9781422284940

Try It Yourself

Yeast makes bread rise when it releases gas. You can see it in bread dough. Or, you could try this simple experiment to capture that gas from the yeast.

Materials: • 1 packet of active dry yeast (check the date on the package to make sure it hasn’t expired) • 1 cup warm water • 2 tablespoons sugar • large balloon • 1 liter plastic bottle, empty

1. Mix yeast and sugar with the warm water in the empty bottle. Stir until the yeast and sugar have dissolved.

2. What do you notice?

3. Place the balloon over the top of the bottle. Wait to see what happens.

4. What eventually happened?

5. Why do you think you were instructed to use warm water? Try the experiment again if you want, using cold water. What happens then?

6. What was the sugar for?

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