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’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.