How to Create a Smoke Filled Bubble

Reviewed by Anne Schmidt

Last Updated: September 14, 2021

A "smoke bubble" is a bubble filled with smoke or a vaporized equivalent. They are traditionally made with tobacco smoke, but recently they’re made with white steam, or fog based liquids. Some science classrooms use this experiment to demonstrate a physics property.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating Dry Ice Smoke Bubbles

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1
Gather your supplies. For this type of smoke bubble you’ll need a few more supplies, but you won’t jeopardize your lungs with this one. You will need the following:
- Dry ice
- Hammer
- Dish soap or bubble liquid
- Graduated cylinder or a similar container
- Heavy rubber gloves
Fill whatever container you decide to use with warm water. Add enough water to reach just below the halfway mark on your container. A good alternative to a graduated cylinder is a clear flower vase. The water shouldn’t be boiling, but it shouldn’t be at room temperature. Somewhere in between the two will work.^{[1]
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Place the heavy gloves on your hands before handling dry ice. Use a hammer to break up a larger piece of dry ice so that it will fit into your container. Handle this on a clean surface and be sure small scraps don’t land on your family dog.
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Add the ice to the water. As you break up the dry ice, add it to the container filled with warm water. Don’t add all your dry ice on the first test.^{[2]
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- Once you add dry ice, it will react to the warm water and produce smoke. The smoke will rise up and appear to overflow out of the container.
Now to create smoke bubbles, add a generous portion (about a quarter of a cup) of either dish detergent or bubble liquid. Now your bubbling concoction has real bubbles floating out. Continue to add dry ice as it melts and watch your smoke bubbles flourish.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Cigarette Smoke

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1
Create the bubble liquid. You’ll need to either buy bubble liquid or create your own using dish detergent. Fill a glass or small jar with a 1:1 solution of water and dish detergent.
- Mix the solution and be sure it is ready before lighting up.
- It’s also helpful if you have a bubble wand handy. These typically come with bubble liquid.
2
Light a cigarette. Light your cigarette with a match or lighter. Fill your mouth with smoke, but don't swallow or inhale it.
- You may need to puff the cigarette a few times to ensure it is fully lit.
Place a straw into the liquid bubble solution. Again, the bubble wand creates bubbles easier than a straw.^{[4]
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Hold the straw between your lips and slowly blow. Do not release the smoke as one might normally because the smoke will come out too fast and ruin the bubble. A curved bubble should form.^{[5]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Hookah

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1
Light the hookah. Fill your hookah with fresh water. This can be a long process so you might as well start this first. Gather your wet tobacco blend into the hookah's holder and cover with tinfoil. Create a few holes in the center of the tinfoil. Set a coal on top of the holes and light with a lighter.^{[6]
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- You may need to inhale a few times to initiate the lighting process.
2
Prepare the bubble mix. In a bowl combine equal parts of dish detergent and water. You could also use prepared bubble liquid. Stir the contents to ensure everything is mixed together.
- Mix the ingredients with a straw or bubble wand.
3
Gather hookah smoke. Puff your hookah a few times to ensure that the smoke is coming out to the fullest. When the smoke is bold, meaning it is thick, you’re ready to blow your bubbles.
- Take a large mouthful of hookah smoke and don’t inhale or exhale, but hold it in your mouth.
Take one end of the straw and dunk it into the bubble solution. Be sure that liquid is formed on the edge of the straw. Exhale into the dry end of the straw slowly. If you’re successful, a bubble should slowly form, filled with smoke.^{[7]
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Warnings

Smoking cigarettes is a harmful addiction. No one should pursue this method if they aren’t already addicted to cigarettes.

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