How does the Vinegar and Baking Soda Rocket work? The carbon dioxide builds up inside the bottle until it launches into the air! Here vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. When the baking soda reacts with the vinegar, it forms carbon dioxide and water. To make one, read on. The baking soda and vinegar will react to form carbon dioxide (a gas that has one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms), and the pressure created by the gas will force the lid off the container, launching your rocket into the air and crashing down. When the baking soda and vinegar react, it creates a carbon dioxide gas. Put baking soda in a time-release container. A popular science project is mixing baking soda and vinegar in a rocket or race car made out of a plastic water bottle. Step 4: Primer The rocket is ready to launch. When we mix vinegar (HCH 3 COO) and baking soda (NaHCO 3), we get the so-called acid-base reaction. This gas … An acid is a chemical that wants to get rid of a positively charged hydrogen atom (proton) and base wants that proton. Fill the bottle about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way with vinegar. Here's step-by-step directions to launch your own rocket: Supplies:… you just need to put a bit of vinegar in the bottle and set the primer In the mouth of the bottle so that it does not touch the vinegar.Use the cap and the brooch for this like show on the picture. With the explosive power of baking soda and vinegar, you can launch your very own rocket! Any kind will work, but white vinegar will make the least mess. Making a bottle rocket with baking soda and vinegar is always a fun and explosive (but safe) activity! The gas is what causes bubbles and foam when the two ingredients are mixed.