1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Chemistry

Chemistry: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Periodic Table of the Elements - Interactive Periodic Table of the Elements - Periodic Table of Element Facts
This is an interactive periodic table of the elements or periodic chart of the chemical elements. Click on an element symbol on the periodic table to get detailed facts about the element.
Christmas Tree Preservative
Make your own Christmas tree or cut flower preservative.
Middle School Science Projects
Find ideas for middle school science fair projects. These are projects suitable for the 6-8 grade level.
8th Grade Science Projects
Get ideas for 8th grade science fair projects. These are experiments and topics suitable for upper middle school level science fair projects.
High School Science Projects
Get ideas for great high school science projects. These are projects targeted from the 9-12 grade educational level.
Elementary Science Projects
Find elementary school science fair project ideas suitable for the kindergarten through fifth grade level.
Baking Soda & Baking Powder
Difference Between Baking Powder and Baking Soda - Cooking Substitutions
Balancing Chemical Equations
Use these step by step instructions to write and balance chemical equations.
7th Grade Projects
Find an idea for a 7th grade science fair project or a science project targeted at the intermediate middle school level.
5th Grade Science Projects
Get ideas for 5th grade science fair projects. These are experiments and topics suitable for upper elementary school level science fair projects.
6th Grade Science Projects
Get ideas for 6th grade science fair projects. These are topics and experiments suitable for upper grade school or entry level into middle school.
Atom Basics Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Atom Basics Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge: structure quiz chemistry knowledge model of the atom question quiz science fundamentals
Periodic Properties
Learn about the periodic properties or trends in the periodic table of the elements.
Calculate Concentration
Calculate the concentration of chemical solutions in percent composition by mass, molarity, molality, and normality. Make dilutions by adding the correct volume of solvent to make a new solution.
Build a Baking Soda Volcano
How to make your own baking soda volcano.
Endo/Exothermic Reactions
Learn about endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions and get instructions to perform your own hot and cold chemistry.
Science Project Ideas
These science fair project ideas provide information and questions you can develop into a science fair project. Bookmark this page or check back regularly, since new ideas are added. You may submit an idea for a science fair project to be included in the list.
Snow Images
Snow Images - Scanning Electron Micrographs
4th Grade Science Projects
Get ideas for 4th grade science fair projects. These are experiments and topics suitable for elementary school level science fair projects.
Grow Sugar Crystals
These are step by step instructions for growing your own sugar crystals or rock candy.
Baking Substitutions
Baking powder and baking soda both are leavening agents, which means they help baked goods to rise. They are not the same chemical, but you can substitute one for another in recipes. Here's how.
Grow a Borax Snowflake
Grow your own sparkling clear or colored borax snowflakes.
How to Make a Smoke Bomb
Learn how to make a smoke bomb. This is the list of materials required for making your own smoke bomb.
Chemical Names of Common Substances
Chemical Names of Common Substances: aluminum potassium sulfate aqua ammonia aqua fortis red vermillion chemical names of common substances
9th Grade Science Projects
Find an idea for a 9th grade science fair project or a science project targeted at the entry level for high school.
Printable Periodic Table
Download or print these periodic tables to help work chemistry problems or to predict properties of the elements.
Can You Drink Too Much Water?
Is it really possible to drink to much water? Learn about water intoxication and hyponatremia.
Melting Snow & Ice with Salt
Melting Snow & Ice with Salt - Colligative Properties and Freezing Point Depression.
Oxidation Number Rules
Learn how to assign oxidation numbers to keep track of the distribution of electrons during a chemical reaction.
Chemistry Worksheets
This is a collection of chemistry worksheets in pdf format. The answers to the questions are available on separate worksheets so you can fill them out and then check your work.
Element Picture Quiz - Test Your Recognition of the Elements
Can you recognize the elements when you see them? Here's a quiz that tests your ability to identify an element based on its appearance.
Rock Tumbler Basics
Are you considering getting a rock tumbler? Before you make a purchase, learn about the different types of rock tumblers and get tips on choosing the best tumbler for your needs.
Chemical Bonds & Compounds Chemistry Quiz
Chemical Bonds & Compounds Chemistry Quiz: electron dot structures ionic covalent bonds lewis electron dot structures chemistry quiz chemistry quizzes
How to Grow Great Crystals
How to Grow Great Crystals - Tips, Tricks, and Techniques of Crystal Growing
Element Symbols
Learn the one and two letter symbols for the chemical elements.
