121 Plus 9 Chemistry Experiments

Make your own fire extinguisher with a few materials you can find around your house.Things Required:A large, wide-mouth jar with lid2 cups of water3 tablespoonfuls of baking soda1/2 cup of vinegarA large nailHammerA spoonA small jarDirections:First, on a rock outside or on an old workbench or board, turn the lid of the large jar over, […]

In this experiment we will observe a phase change due to the addition of water.Things Required:1/3 cup of Plaster of ParisTablespoonPaper cupPlastic spoonDirections:Pour 1/3 cup of Plaster of Paris into the paper cup. Add 3 tablespoonfuls of water and stir with the plastic spoon. Note: Be careful not to put any of the plaster in

Now, let’s try to grow the cubes of salt crystals.Things Required:Saucer1 sheet of dark construction paperScissorsTable saltTablespoonSmall baby food jar with a lid Directions:Fill the jar one-half full with water. Add 1½ tablespoonfuls of table salt to the water. Secure the lid. Shake the jar vigorously for 30 times; then allow it to stand. Cut

Chemists are always working with new chemicals and trying to find out which ones clean best. Some everyday foods found around the kitchen make good cleaners, too, but which ones?Things Required:Piece of white cotton clothMargarine, oil, or butter (To stain cloth) Paper towels1/4 piece of lemon1/4 piece of onionVinegar1/2 cup of whole milkMarking pen Directions:With

Now let’s try something different. How about growing a layer of lacy salt crystals?Things Required:3 tablespoonfuls of table saltCupTall, slender, clear jarBlack construction paperScissors Directions:Pour 1/2 cup of water into the jar. Add the salt and stir. Cut a 1/2-inch strip from the construction paper. The height of the paper should be about one-half the

Here we try to grow needle-shaped crystals of epsom salt.Things Required:Saucer1 sheet of dark construction paperEpsom salt1 small baby food jar with a lidTablespoonScissors Directions:Fill the jar one-half full with water. Add 2 tablespoonfuls of epsom salt to the water. Secure the lid. Shake the jar vigorously for 60 times; then allow it to stand.

Now let’s really challenge agent detergent, using newly soiled strings.Things Required:Jars with water and detergent-water solution from the last experimentMore short stringsSubstances to soil strings:Grease, Oil, Dirt, Jam, Juice, SpoonDirections:Soil the pairs of strings in juice, grease, dirt, oil, ketchup, mustard or whatever you have, and drop one of each pair into each jar or

Observe the effect that salt has on the temperature of water in this zappy experiment.Things Required:Crushed iceWater3 tablespoonfuls of table saltMetal food can that will hold about 2 cups of liquid Directions:Fill the can with crushed ice. Add 1 cup of water to the can. Wait two to three minutes until water collects on the

This is all about growing fluffy white crystals on charcoal briquets.Things Required:4-5 charcoal briquets1 tablespoonful of household ammonia2 tablespoonfuls of water1 tablespoonful of table salt2 tablespoonfuls of laundry bluing2-quart glass bowl Directions:Place the charcoal briquets in the bottom of the bowl. In a cup, mix together the ammonia, water, table salt and bluing. Pour the

How do laundry detergents work?Things Required:2 medium-size jars, one with lid, filled with waterPieces of white string1 tablespoonful of liquid or dry laundry detergentDirections:Add the detergent to one of the jars. Screw the lid on, shake the jar and remove the lid. The other jar will contain only plain water. Now drop three or four