Continue only with adult supervision.
If you smell something strange or metallic, move on to the next section right away. The water might have boiled away, or the heat might have been too high, causing the ink or aluminum on the can to melt. [3] X Research source If your stove burner cannot support the soda can, use a hot plate, or use tongs with heat-resistant handles to hold the soda can over the stove.
Be prepared for a loud noise as the can is rapidly crushed! Because of the sound, avoid performing the experiment around children younger than kindergarten-age.
Despite the can losing some of the air inside it, it doesn’t get crushed yet, because the water vapor that took the place of the air is pushing from the inside instead. In general, the more you heat a liquid or a gas, the more it expands. If it is an enclosed container so it can’t keep expanding, it exerts more pressure. This is known as Gay-Lussac’s Law. [5] X Research source
Space that has nothing in it is called a vacuum.
If a student thinks the water (not the water vapor) inside the can was responsible for it getting crushed, have the students fill an entire can with water, and see if it is crushed. Try the same experiment with a sturdier container. The heavier material should take longer to be crushed, which will give the ice water more time to fill it. Try letting the can cool for a short time before putting it in the ice bath. This will result in more air being present in the can, and thus less severe crushing.