Chemical & Physical Changes
Find out what chemical and physical changes are, get examples, and learn how to tell them apart.
Basics of Acids and Bases Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Basics of Acids and Bases Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Make Fake Snow
You can make fake snow using a common polymer. The fake snow is non-toxic, feels cool to the touch, and looks similar to the real thing.
Crystal Meth Facts
Learn what crystal meth is, why people take crystal meth, how it's made, and what risks are associated with using methamphetamine.
How to Write a Lab Report
Lab reports are an essential part of all laboratory courses and usually a significant part of your grade. If your instructor gives you an outline for how to write a lab report, use that. Here's a format for a lab report you can use if you aren't sure what to write or need an explanation of what to include in the different parts of the report.
Endothermic Reaction Examples
This is a list of chemical reactions that are endothermic reactions.
How To Color Fire
Learn how to color fire using these fun and easy instructions.
Home Chemistry Projects
Don't worry if you don't have a chemistry lab. These projects use materials you can find around the house.
Worked Chemistry Problems
These are examples of worked chemistry problems. Printable worksheets with questions and answers are also provided.
Atomic Structure Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Atomic Structure Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
STP Definition
STP, Standard Temperature and Pressure definition, as used in chemistry and other physical sciences.
Neon Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element neon.
Which Mad Scientist Are You? - Mad Scientist Personality Quiz
If you were a famous mad scientist, which mad scientist would you be? Take this fun multiple choice quiz to find out.
3rd Grade Science Projects
Get ideas for 3th grade science fair projects. These are experiments and topics suitable for grade school level science fair projects.
Write a Science Report
Your science fair project may require a lab report or essay. Here's how to prepare a report to document your research.
Make Slime
This is a recipe for homemade slime.
How to Make Liquid Magnets
Make your own ferrofluid, or liquid magnet, which can be used with a magnet to change the liquid's density and to form spikes and other amazing shapes.
Ionic & Covalent Bonds
Learn to distinguish between ionic and covalent bonds, and determine whether a bond will be polar or nonpolar.
Which Element Are You? - Element Personality Quiz
Which chemical element are you? Technically speaking, you mostly consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but which element best represents your personality? Take this fun multiple choice quiz to find out.
Red Cabbage pH Indicator
Make your own pH indicator solution! Red cabbage juice contains a natural pH indicator that changes colors according to the acidity of the solution. Red cabbage juice indicator is easy to make, exhibits a wide range of colors, and can be used to make your own pH paper strips.
Pick a Science Fair Topic
The hardest part of doing a science fair project is narrowing down the choices and picking a topic for your project or experiment. Here's some advice on where to start and how to recognize a good idea.
Crystal Science Projects
Crystals can make interesting and fun science fair projects. Here's a look at some tips and ideas for science fair projects for crystals and crystal growing.
Black Light Glowing Materials
List of materials that glow under ultraviolet or black light
Mass Percent Composition
This is a worked example problem showing how to calculate mass percent composition.
Everyday Chemistry Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Element Symbol Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Acid-Base Indicators
Acid-Base Indicators: hydrogen ion concentrations hydrogen ion concentration acid base indicators useful weak acids sodium salts
How Mood Rings Work
Mood rings have a stone that changes color depending on your emotions. Learn how mood rings work.
Fruit Battery
If you have fruit, a couple of nails, and wire then you can generate electricity to turn on a light bulb. Learn how to make a fruit battery. It's fun, safe, and easy.
How to Balance Redox Reactions
Step-by-step instructions for balancing redox reactions for conservation of mass and charge in electrochemistry.
Flame Tests
A flame test is an easy experimental technique used to help identify a metal or ionic salt based on its emission spectrum when it is heated in a gas flame. Here's how to perfom a flame test and interpret the results of the test.
Firework Color Chemistry
Fireworks combine art and science. Learn about the chemistry behind firework colors, including the mechanisms of color production and a table listing colorants.
Make Rock Candy
Rock candy is candy made by crystallizing sugar. You can grow sugar crystals yourself, plus add color and flavor to make rock candy that you can eat.
Periodic Table Trends - Periodic Table Quiz
Do you understand the trends of periodic table periodicity? Here's a ten question multiple choice quiz you can take to test your periodic table knowledge.
Make Your Own Snow Globe
Make your own snow globe using common household materials.
