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The Chemistry
(and a little physics) of Soap Bubbles
©2010, 2003, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1994, 1989, 1988, 1986, 1983, 1982 by David A. Katz
All rights reserved.
No reproduction permitted by any means, manual, electronic, or photographic, without the express written permission of the author.
David A. Katz
Chemist, Educator, Science Communicator, and Consultant
133 N. Desert Stream Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85745-2207, USA
Voice/Fax/Message: 520-624-2207
Email: dakatz45@msn.com
All photographs by David A. Katz
No reproduction of photographs permitted by any means, manual, electronic, or photographic, without the express written permission of the author.
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Introduction
I have been playing with soap bubbles for most of my life. My studies turned from simple amusement to semi-serious study in about 1978, when I started investigating the chemistry of toys. By 1982, I could easily present 30 minutes of soap bubble demonstrations to a class or group. In 1987, I was asked to present a talk on the science of soap bubbles and balloons at the
Franklin Institute of Philadelphia as part of their annual Bubbles and Balloons Festival. At those festivals, I had the opportunity to meet and share information and techniques with Richard
Faverty, and Tom Noddy. At the suggestion from Tom Noddy, I did schedule a visit with Eiffel
Plasterer in June of 1989, at his farm in Huntington, Indiana, as a side trip while traveling out west for one of my summer workshops. In his basement bubble laboratory, I found Mr. Plasterer still exhibited the excitement of a child as he demonstrated his various solutions and bubbles to me. After a wonderful day of bubbles and conversation, Mr. Plasterer complemented me, as I was leaving, by saying that in all his years of