Chemistry for kids teaches that experiments are not just for scientists with lab coats and test tubes. Learning chemistry can be fun and exciting when you let your kids try some hands-on experiments at home. Here are some ideas for great activities that you can carry out in your own kitchen, with no chemistry set required.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Demonstrate chemical reactions safely with the classic baking soda and vinegar volcano experiment.
You will need:
Place the bottle in the center of the tray, and build the clay up around it to resemble a volcano. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of baking soda to the bottle. If you'd like, you can add red food coloring to make your "lava" more realistic looking. Next, pour in half a cup of vinegar, and stand back as your "volcano" erupts.
Bubbles
Bubbles are great fun, but you can also learn a lot about science by playing with bubbles. You can mix up some homemade bubble solution right at your kitchen sink.
You will need:
Mix the ingredients together in a clean container. Use different household items to make your bubbles, such as pipe cleaners twisted into a loop, a piece of mesh, loops of string or rope. Have fun examining the different types of bubbles you can make.
Growing Crystals
Your young chemistry students can see how crystals grow by making their very own sugar crystals. This experiment does take time, as the crystals grow fairly slowly. However, in a week or so you will be rewarded with beautiful, edible crystals.
You will need:
Begin by boiling the water, and pouring it carefully into the jar. Add the sugar to the water, a spoonful at a time, stirring after each to dissolve. Continue to add sugar until it no longer dissolves. Cut a piece of string a few inches longer than the depth of your jar. Tie the string around the pencil, and balance the pencil over the mouth of the jar, with the end of the string hanging into the jar. If necessary, trim the string so it just reaches the bottom of the jar. Now watch and wait as the water evaporates and the crystals begin to grow. If you've ever enjoyed rock candy, now you know how it's made.
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