Do bath bombs work in cold water

Primary Bath Bomb Ingredients

bath bombs contain three primary ingredients. These are baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch.

These ingredients are inert in their unused forms, which is why a bath bomb can be produced without immediately dissolving into a frothy fizz.

How Does Bath Bomb Work?

The “bomb” aspect of a bath bomb is the fizziness. But what’s going on in those spheres that make them so fizzy? Two of the key ingredients to a bath bomb are citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. You might also know sodium bicarbonate by its more common name, baking soda. These two ingredients are what cause the impressive and delightful fizz when the bath bomb enters the water.
When sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) comes in contact with water, the sodium (Na) molecules break off from the bicarbonate (HCO3). At the same time, the citric acid is dissolving, with a single hydrogen ion (H+) separating from the rest of the molecule. When the released hydrogen ion from the citric acid encounters the bicarbonate from the baking soda another reaction happens! This time, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is released as one of the end products. The carbon dioxide forms bubbles in the soap and bath water, and rushes to the surface with a delightful fizz.

Do Bath Bombs Work in Cold Water？

In a cold bath, the rate of reaction may be so slow with so little carbon dioxide gas being produced over time that it looks as if there is no reaction happening at all.

Sometimes, cool water will still yield a noticeable fizz reaction, but it will not be as satisfactory as a hot water reaction, and the bath bomb products can clump on the surface, which doesn’t look or feel so lovely.

What's the best temperature for bath bombs?

People have different views - some go for really hot baths, others really cold. But for comfort and safety, aim between 104-112°F (40-44.4°C). Same goes for bath bombs. Too hot, they fizz too fast and could burn. Too cold, they take ages to dissolve and you might feel chilly. Stick to your regular bath temperature. Bath bombs make bath time more fun, without the hassle of changing your routine.