Everybody has something to do with foam every day. While showering, shaving, washing… and don’t forget the beer. Even cola foams when poured quickly.

The prerequisite for the formation of foam and the production of soap bubbles is the reduction of the surface tension and the introduction of air into the water.

Water possesses a skin. This skin is so strong that the water is able to form a heap when the glass is filled too much. As soon as the tension becomes too strong, the skin breaks and the water flows over. The tension on the surface of water is called surface tension. Try for yourself, how much water fits into a glass.

This surface tension of the water can be lowered by adding certain substances called tensides. They settle on the interfaces between the air and the water and in that way they form foam. Tensides are also called surfactants, and the can be found in all detergents, soaps and washing-up liquids.

How do I prepare my own soap bubble liquid?

· 100 grams of sugar

· 2 - 3 tablespoons of salt

· ¼ litre of water (best use distilled water, which you can buy at any chemist’s)

· 150 of washing-up liquid (it works best with American products)

· 12 ml glycerine (obtainable at any chemist’s)

First, the sugar solution is prepared. For that purpose, heat 200 ml of water in a pot. Now add 100 grams of sugar and 2 - 3 tablespoons of salt to the warm water and stir until all the sugar is completely dissolved.

Subsequently, mix 150 ml of washing-up liquid with 200 ml water in a separate vessel.

Afterwards, the mixture of dishwashing liquid and water is poured into the pot with the sugary water. Finally, add the remaining water (1 litre) and 12 ml glycerine to the pot. Let this mixture soak for 2 hours at room temperature.

The alcohol-containing liquid glycerine and the sugar make it so that the soap solution gets thicker and the soap skins become more stable. And if you don’t have a blowing device, take a paper clip or a piece of wire. Form a proper loop - let’s get started!