a little at a time, stirring the mixture.

Stop adding vinegar once the mixture stops bubbling, even with stirring.

What you should have now is a solution of sodium acetate in water. I ended up with the measuring cup nearly full of solution.

Comments

[Culltheretard3]

When i followed your instructions,the baking soda and vinegar liquid turned out to be white in colour.the gel is white in colour,now its already cooled,its still completely white,did i do anything wrong?

[ivankeri]

Then, as the Instructable states that I need a mixture that has "stopped bubbling", I carefully poured the transparent liquid into another beaker and left the remaining "bubbling powder" in the original cup where I stirred and stirred. FInally I put that "non-bubbling" solution in a glass pot to heat on the stove in a shed (as I didn't want my microwave to keep such acrid smell). And so that less-than-a-cup solution, after catching fire Twice (a huge-HUGE flame somehow stayed "floating" just above the pot, above a "non-flammable gaseous cloud" or something of the sort. I managed to obtain about 10g of Sodium Acetate. I have a question to you all... Have you ever tried obtaining more than such a petty amount? if so, what measures have you used. In my case I'm looking forward to try the "Fake ice in no time, and it requires 100g! of Sodium Acetate, which seems A LOT if one actually needs to wait for ALL of the Sodium bicarbonate to dissolve perfectly. Thank you very much.

[samando]

thanks very much! you just told me what the thing I made in 6th grade was, but I made mine into a complete solid and ate it straight. It doesn't taste very good, but is kind of addictive. P.S. It is also completely flame retardant

[didivdajcyks]

me and my husband charlie did this for my duaghter isabella and it was easy

[didivdajcyks]

me and my daughter isabella and her friend edward did this for science fair they did not measure they r so perfect

[Tmbo17932]

is this safe?

[rapidman24]

yes it is very safe as long as you don't let it into your eyes...it is an irritant I would suggest wearing goggles if you aren't coordinated enough to keep it out of your eyes...

[TKL]

we need to prepare how much baking soda and vinegar?? and how much vinegar should i mix with the baking soda??

[OGM]

My son and I just successfully completed this experiment (after the second try). The amount of baking soda is not important, but we used too much the first time. The second time we used only one tablespoon. Just like the directions suggest, we then added enough vinegar until the reaction subsided. We added a little at a time over 15 minutes. Also, as a hint, don't over heat. it is amazing how quickly the balance transforms from 30-50ml of liquid to a semi-solid. Good luck

[7ofspades]

hey how much sodium bicarbonate should i mix with the vinegar?

[mskfuller]

hey just one spoon full

[mskfuller]

how much vinegar should i add with the baking soda? did you measure it at all.