Do you want to explore science, but can't find or can't afford chemicals? Here are science
experiments and projects you can do that use common kitchen chemicals.
Anne HelmenstineMake a rainbow-colored liquid density column. This project is very pretty, plus it's safe enough to drink.
Experiment Materials: sugar, water, food coloring, a glass
Anne HelmenstineThis is the classic science fair demonstration in which you simulate a volcanic eruption using kitchen chemicals.
Experiment Materials: baking soda, vinegar, water, detergent, food coloring and either a bottle or else you can build a dough volcano
Anne HelmenstineWrite a secret message, which becomes invisible when the paper is dry. Reveal the secret!
Experiment Materials: paper and just about any chemical in your house
Laura A., Creative CommonsGrow edible crystals. You can make them any color you want.
Experiment Materials: sugar, water, food coloring, a glass, a string or stick
Anne HelmenstineTurn a raw egg in its shell into a soft and rubbery egg. If you're daring you even bounce these eggs as balls. The same principle can be used to make rubber chicken bones.
Experiment Materials: egg or chicken bones, vinegar
Anne HelmenstineNothing happens if you add food coloring to milk, but it only takes one simple ingredient to turn the milk into a swirling color wheel.
Experiment Materials: milk, dishwashing liquid, food coloring
Anne HelmenstineMake your own pH indicator solution from red cabbage or another pH-sensitive food then use the indicator solution to experiment with the acidity of common household chemicals.
Experiment Materials: red cabbage
Anne HelmenstinePepper floats on water. If you dip your finger into a water and pepper, nothing much happens. You can dip your finger into a common kitchen chemical first and get a dramatic result.
Experiment Materials: pepper, water, dishwashing liquid
Anne HelmenstineYou can make 'hot ice' or sodium acetate at home using baking soda and vinegar and then cause it to instantly crystallize from a liquid in 'ice'. The reaction generates heat, so the ice is hot. It happens so quickly, you can form crystal towers as you pour the liquid into a dish.
Experiment Materials: vinegar, baking soda
Anne HelmenstineHoneycomb candy is an easy-to-make candy that has an interesting texture caused by carbon dioxide bubbles that you cause to form and get trapped within the candy.
Experiment Materials: sugar, baking soda, honey, water
