If you have a kid, you know how tough it is to get them into the bathtub. You can make bath time more fun for your little tikes by introducing fun games and toys in the bathtub.
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You’ve probably seen that rubber duckies and other toys tend to get boring after a while. So why not try something new? A bath bomb is a fun way to make your kid engaged and excited about bath time.
But if your kid is like mine, it might have wondered what makes bath bombs fizz? The short answer to this question: the ingredients sodium bicarbonate and citric acid make them fizz. When these ingredients react with water, sodium citrate and carbon dioxide get formed. The carbon dioxide, formed as a by-product, is the thing that bubbles and breaks the bomb up.
Bath Bombs And Bath Fizzies
Bath bombs are a compact mixture of various dry and wet ingredients molded to form different shapes. These days they have scents and essential oils in them, and they help make your bathing experience better and rejuvenate your body.
If there is eucalyptus or lemongrass in the bath bomb, it can even be good for the skin and act as a therapy for skin diseases, acne, sores, and rashes. They revitalize the whole body and provide the necessary moisturizing to the skin, thereby not letting it dry or rough.
Bath fizzies are nothing but a kind of bubble bath. The only difference is that bubble baths have bubbles atop the water, but bath fizzies have fizz inside them.
These bubbles are different from foam. The fizz is made from compounds and simple chemicals and is more effervescent than a bath bomb. When you plop a bath fizzy in the water, the bubbles will surround your body and tickle you. You get a very calming and relaxing experience.
Bath bombs are the most common type of bath fizzies. They are solid balls, mostly made of soda, cornstarch, Epsom salts, and essential oils.
They are everything one can expect them to be: aromatic, colorful, and bubbly. One of the essential qualities is being fizzy, which makes your bathing experience satisfying.
Apart from the fizz effect, the whirlwind of colors and pleasant fragrance make the bathing atmosphere tranquil and elevate your mood.
There are various bath bombs, including citrus bath bombs, lavender bath bombs, green tea bath bombs, cocoa butter bath bombs. Each has its use for the body.
What Ingredients Make Bath Bombs Fizz?
So, coming back to what makes bath bombs fizz. Most bath bombs use sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. These two are responsible for causing the ‘fizz.’
When you buy a bath bomb, it is dry. Hence, the ingredients don’t react with each other. However, when they contact water, the citric acid and sodium bicarbonate react.
As a result, sodium citrate and carbon dioxide get formed. The carbon dioxide, formed as a by-product, is the thing that bubbles and breaks the bomb up.
Carbon dioxide is the usual go-to compound for effervescence in chemistry, and you might have seen it used for soda drinks and other fizzy things.
Are Bath Bombs Supposed To Make Bubbles?
Bath bombs are often confused with bubble bath bars, but they are very different. Apart from the fact that bath bombs are very hard, almost like a porous rock, bubble bath bars are usually liquid.
The scientific difference lies in the way these two form their bubbles. The bubble bath produces mounds of bubbles on the top, somewhat similar to a foam layer.
On the other hand, bath bombs produce bubbles within the water to provide a relaxing sensation to the bather. The terminology here changes a bit!
The term bubbles are generally not used when it comes to bath bombs. Bath bombs fizz, and this fizz provides effervesce which tickles and soothes the body.
How Do I Get My Bath Bombs To Fizz More?
Here are some easy tips and hacks fo make your bath bombs fizz more:
Look for Isopropyl Alcohol
While buying a bath bomb, check for the ones which contain a higher portion of isopropyl alcohol as the primary liquid. If you don’t want your bath bombs to fizz prematurely, it needs to have isopropyl alcohol.
Get the ratios right
Ensure that you get the ratios and proportions right if you are trying to make these things yourself. The balance of citric acid to cornstarch and baking soda is the key to getting the fizz going.
Make Sure There’s Enough Citric Acid
In case your existing bath bomb doesn’t fizz and becomes a ‘bath dud’ while bathing, then change the recipe and try adding a bit more citric acid. Check if you’ve added more than the needed essential oils or colorant, which can sometimes mess up the process of fizzing. You can also try reducing the amount of cornstarch in the recipe or try removing it completely.
Keep them wrapped up!
Keep the bath bomb tightly wrapped in plastic until you use it. If it comes in contact with moisture, it loses its fizz big time. Make sure you store it in a safe and dry place.
Why Is My Bath Bomb Soft And Crumbly?
Bath bombs are supposed to be hard and ideally like a porous rock. If your bath bomb is too soft or cracks easily, then this might be happening because you got the ratios wrong in the mixture. Either the mix is too dry or too moist.
A dry mixture often leads to crumbly bath bombs. It can also make them less fizzy. Adding more witch hazel or a few more drops of essential oil may solve the problem as they will provide it with the necessary moisture.
If the mixture is too wet, it tends to expand a lot while being kept in the mold, leading to a crumbly bath bomb.
Will Bath Bombs Fizz Without Citric Acid?
If you are making a bath bomb at home, you might have found it hard to get your hands on some citric acid. But worry not. You can make your bath bombs fizz even without it.
Although the combination of citric acid and soda is supposed to produce the fizziest bath bombs, various alternatives can be used in place of citric acid and give you the desired results.
Some of the easy to use alternatives are as follows:
Lemon Juice And Baking Soda
You can use lemon juice and baking soda together to produce some fizz. Lemon juice is a rich source of citric acid and can act as an excellent substitute for pure citric acid.
Cream Of Tartar
A bath bomb made from cream of tartar can provide you with the desired results. It essentially requires 1 cup of baking soda, ½ cup cream of tartar, and witch hazel. Cream of tartar is an acid that is similar to lemon or vinegar. Its chemical composition includes potassium bitartrate, which is known to be citrus in nature.
Cornstarch
Another alternative can be using cornstarch as one of the ingredients in the recipe of bath bombs. Cornstarch acts as an excellent substitute for citric acid. Its property of thickness helps in giving the bath bomb the much-needed hardness.
What does Epsom Salt Do In Bath Bombs?
If you have ever sat in a bath with Epsom salt, you know how therapeutic it can be. Epsom salt can help relieve small aches and pains from the body, acting as a relaxant. It soothes tired muscles and can also reduce swelling.
Bath bombs are supposed to make your bathing experience relaxing, for which the critical ingredient is Epsom salt. Apart from its remarkable effect on aching muscles, it is highly beneficial for skin nourishment. It revitalizes and hydrates the dry skin due to the presence of magnesium in it.
What Role Do The Essential Oils Play In Bath Bombs?
Self-care and wellness are essential for the overall health and wellbeing of your body. Bath bombs play a vital role in providing the body with a soothing and calming experience.
The reason behind the pleasant aroma is the presence of various essential oils. Different combinations of essential oils provide relaxation and a calming blend to the body.
Usually, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil are supposed to relax. On the other hand, a few drops of cedarwood oil with lavender oil unwinds the body and gives a sleepy blend.
Conclusion
Bath bombs are unique fizzy balls of bliss. The moment you drop it in your tub filled with water, and they start to fizz, you go into a warm and peaceful place.
Bath bombs can be relaxing for adults and a fun way to get kids into the bath. The fizz these bath bombs produce is responsible for the soothing effect you experience while bathing.
You can make these fun bath bombs easily at home, with simple ingredients that are sure to be available at hand.
So what are you waiting for? Let us drop a fizzy bath bomb into that bathtub and have some fun today!
As a parent of a five-year-old inquisitive boy, I have gained a lot of experience finding fun activities and toys to help him understand science and understanding our world in general. On this blog, you’ll find an extensive amount of tutorials, guides, and toys about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math based on my personal experience to help your child develop critical STEM skills.