Temperature Converter - Kelvin Fahrenheit Celsius
Temperature Converter - Kelvin Fahrenheit Celsius: celsius temperature converter fahrenheit celsius chemistry articles temperature conversion homework help
Compound Names Chemistry Quiz
Compound Names Chemistry Quiz: multiple choice test chemistry quiz chemistry quizzes ionic compounds mineral chemistry
Snowflake Chemistry
Here are answers to common questions about snowflakes. Learn how snow forms, what shapes snowflakes take, why snow crystals are symmetrical, whether no two snowflakes really are alike, and why snow looks white.
Elements in the Human Body
Elements in the Human Body
Alkali Metal Properties
Learn about the common properties shared by the alkali metals.
Empirical Formula
Learn how to find the empirical formula from percent composition data.
Metal Properties
Most of the chemical elements are metals of one variety or another. Learn about some of the properties common to this large element group.
Holiday Science Projects
Are you looking for fun and educational science projects that you can do for the winter holidays? These seasonal activities and experiments will entertain you, plus you may learn something too.
Slime Recipe
Get step-by-step instructions for making classic slime.
Iron Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element iron.
Gram - Mole Conversions
Here are worked examples problems for mole to gram or gram to mole conversions.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Learn why carbon monoxide is dangerous to your health and how carbon monoxide detectors and alarms work.
Calcium Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element calcium.
Tired Turkey Syndrome
Find out why everyone wants to take a nap after the big Thanksgiving Day feast. Let's talk turkey and learn about L-tryptophan and carbohydrate metabolism.
Nickel Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element nickel.
Science Quiz - Test Your General Science Knowledge
Test your general science knowledge with this fun multiple choice quiz.
Remove Fluoride from Water
Learn how to remove fluoride from drinking water.
Make Ice Cream in a Baggie
Make Ice Cream in a Baggie - Freezing Point Depression and Colligative Properties
A Chemistry Glossary Terms
Use this chemistry glossary to look up the definitions of chemistry terms beginning with the letter A.
BHA and BHT
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are added to many foods to prevent fat spoilage. This article describes what BHA and BHT are, what they do, and how they do it. There is a fairly lengthy list of references because there is controversy over the health effects of BHA, BHT, and other additives.
Food Science Projects
These are ideas for science fair projects that involve food or cooking chemistry.
Chemical Volcano
Making a baking soda and vinegar volcano is safe and easy, plus it only requires a few inexpensive kitchen ingredients.
Transition Metal Properties
Learn about the characteristics and common properties of the transition metals.
Hydrogen Facts
Get facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element hydrogen.
Aluminum Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element aluminum or aluminium.
Kitchen Science Experiments
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.
Gunpowder Facts and History
Black powder is used as a propellant for bullets, as well as for fireworks and rocketry. Learn how gunpowder works and a bit about its history
Grow a Big Alum Crystal
Instructions for growing a big alum crystal.
Electronic Configuration of the Elements - General Chemistry Table - Hydrogen through Krypton
Electronic Configuration of the Elements - General Chemistry Table - Hydrogen through Krypton
Chemistry Feature Articles
This is a collection of the most recent features added to About's Chemistry website, authored by Dr. Anne Helmenstine.
Sulfur Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element sulfur.
Amino Acids - Chemistry
Characteristics and Molecular Structures of Protein-Derived Amino Acids - Chemistry
Science Fair Poster
Your science fair poster or display will present your project to the rest of the world and possibly to teachers and judges. Here's what you need to know to make your poster a success.
Silver Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element silver or argentum.
Oxygen Facts
Get facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element oxygen.
Sodium Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element sodium.
Why Onions Make You Cry
Find out why you cry when you cut onions and how you can keep it from happening.
Types of Crystals
Types of Crystals - Shapes and Structures
Stoichiometry Chemistry Quiz
Stoichiometry Chemistry Quiz: multiple choice test chemistry quiz chemistry quizzes mineral chemistry mad scientist
Bouncing Polymer Ball
Use chemistry to make a bouncing polymer ball, then alter the procedure to see the effect the changes have on the charactertistics of the bouncing ball.
Formulas of Acids & Bases
Here are the names and formulas of some of the common acids and bases.
Strength of Acids and Bases
Learn about strong and weak acids and bases. Get definitions and examples of each type.
Burning Money
Set money on fire and watch it burn out without damaging the bill. This is a nice magic trick, based on everyday chemistry.
