Chemistry Projects

Hot ice is another name for sodium acetate. — Hot ice is another name for sodium acetate (CH3COONa or NaOAc). It is the sodium salt of acetic acid, which is the key component of vinegar. Hot ice gets its name from the way it solidifies. A solution of sodium acetate supercooled below its melting point suddenly crystallizes. Heat is […]

Make Hot Ice From Baking Soda and Vinegar

This entry was posted on March 29, 2020 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on March 29, 2020)

Customize the classic slime recipe by making green leprechaun slime to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The slime isn’t sticky, so it won’t work as a leprechaun trap, but the vibrant green color may lure them close. It’s a fun holiday chemistry project for kids of all ages. Materials Leprechaun slime […]

Green Leprechaun Slime for St. Patrick’s Day Recently updated !

This entry was posted on March 14, 2020 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on April 2, 2020)

The white smoke demonstration is a simple, visually appealing chemistry project. Pour a clear liquid into a seemingly empty and watch clouds of white vapor appear. It makes a nice science magic trick and is a great introduction to a discussion of acid-base and synthesis reactions. Materials This is a […]

White Smoke Demonstration (Ammonium Chloride Synthesis) Recently updated !

This entry was posted on March 8, 2020 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on April 9, 2020)

Bath bombs dissolve in an endothermic reaction — An endothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that absorbs heat from its environment. Like any chemical reaction, an endothermic reaction requires activation energy to proceed. Then, it continues to absorb energy. Such reactions feel cold. In contrast, exothermic reactions release more heat than they absorb and feel hot. Not all […]

Easy Endothermic Reaction Demonstration Recently updated !

This entry was posted on March 7, 2020 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on April 9, 2020)

Test Tubes of Blue Liquid — The blue bottle reaction is a classic color change chemistry demonstration. It interests students in chemistry, introduces the scientific method, and illustrates oxidation and reduction (redox reactions) and chemical kinetics. The reaction starts as a blue liquid which becomes colorless and returns to its blue color. Materials The usual materials […]

Blue Bottle Chemistry Demonstration Recently updated !

This entry was posted on February 27, 2020 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on April 2, 2020)

Gatorade and drain cleaner color change — The Gatorade and drain cleaner color change chemistry demonstration is a variant of the classic blue bottle demo. You can customize the demo to get a range of colors. The best part is you don’t need access to a chemistry lab for the materials, so this is a great project […]

Gatorade and Drain Cleaner Color Change Chem Demo Recently updated !

This entry was posted on February 25, 2020 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on April 9, 2020)