Chemistry Experiments

Grow large, transparent octahedral potassium alum crystals from a supersaturated solution.

Separate a mixture of salt and sand using fractional crystallization, demonstrating dissolution, filtration, and evaporative crystallization.

Grow large, well-formed copper sulfate pentahydrate crystals using the slow evaporation method, demonstrating supersaturation and crystal lattice formation.

Grow large sugar (sucrose) crystals on a string to create rock candy, demonstrating supersaturation and nucleation with an edible product.

Demonstrate the concept of liquid density by layering immiscible liquids of different densities in a tall column.

Demonstrate the concept of refractive index by making a glass object disappear in a liquid that matches its refractive index.

Demonstrate the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using potassium iodide, illustrating concepts of catalysis, exothermic reactions, and gas evolution.

Demonstrate supercooling by cooling purified water below 0°C without freezing, then triggering instant crystallization.

Create and explore a non-Newtonian fluid that behaves as both a solid and a liquid depending on the applied force.

Verify the electrochemical activity series by testing whether metals can displace other metals from solution.

Construct a simple galvanic cell using a lemon, copper coin, and zinc nail to demonstrate how chemical energy converts to …

Compare different rust prevention methods and understand how galvanic protection (sacrificial anodes) works electrochemically.

Observe the brick-red to orange-red flame produced by calcium ions, a common element found in limestone, marble, and bones.

Observe the characteristic blue-green flame produced by copper(II) ions, one of the most visually striking flame tests.

Observe the characteristic crimson-red flame color produced by lithium ions, and compare it to other alkali metal flame tests.

Observe the lilac/violet flame color produced by potassium ions, and learn to use cobalt blue glass to distinguish it from …

Observe the characteristic bright yellow flame produced when sodium compounds are heated, demonstrating how metal ions produce specific flame colors.

Observe the bright scarlet-red flame produced by strontium ions, commonly used in red fireworks and emergency flares.

Build a Cartesian diver to demonstrate gas compressibility and the relationship between pressure and buoyancy.

Demonstrate Charles's law by measuring the circumference of an air-filled balloon at different temperatures.

Generate carbon dioxide gas from a carbonate-acid reaction and confirm its identity using the limewater test.

Create slime by cross-linking polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with sodium borate, demonstrating polymer chemistry and non-Newtonian fluid behavior.

Determine whether an organic compound contains halogen atoms (Cl, Br, I) using the Beilstein copper wire test.

Determine the relative hardness of water samples by measuring the volume of soap solution required to produce a lasting lather.

Observe how different pH indicators change color at specific pH values and understand the concept of indicator transition ranges.

Use the iodine test to identify starch in various food samples and understand the molecular basis of the blue-black color …

Measure the temperature change when ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, demonstrating an endothermic dissolution process used in instant cold packs.

Compare the enthalpy of dissolution of different salts (NaOH, CaCl₂, NH₄NO₃, KNO₃) to show that dissolution can be exothermic or …

Determine the enthalpy of fusion of ice by adding a known mass of ice to warm water and measuring the …