
A chemistry scavenger hunt is a fun chemistry assignment, where students identify or bring in items matching a descriptions. Examples of scavenger hunt items include things like “an element” or “a base.” It’s an educational written assignment. Alternatively, students can bring in labeled zipper baggies of examples. Here are clues and answers for a chemistry scavenger hunt, including PDF files you can print and use as handouts.
Chemistry Scavenger Hunt Clues
Use these clues or come up with your own. You can print a PDF of this list for an assignment.
- An element
- A compound
- A solid
- A liquid
- A gas
- A metal
- A nonmetal
- A heterogeneous mixture
- A homogeneous mixture
- An acid
- A base
- Result of a physical change
- Result of a chemical change
- A substance with a density greater than 1 g/ml
- A substance with a density less than 1 g/ml
- A mixture that can be separated by filtration
- A mole (not the animal)
- A polymer
- An ionic compound
- A covalent compound
Chemistry Scavenger Hunt Answer Key
Here are common answers for the clues. Keep in mind, additional answers may be correct. Here’s the answer key PDF to print.
- An element: Aluminum foil, copper wire, iron pan, sulfur, carbon in the form of graphite (pencil lead), amorphous carbon (soot), or diamond
- A compound: Sugar (sucrose), salt (sodium chloride), baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
- A solid: A rock, a ball, a paper clip, a coin
- A liquid: Water, juice, vegetable oil, vinegar, coffee, soda
- A gas: A balloon filled with air or helium, a baggie of air
- A metal: A can (aluminum), aluminum foil, a coin (zinc and copper), silverware (stainless steel), wire (copper), ring (gold, silver, copper)
- A nonmetal: Graphite from a pencil (carbon), plastic, sulfur, helium in a balloon, vegetable oil
- A heterogeneous mixture: Bag of mixed candies, chocolate chip cookie, soda with ice, sandwich, rock collection
- A homogeneous mixture: Air, non-carbonated soft drink, coffee, steel, sugar in water
- An acid: Vinegar (dilute acetic acid), solid citric acid, lemon juice
- A base: Baking soda, soap, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent
- Result of a physical change: Melted ice, shredded paper, frozen ice cream, crushed candies
- Result of a chemical change: Baked cookies or cake, ashes, candies popping or fizzy when exposed to moisture
- A substance with a density greater than 1 g/ml: Anything that sinks in water, such as a metal coin, a glass marble, or a rock
- A substance with a density less than 1 g/ml: Oil, ice, wood
- A mixture that can be separated by filtration: Fruit cocktail in syrup, coffee grounds and water, sand and water
- A mole (not the animal): 18 g of water, 58.5 g of salt, 55.8 g of iron
- A polymer: Any plastic, hair, fur, polyester or nylon fabric
- An ionic compound: Salt (sodium chloride), baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), washing soda (sodium carbonate)
- A covalent compound: Water, vegetable oil, starch