Chemistry: Most Popular Articles

Periodic Table of the Elements
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 detailed facts about the element.

Build a Baking Soda Volcano
How to make your own baking soda volcano.

Elementary Science Projects
Find science fair project ideas suitable for the kindergarten through fifth grade level. I've included projects for the preschool level also.

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.

Baking Soda & Baking Powder
Difference Between Baking Powder and Baking Soda - Cooking Substitutions

Grow Sugar Crystals
These are step by step instructions for growing your own sugar crystals or rock candy.

Atom Basics Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Atom Basics Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge

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.

High School Science Projects
Get ideas for great high school science projects. These are projects targeted from the 9-12 grade educational level.

Basics of Acids and Bases Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Basics of Acids and Bases Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge

Acid-Base Indicators
Acid-Base Indicators

Make Slime
This is a recipe for homemade slime.

Can You Drink Too Much Water?
Is it really possible to drink to much water? Learn about water intoxication and hyponatremia.

Endo/Exothermic Reactions
Learn about endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions and get instructions to perform your own hot and cold chemistry.

How to Grow Great Crystals
How to Grow Great Crystals - Tips, Tricks, and Techniques of Crystal Growing

Balancing Chemical Equations
Use these step by step instructions to write and balance chemical equations.

Middle School Science Projects
Find ideas for middle school science fair projects. These are projects suitable for the 6-8 grade level.

Chemical Names of Common Substances
Chemical Names of Common Substances

How Mood Rings Work
Mood rings have a stone that changes color depending on your emotions. Learn how mood rings work.

Worked Chemistry Problems
Examples of worked chemistry problems.

A Chemistry Terms
Use this chemistry glossary to look up the definitions of chemistry terms beginning with the letter A.

Make Ice Cream in a Baggie
Make Ice Cream in a Baggie - Freezing Point Depression and Colligative Properties

Teach Yourself Chemistry
You can teach yourself general chemistry with this step-by-step introduction to the basic concepts.

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.

How to Make Red Cabbage Juice pH Indicator - Acid Base Chemistry
How to Make Red Cabbage juice pH Indicator - Acid Base Chemistry

Natural Mosquito Repellents
Learn about natural ways to repel mosquitoes and develop strategies to reduce your exposure to them.

Home Chemistry Projects
Don't worry if you don't have a chemistry lab. These projects use materials you can find around the house.

How To Color Fire
Learn how to color fire using these fun and easy instructions.

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.

Chemical Physical and Nuclear Changes Quiz - Test Your General Chemistry Knowledge
Chemical Physical and Nuclear Changes Quiz - Test Your General Chemistry Knowledge

Element Symbols
Learn the one and two letter symbols for the chemical elements.

Chemistry Feature Articles
This is a collection of the most recent features added to About's Chemistry website, authored by Dr. Anne Helmenstine.

Periodic Properties
Learn about the periodic properties or trends in the periodic table of the elements.

Hair Color Chemistry
Hair Color Chemistry - Learn How Haircoloring Works

How Borax Cleans
Borax is used as a multipurpose cleaner and bleach. How does it work? Learn how the chemistry of borax relates to its cleaning power. These same properties are also associated with certain health hazards.

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.

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.

A Chemical Structures
See chemical and molecular structures. These are structures having names starting with the letter A.

Grow a Borax Snowflake
Grow your own sparkling clear or colored borax snowflakes.

Types of Crystals
Types of Crystals - Shapes and Structures

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.

Distill Ethanol
Learn how to distill your own ethanol, also knows as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol.

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.

Chemistry Fun with Pennies
Learn about the chemistry of metals by using chemistry to clean pennies, oxidize them, and plate copper onto steel.

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

Preservatives BHA and BHT -Food Preservatives and Additives Chemistry
Chemistry of BHA and BHT - Food Preservatives and Additives Chemistry

How to Balance Redox Reactions
Step-by-step instructions for balancing redox reactions for conservation of mass and charge in electrochemistry.

Atomic Structure Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Atomic Structure Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge

Potato Clock
A potato can function as an electrochemical cell or battery. It's fun to use a potato to power an LED clock.

