Science Experiment: Raisins in 7-Up

This is a classic experiment that Bill Wattenburg often suggests to young kids and parents on the air. All you need is a small box of raisins and a glass of 7-Up or any other similar clear, carbonated (sparkling) beverage with large bubbles.

Simply pour the fresh beverage into the glass, and then drop a few (no more than 3–4) raisins into the glass.

Then observe the glass for a few minutes. What happens? Can you explain it?

Variations

• Try adding more raisins, and watch to see if anything changes.
• Try adding (in a separate glass of beverage) whole table grapes, and see if anything happens.
• Same thing, but try it with Champaigne grapes (little tiny grapes, about the size of peas). Or try using peas.
• Try putting raisins in a variety of different beverages with different strength bubbles, such as sparkling cider, tonic water, club soda, ginger ale, sparkling mineral water, etc. Notice if the effect is any different than with 7-Up.

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