Mystery Mist
Today's special effect is so famous and so mysterious it needs no introduction.
- You will need: a 2-liter soda bottle, an individual-sized drink bottle, 1 1/2 cups vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, a tissue, a balloon, food coloring, a cardboard box a few inches deep, and some dirt.
- To make your mist, pour 1/2 cup vinegar into the bottom of the 2-liter bottle. Wrap up 2 tablespoons baking soda in a little bit of tissue. Have your balloon ready. Drop the tissue into the vinegar and quickly put the balloon over the mouth of the bottle. What happens to the balloon? What's in the balloon? (That last one's a trick question.)
- But wait, that's not the only special effect . . . You can use this same chemical reaction (what just happened in the bottle) to make a special effects mini-volcano.
- Put the small bottle in the center of the cardboard box. Surround it with dirt to make it look like a volcano. Add some food coloring to the remaining cup of vinegar if you would like your "lava" to be a special color.
- Wrap 2 tablespoons baking soda in a little bit of tissue. Drop the tissue into the bottle and pour the vinegar over it. What happens?
- By the way, this same mystery mist is used to make bubbling potions, fog, and smoke in lots of movies you've seen. (We told you it was famous!) Filmmakers usually use this mist in its solid form, called dry ice. But don't be fooled by its name. Dry ice can actually burn your hands, so special effects artists always wear protective gloves. Well, that's all our clues. Can you guess the name of the mystery mist?
Curious for an answer? Look Behind the Scenes.
Special Effects Home | All About Special Effects
Theater Release Dates | Behind the Scenes