Electrochemical Cells - Galvanic and Electrolytic Cells
Electrochemical Cells - Galvanic and Electrolytic Cells - Batteries

Introduction to Qualitative Analysis
Introduction to Qualitative Analysis

Endothermic Reaction Examples
This is a list of chemical reactions that are endothermic reactions.

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.

pH of Household Products Quiz
pH of Household Products Quiz

Copper Sulfate Crystals
Copper Sulfate Crystals

Printable Periodic Table
Download or print these periodic tables to help work chemistry problems or to predict properties of the elements.

Black Light Glowing Materials
List of materials that glow under ultraviolet or black light

Elements in the Human Body
Elements in the Human Body

Slime Recipe
Get step-by-step instructions for making classic slime.

Chemical Volcano
Making a baking soda and vinegar volcano is safe and easy, plus it only requires a few inexpensive kitchen ingredients.

How Does Soap Clean - Chemistry of Soap and Saponification
Explanation of how soaps clean - Chemistry of Soap and Saponification

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.

Qualitative Analysis - Chemistry Flame Tests
Qualitative Analysis - Chemistry Flame Tests

Make Invisible Ink - Baking...
Learn how to make invisible ink using baking soda. Heat or grape juice is used to reveal the message.

Grow a Big Alum Crystal
Instructions for growing a big alum crystal.

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.

Melting Snow & Ice with Salt
Melting Snow & Ice with Salt - Colligative Properties and Freezing Point Depression.

Ions, Isotopes, & Atoms Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Ions, Isotopes, & Atoms Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge

Zinc Photograph - Element Photos
Zinc Photograph - Element Photos

Effectiveness of Sports Drinks
Sports Drinks - Do They Hydrate Better? Comparison of beverages for hydrating during exercize

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.

Element Symbol Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Element Symbol Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge

Remove Fluoride from Water
Learn how to remove fluoride from drinking water.

Functional Groups - Organic Chemistry
Functional Groups - Organic Chemistry

Tattoo Ink Chemistry - Pigment Chemistry
Tattoo Ink Chemistry - Pigment Chemistry

Mentos & Soda Chemical Volcano
Add mentos candies to diet soda to create an amazing chemical eruption.

Food Science Projects
These are ideas for science fair projects that involve food or cooking chemistry.

Stoichiometry Chemistry Quiz
Stoichiometry Chemistry Quiz

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.

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.

Caffeine Chemistry
Learn about the chemical and biological properties of caffeine, the methylxanthine stimulant found in coffee and other foods.

Acids and Bases Terms
Understanding acids and bases is important for grasping chemistry concepts. Here's an introduction to acids and bases, with definitions for key acid and base terms.

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.

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.

Soap and Saponification - Chemistry
Chemical Structure and Preparation of Soap - Saponification - Chemistry

Chemical Bonds & Compounds Chemistry Quiz
Chemical Bonds & Compounds Chemistry Quiz

Periodic Table of the Elements Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge
Periodic Table of the Elements Quiz - Test Your Chemistry Knowledge

Chemistry - HowTos
An index of HowTos for the Chemistry guide site.

Create an Endothermic Chemi...
Instructions for a safe and easy endothermic chemical reaction demonstration.

Chemistry Scavenger Hunt
A chemistry scavenger hunt is an educational game where you find items that match a description. Here's a list of chemistry scavenger hunt clues and items that match.

Chemistry Pictures
Find chemistry photos and pictures, including molecular structures, images of glassware, gemstones, safety signs, elements, and famous scientists.

Chemistry Trivia Quiz
Chemistry Trivia Quiz

Grow Epsom Salt Crystals
Epsom salt crystals are easy to grow and form quickly. Here's what you need to know to make your own magnesium sulfate crystals.

Top Chemistry Demos
This is the list of my personal favorite chemistry demonstrations and activities.

Iron Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element iron.

Apple Browning Lab
Perform an experiment to observe the effects of acids, bases, and water on the rate of browning of cut apples.

Chemistry Basics
Start learning chemistry with the basics. Learn what chemistry is, what chemists do, and why it's important to study chemistry.

Most Abundant Element
Most abundant element in the universe and on the earth.

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.

Food Chemistry Quiz
Food Chemistry Quiz

Amino Acids - Chemistry
Characteristics and Molecular Structures of Protein-Derived Amino Acids - Chemistry

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.

