The wonder and fascination of chemistry is available and waiting for you right in your kitchen. Kids love these popular hands-on experiments, many of which are easy to repeat and exciting for all ages.
Make Instant Slushies
Through the process of supercooling, in which a liquid is chilled below its freezing point without becoming a solid, you can appear to magically transform ordinary looking sodas like this into a favorite frozen treat.
- Begin by shaking a bottle of room temperature soda and placing it in the freezer.
- Let it cool for 3 hours and 15 minutes. This exact time will vary depending on the temperature of your freezer. You may have to experiment with different prep times, but the goal is to reach the point just before the liquid actually freezes.
- Remove the bottle from the freezer and slowly open the cap to release the pressure. Pour the contents into a chilled bowl and immediately the soda transforms into slush!
This experiment can be done with any type of soft drink and also works by stirring or shaking the contents of the bottle. Kids and adults alike will want to repeat this magic trick over and over.
Grow Crystals
Crystallization is a popular science technique that transforms into a fascinating art project. Crystals can be formed into a variety of fun shapes and stored for decorations and home-made gifts.
- Bring 1 cup of water to a steady boil.
- Add 1 teaspoon of sugar at a time, allowing each spoonful to fully dissolve until the solution is completely saturated. If you like, add a few drops of food coloring.
- Pour the solution into a clean jar, and use a pencil to dangle a string from the top. You can use a number of various household items for this step. The object is simply to provide somewhere for the crystals to attach and grow.
- Place the jar on a flat surface where it can remain undisturbed. Check every day to see the beautiful crystals that will accumulate.
This experiment can also be done with salt, borax, alum, or other household ingredients. Many of the things you use around the house are actually quality laboratory reagents!
Make a Lava Lamp
Lava lamps are an excellent example of how liquids of differing densities remain separated. The steps of this project are simple, and most children can repeat them without help and finish beautiful fun creations.
- Fill a jar or bottle most of the way with any type of cooking oil.
- Fill the remaining space with water. This will settle immediately to the bottom.
- Add a few drops of food coloring and, if you like, glitter or sequins.
- Dissolve an Alka Seltzer tablet in the solution. Seal, and enjoy the colorful display.
Another similar and fun project is to create a rainbow in a jar using food coloring and layers of liquids of various densities. Shake it up, and watch the colors always settle back to their original places.
Make Slime
Young kids especially love this delightfully dirty and hands-on experiment that forms what is known as non-Newtonian fluid. Simply mix 1 cup of corn starch into ½ a cup of water to create an amorphous liquid that remains neither solid nor liquid. The resulting phenomenon is exciting, messy, and fun for children to play with.
The best science projects are those that inspire growing curiosity. When children learn that subjects like chemistry appear in exciting ways in their own homes, the interest and knowledge thrives well into adulthood.
