• Have little boys? Have little boys who are in need of some stimulation? Have little boys who don’t get enough outside time because it is cold and rainy outside? Want to engage their minds a little? Or maybe just pique their curiosity?

    When you get lots of little areas expanding throughout a bar of soap you get science magic!

    Then you have stumbled upon the right place. Every little boy (and girl really) needs to see what happens when you put Ivory soap in the microwave. It is important to note that this experiment works only with Ivory. Why Ivory you ask? It is simple really, Ivory bar soaps are made by whipping air into them. Perhaps that is why I feel so soft when I use it, because I am washing with air? No, that cannot be right. Anyway, most other bar soaps do not have extra air whipped in. Another little fun tidbit, that extra air also allows Ivory soap to float when in water. Cool! Those small little air pockets are important. They hold small amounts of moisture inside of them. And when that moisture is heated it expands. When you get lots of little areas expanding throughout a bar of soap you get science magic!

    Place your bar of soap onto a microwave safe plate. Cook it in the microwave for about two minutes. You don’t want to scorch the stuff, just explode it a bit. Don’t let your kids look away from the microwave! The magic happens quickly!

    The soap turns into a giant foamy, yet firm cloud looking thing. Allow it to cool first and then encourage your kids to touch it! Even better, encourage them to use it in their next bath. It is still perfectly good (albeit strangely shaped) soap!

    Try this experiment with another soap and it will just melt. You can purchase other brands and see if any of the others float. You will know that if you get a floater, you will have an exploder!