Kitchen Chemistry: Simple Science Experiments Using Household Ingredients

Science experiments can be a fun way to learn about the world. The great news is that you don’t need fancy equipment or special ingredients. Many science experiments can be done using everyday household ingredients.

Conducting experiments at home helps kids develop valuable STEM skills such as problem-solving, observation and analysis. Through these experiences, they develop a deeper understanding of STEM concepts and gain confidence in their abilities.

Here are some simple and fun science experiments that you can do with your kids using everyday household ingredients.

Dancing Raisins

Materials:

Handful of raisins
Glass of lemonade

Drop the raisins into a tall glass of lemonade. The raisins will start to “dance” as they move up and down in the liquid. This occurs because the tiny bubbles in the carbonated drink attach to the wrinkled surface of the raisins, causing them to float to the top.

Once they reach the surface, the bubbles pop, releasing the raisins back down to the bottom, and the cycle will start again. This experiment teaches kids about concepts like buoyancy, surface tension, and gas release.

Magnetic Cereal

Materials:

Bowl of cereal
Magnet

Drop the magnet into a bowl of cereal. When you pull it out some of the cereal will stick to the magnet. This experiment not only demonstrates magnetic properties but also reveals an interesting fact about our everyday foods.

Many breakfast cereals are fortified with iron, and this experiment showcases how the iron content in these cereals can be attracted by a magnet. Iron is a vital mineral for our bodies as it plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy blood and overall well-being. Take the opportunity to talk about iron-rich foods and their importance.

Invisible Ink

Materials:

Lemon juice
Cotton tip
Piece of paper

Dip the cotton tip in the lemon juice and then take it out and write a message on a piece of paper. Once the juice dries, the message will become completely invisible to the naked eye, leaving no trace.

To reveal the hidden message, simply hold the paper up to a source of heat, such as a light bulb or a candle flame. As the heat interacts with the lemon juice, it undergoes a chemical reaction that causes the message to slowly darken. Through this experiment, kids can learn about the science behind chemical reactions and concepts such as oxidation.

Milk Rainbow

Materials:

Milk
Food colouring
Cotton tip

Begin by pouring a generous amount of milk into a shallow dish, ensuring that it covers the bottom evenly. Next, add a few drops of different coloured food colouring to the milk, scattering them across the surface.

Dip a cotton swab into some dish soap and gently touch it to the surface of the milk. The colours will come to life, swirling and mingling together. This happens because as the soap touches the surface of the milk, it disrupts the delicate balance of surface tension that holds the liquid together. This disruption creates a chain reaction and it can help kids understand the science behind surface tension and the role of soap in breaking it.

DIY Lava Lamp

Materials:

Clear plastic bottle
Food colouring
Vegetable oil
Alka-Seltzer tablet

Begin by filling a clear plastic bottle three-quarters full with water. Add a few drops of food colouring. Slowly pour vegetable oil into the bottle until it almost reaches the brim, creating distinct layers of oil and water.

The oil will float on top of the water, forming a barrier between the two liquids. Drop an Alka-Seltzer tablet into the bottle. As the tablet dissolves, tiny bubbles of coloured water will bubble up from the bottom, creating a stunning lava lamp effect. Through this experiment, kids will learn about chemical reactions and density.

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