UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information
I noticed last summer, that when I left some water balloons in a bucket of water overnight, they shrunk down to nothing by the next day. Why does this happen? My mom thinks it might be because the latex balloon is porous. Also, the pressure of the water inside the balloon is more than the pressure of the water in the bucket, so the water wants to get out of the balloon. Is she right? Thank you. I couldn't find the answer on the internet anywhere.
Question Date: 2006-02-21
Answer 1:

I would guess that your mom is correct and the balloon is semi-permeable to water. All balloons are not made up of the same material, however, so I could imagine that some would balance out faster than others. This is analogous to the case of helium-filled balloons, to which I am more familiar.

As you probably know, helium-filled balloons typically deflate within a day or so through normal balloons (latex). This is because the helium can pass relatively easily through the semi-permeable material. However, you may have noticed those silvery balloons that look like they're make up of some kind of foil. Those materials are typically much less permeable (if at all) which is why they can stay inflated so much longer than a typical latex balloon. Hope this helps.



Click Here to return to the search form.

University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use