Science Fair Project Help
Get help with your science fair project. Find project ideas, tips for a good display and presentation, online help for questions you need answered right away, and other useful project resources.
Chemistry Fun with Pennies
Learn about the chemistry of metals by using chemistry to clean pennies, oxidize them, and plate copper onto steel.
Law, Hypothesis, Theory
Learn about the difference between a scientific law, hypothesis, and theory.
Element Symbol Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Element Symbol Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Periodic Table Quiz - Test Your Periodic Table Knowledge with a Quiz
Test your periodic table knowledge with this fun multiple choice quiz.
Noble Gas Properties
Get information about the properties shared by the noble or inert gases.
Vitamin C Determination
Use this redox-based iodometric titration to determine the amount of Vitamin C or ascorbic acid in juice and other samples.
Nonmetal Properties
Get information about the common characteristics of the nonmetals.
Antimony Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element antimony.
Molecules and Moles
Learn about molecules, moles, and Avogadro's number.
Heats of Formation - Thermochemistry Table
Heats of Formation - Thermochemistry Table: endothermic exothermic reactions molar heat kj mol chemistry problems heat of formation
Most Abundant Element
Most abundant element in the universe and on the earth.
Grow Table Salt Crystals
It's easy to grow your own table salt or sodium chloride crystals. All it takes is salt and boiling water. One method even yields crystals within a few hours. Here's what you need to know.
Sports Science Projects
There is a lot of science involved in sports. Combine your love of sports with science to come up with the perfect science fair project.
Reaction Rate Factors
Several factors affect the rate at which chemical reactions proceed. Understanding these factors will help you predict the direction and speed of a chemical reaction.
Science Project Types
Learn about the five types of science fair projects, then decide which is right for you.
Halogen Properties
The halogens are a specific group of nonmetals with some distinctive properties.
Helium Facts
Get facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element helium.
Biohazard Sign
Biohazard Sign
Best Crystals for Beginners
Are you interested in growing crystals, but unsure where to start? This is a list of the best crystal growing projects for beginners or anyone seeking top crystals projects based on simplicity, safety, and great results.
Make Silver Polishing Dip
Instructions for making your own chemical dip to polish silver.
Ionic Compound Nomenclature
This is a summary of the past and present nomenclature or naming conventions for ionic compounds. The major prefixes and suffixes are explained and examples of their use are provded.
Periodic Table of the Elements Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Periodic Table of the Elements Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Chemistry Projects for Kids
Are you searching for something fun and educational to do that is suitable for kids? Here are some great chemistry activities and projects to get you started.
How Soap Cleans
Have you ever wondered how soap cleans? Here's an explanation of how soap works and an introduction to saponification, surfactants and emulsifiers.
Boron Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element boron.
Acid Name & Formula Quiz - Common Acids Quiz
Acid Name & Formula Quiz - Common Acids Quiz: formula quiz acids bases acid base chemistry encyclopedia common acids
Carbon Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element carbon.
A Chemical Structures
See chemical and molecular structures. These are structures having names starting with the letter A.
Hot Ice or Sodium Acetate
Sodium acetate or hot ice is an amazing chemical you can prepare yourself from baking soda and vinegar. You can cool a solution of sodium acetate below its melting point and then cause the liquid to crystallize. The crystallization is an exothermic process, so the resulting ice is hot. Solidification occurs so quickly you can form sculptures as you pour the hot ice.
Lewis Structures
Learn about Lewis structures, also called electron dot structures and get step-by-step help drawing them.
Hard and Soft Water
Chemistry of hard and soft water, with information about soaps, detergents, and water softening agents.
How to Make Aspirin
Learn how to synthesize aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, from salicyclic acid. Get information about the history of aspirin, the effects of salicylates, and see the structures of the reactants.
Metalloid Properties
The metalloids or semimetals share some of the properties of metals and some of the properties of nonmentals.
Photosynthesis Study Guide
Learn the essential steps of photosynthesis, the set of chemical reactions plants use to make their own food.
Functional Groups - Organic Chemistry
Functional groups are collections of atoms in a molecule that participate in characteristic reactions. If you are taking organic chemistry, it's a good idea to memorize important functional groups or at least bookmark a past listing functional groups so that you can refer to it.
College Science Fair Projects
Get ideas for science fair projects suitable for college level students. Most of these project are targeted for the freshman year.
Magnesium Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element magnesium.

Explore Chemistry

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Chemistry

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.