Colored Smoke Bomb
Make a smoke bomb that billows clouds of brightly colored smoke. This project is easy and safe enough to at home. Adult supervision is required.

Chemistry 101: An Introduction and Study Tips
Chemistry 101: An Introduction and Study Tips

Neon Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element neon.

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.

Make Disappearing Ink
Learn how to make blue or pink ink that will disappear after exposure to air. Tips for restoring the color are also included.

Hard and Soft Water
Chemistry of hard and soft water, with information about soaps, detergents, and water softening agents.

Timeline of Element Discovery - History of Chemistry
Timeline of Element Discovery - History of Chemistry

Quick Crystals
Grow crystals quickly and easily with these top crystal growing projects.

Make Silver Polishing Dip
Instructions for making your own chemical dip to polish silver.

Chemistry Careers
Here's a look at some of the career options available to you in the field of 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.

Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford

Stainless Steel
Explanation of Why Stainless Steel Resists Rust and Corrosion

Why Babies Have Blue Eyes
Find out why babies are born with blue eyes.

Oxidation Number Rules
Learn how to assign oxidation numbers to keep track of the distribution of electrons during a chemical reaction.

Chemical & Physical Changes
Find out what chemical and physical changes are, get examples, and learn how to tell them apart.

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.

Introduction to Chemistry
Virtual Chemistry Textbook: Learn what chemistry is and why we study it.

Hydrogen Facts
Get facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element hydrogen.

How Do Smoke Detectors Work?
Explanation of How Smoke Detectors / Alarms Work - Photoelectric and Ionization Smoke Detectors

How Detergents Clean
Learn about the chemistry behind the cleaning power of detergents.

Alkali Metal Properties
Learn about the common properties shared by the alkali metals.

What Causes Rigor Mortis?
Learn what rigor mortis is and why it happens.

Strength of Acids and Bases
Learn about strong and weak acids and bases. Get definitions and examples of each type.

Formulas of Acids & Bases
Here are the names and formulas of some of the common acids and bases.

What Is Distillation?
Explanation of the process of distillation, a common method used in chemistry to separate substances.

Metal Quiz
Metal Quiz

Periodic Table of the Elements - Fireworks & Pyrotechnics
This is an interactive periodic table of the elements showing the uses of elements in fireworks and pyrotechnics.

Dangeous Chemical Mixtures
Don't mix these common household chemicals.

Transition Metal Properties
Learn about the characteristics and common properties of the transition metals.

Silver Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element silver or argentum.

Element Atomic Number Quiz - Science Tests and Quizzes
Element Number Quiz - Science Tests and Quizzes

Sodium Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element sodium.

Periodic Table Study Guide
Learn about the periodic table of the elements. Find out about the history of the periodic table, how the elements are organized, and how to use the periodic table to predict the behavior of unfamiliar elements.

Temperature Converter - Kelvin Fahrenheit Celsius
Temperature Converter - Kelvin Fahrenheit Celsius

Element Color Quiz
Element Color Quiz

Goo Recipe
Make squishy non-toxic goo that hardens in your hands when you squeeze it, but flows like a liquid when you pour it.

Conversion Worksheets
Use these printable worksheets to practice unit conversions. These pdf question and answers will test your understanding of metric-metric, metric-English, temperature, and mole-gram conversions.

Nonmetal Properties
Get information about the common characteristics of the nonmetals.

Green Fire Instructions
It's easy to make brilliant green fire. This cool chemistry project only takes two household chemicals.

Oxygen Facts
Get facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element oxygen.

Reverse Osmosis
Explanation of Reverse Osmosis.

Sparkler Instructions
Learn how to make your own sparklers, for Independence Day or New Years Day fun.

Sample Chemistry Problems - Concentration and Molarity
Sample Chemistry Problems - Concentration and Molarity

Potassium Facts
Get periodic table facts on the chemical and physical properties of the element potassium.

Famous Chemists
This is an alphabetical list of famous chemists.

Solubility Rules - Ionic Solids in Water
Solubility Rules - Ionic Solids in Water

Fireball Instructions
If you can find a tee shirt and some lighter fluid, you can make small fireballs. These fireballs are re-useable. Theoretically, you can hold them in your hand.