Background
A bubble is a ball of air surrounded by a thin water film. Pure water has high surface tension not elastic enough to form a bubble. There are important chemicals to form colossal bubbles: Detergent, Polymers, and pH adjustment.
Detergent reduces surface tension of pure water about by third. This makes bubbles more elastic, like a balloon, thus forming bubbles. Bubbles burst when touching anything dry or water evaporates. For the latter, surface of the bubble becomes too thin and causes the bubble to pop. Detergent (a.k.a. Surfactant) consists of two parts: hydrophilic (like water) and hydrophobic (like oils). In the thin film of water in bubbles, Detergents stick out their hydrophobic parts, making a protective film from water evaporation.
Polymers are essential to make giant bubbles. In a bubble solution, they twist together, forming longer strands that do not want to break. Their long, fibrous strand make it possible to flow smoothly and stretch further without popping.
The effectiveness of a detergent depends on pH value of the bubble solution. The pH value close to neutral (~7) is most effective for the bubble solution, making stronger bubble films, and improving bubble longevity, and easier forming bubbles.
Reference
- Soap Bubble Wiki, https://soapbubble.fandom.com/wiki/Soap_Bubble_Wiki, Accessed 04/23/2022
- Ron Hipschman, exploratorium, https://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/bubbles/soap.html, Accessed 04/23/2022
- Emma Vanstone, science-sparks, https://www.science-sparks.com/#feastmobilemenu, Accessed 04/23/2022
