Valentine’s Day Science Experiments


Valentine's Day Science Experiments
Valentine’s Day science experiments are a fun way to celebrate the holiday while learning.

Valentine’s day science experiments celebrate the holiday in a fun and educational way. Here is a collection of science projects that involve hearts, flowers, candy, and pink or red colors.

Crystals for Valentine’s Day

  • Borax Crystal Heart – Twist a pipe cleaner into a heart shape and grow crystals over it to make a crystal heart. The crystals don’t pick up dye, so make red, pink, silver, and other heart colors by using colored pipe cleaners.
  • Crystallize a Real Rose – If you get roses or other fresh flowers for Valentine’s day, preserve them using crystals. Crystal-growing solutions are salts, so they keep the flowers from decaying.
  • Crystal Geode – If you can’t afford a diamond for Valentine’s day, remember it’s the thought that counts. Make a salt crystal geode for your Valentine.

Valentine’s Day Color Chemistry Experiments

  • Vanishing Valentine Demonstration – Watch a chemical solution alternate between pink and clear with this interesting chemistry demonstration.
  • Hot and Cold Valentine Demonstration – Like the Vanishing Valentine, this reaction goes between pink and clear or red and clear. However, temperature change drives the color transition.
  • Red Flames – Make passionate red flames with this simple colored fire project.
  • Pink Flames – Make romantic pink fire for your Valentine.

Valentine’s Day Science Involving Flowers

  • Colored Flowers – Color white flowers one or more colors using a bit of science know-how.
  • Glowing Flowers – Give your sweetheart flowers that glow in the dark or under a black light. It’s a simple project that starts with white or pale flowers. The cut flower “food” gives them that special glow.
  • Rainbow Roses – Turn roses into rainbow roses with some color chemistry. The technique works with other white flowers, too. A special process even turns black flowers into rainbows.
  • Flower Shop Chemical Reaction – This experiment does not actually involve flowers. Instead, a chemical reaction between two common chemicals releases the fragrance of flowers.

Candy Experiments for Valentine’s Day

  • Rock Candy – Give your Valentine the sweet gift of rock candy. You can make it easily, but plan ahead because it takes about a week for a good-sized treat. Use any colors and flavors you like.
  • Fizzy Sherbet – Packets of fizzy sherbet attached to simple Valentines are perfect as student gifts. The candy illustrates an acid-base reaction, plus it tastes great.
  • Candy Chromatography – Explore the individual colors in your Valentine’s Day candy with this fun and educational paper chromatography project.

Valentine’s Day Science Gifts

  • Homemade Perfume – Perfume is a highly personal homemade gift. Customize the perfect scent. Find a pretty bottle and you’re set!
  • Handmade Wrapping Paper – Add a personal touch to a store-bought gift by wrapping it in marbled paper that you made yourself. Choose any colors you like. You can even scent the paper.

Other Valentine’s Day Science Projects

  • Mercury Beating Heart – Because this project involves mercury, it’s only suitable for some high school and college labs. Even so, it’s pretty cool watching a lump of liquid metal beat like a human heart!
  • Gallium Beating Heart – Making a metal heart beat does not have to be a toxic experience. Here is a safer alternative to the mercury beating heart.
  • Edible Valentine’s Day Slime – At the opposite end of the safety spectrum, make edible slime for young investigators. Add heart candies, red hots, or red sprinkles for that holiday flair.
  • Hot and Cold Chemical Volcanoes – Does your love run hot and then cold? Celebrate that on and off relationship with chemical reactions that erupt with hot and cold “lava.”

More Valentine’s Day Science to Love

Valentine Peroidic Table - 2017 Edition
  • Valentine’s Day Periodic Table – Show off your love of chemistry by working problems with this periodic table. Each heart contains accurate element information.
  • Cute Chemistry Pick-Up Lines – Using a chemistry pick-up line is a fun (and possibly cheesy) way of finding out if someone shares your interest in science.
  • Reasons to Date a Chemist – Both funny and serious reasons for making a chemist your love interest are included.