7 Easy Chemistry Experiments for Kids

Chemistry is a fascinating subject for kids, with many simple experiments that can be completed at home with ordinary equipment. Conducting easy chemistry experiments helps kids learn about nature and science, develop observational skills, learn logical thinking, and practice teamwork and communication.

Finally, many of these experiments are a fun and inexpensive way to keep kids busy and engaged on a rainy day. Keep reading to find out some easy chemistry experiments for kids.

At-Home Science Basics

Before conducting any chemistry experiments, it’s a good idea to talk with your kids about the basics of science and understand how to work safely. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Protective Equipment

Even for safe experiments, it’s always best to practice lab safety. Wearing eye protection, gloves, and aprons can help prevent accidents and simplify cleanup. Small kids may even enjoy the dress-up aspect of protective equipment, so consider making it part of your chemistry kit and start good safety habits early.

Measurement

Repeatability is a crucial aspect of science, so chemistry experiments require accurate measurements. Kids who are too young to accurately measure liquids, weigh solids, or track time, may need help from an adult. For older kids, chemistry experiments can also be an excellent way to practice basic math skills. Ask your child to halve or double the quantities in the experiment.

Note-Taking

Note-taking is also an essential aspect of science and boosts cognitive skills. Ask your kids to write down the steps they follow during the experiment and their observations of the results. Maintaining a scientific journal can be fun, engaging, and a great way to foster a budding scientist.

7 Easy Chemistry Experiments for Kids

Use a Cabbage to Learn About Acids and Bases

Many of the most fun at-home chemistry experiments involve playing with the unique properties of acids and bases. This red cabbage experiment is a great way to introduce the concept so kids can explore it further.

Note that this experiment may involve some household cleaners and other substances that may be toxic and should be handled carefully. During this experiment, always mix substances with the cabbage liquid, and do not mix the substances with each other.

To perform the red cabbage chemistry experiment, you will need the following:

• Thin slices of several red cabbage leaves
• A large jar or bottle
• Hot tap water
• Seven or more clear cups or jars of the same size
• Seven or more spoons or stir sticks
• Several different household or kitchen substances range from acidic to basic. Some options include:
• Strongly acidic substances like toilet cleaners
• Acidic substances like vinegar, lemon juice, or citric acid
• Weak acids like cream of tartar
• Neutral substances like water or baby shampoo
• Slightly basic substances like baking soda
• Basic substances like milk of magnesia or washing soda
• Strongly basic substances like dishwashing liquid

To perform this experiment, follow these steps:

1. Place the shredded cabbage leaves inside a large bottle with very hot tap water
2. Place the lid on the bottle and shake it
3. As the liquid cools, the water should become a deep purple color. Allow it to cool completely
4. While the cabbage liquid is cooling, add a small amount (approximately a teaspoon) of your acids and bases to each clear cup. If you line up the cups in order of strong acids to strong bases, you will create a rainbow effect.
5. When the cabbage liquid has cooled, strain out the cabbage leaves and return the liquid to the larger container, adding enough water to create about a liter of cabbage liquid
6. Pour the cabbage liquid into each of the cups, half-filling each cup
7. Stir each cup and note how the color changes

Use this experiment to learn more about acids, bases, and pH. Use the rest of the cabbage liquid to test other household items and see how acidic or basic they are.

Create a Rubber Egg

This easy chemistry experiment is a great way to learn more about acids and their effects while enjoying an unusual sensory experience. For this experiment, you will need the following:

• A hard-boiled egg with an intact shell
• A glass of vinegar

To make the rubber egg, follow these steps:

1. Place the hard-boiled egg inside the glass of vinegar
2. You will see bubbles start to form on the egg
3. Leave the egg in the glass for at least 24 hours. A white scummy foam should rise to the surface over time
4. Remove the egg from the glass and rinse it in water. The eggshell will dissolve as you rub it gently
5. You can poke and squeeze the rubber egg

In this experiment, the acetic acid in the vinegar dissolves the calcium carbonate that forms the hard surface of the eggshell, leaving the inner shell membrane intact. The bubbles are carbon dioxide released from the chemical reaction. You may take other household items made of minerals, like seashells or pebbles, and place them in vinegar to see if they create bubbles: if there are bubbles, it means the item has calcium carbonate in it.

Make a Lemon Volcano

A lemon volcano is a fun experiment that helps build upon the knowledge of acids and bases while being satisfyingly dramatic and messy. It’s a simpler, smaller-scale version of the traditional vinegar volcano and relies on things you already have at home. To make the lemon volcano, you will need the following:

• A whole lemon
• Baking soda
• Dish soap
• Food coloring (optional)

To make a lemon volcano, follow these steps:

1. Slice a lemon in half
2. Place the lemon half-cut side up in a large dish or bowl
3. Use a fork to poke all over the flesh of the lemon, releasing more juices
4. Place drops of food coloring onto the lemon. Use different colors in different areas if you wish
5. Pour a layer of dish soap across the top of the lemon
6. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the lemon, starting the volcano
7. If you want, squeeze the other half of the lemon over the volcano to create a bigger reaction

Use this experiment to talk about how acids and bases react. If you have completed the red cabbage experiment, speculate or experiment to find out what might happen with other ingredients besides lemon and baking soda.

Inflate a Balloon with Lemon Juice

This cool science experiment harnesses the power of the lemon volcano to inflate a balloon. It’s a great way to show how the reactions between acids and bases emit gases that we usually can’t see. To inflate a balloon with lemon juice, you will need the following:

• Lemon juice
• Baking soda
• A small balloon
• Water bottle or another container with a narrow opening
• Glass or container with pour spout

To inflate a balloon with lemon juice, follow these steps:

1. Place lemon juice into a glass or a container with a pour spout
2. Place a teaspoon of baking soda into a water bottle or other bottle with a narrow opening
3. Stretch the balloon over the water bottle, with a small opening, but positioned to cap the bottle quickly
4. Pour the lemon juice into the water bottle
5. Quickly close the balloon over the opening of the water bottle
6. The balloon should inflate

This experiment further builds on knowledge of acids and bases and helps to introduce the concept of gases and states of matter.

Soda Fountain Experiment

This experiment can be extremely messy and is best done outdoors, but it is entertaining and informative. To make the soda fountain experiment, you will need the following:

• A roll of mint candies
• A 2L bottle of a carbonated soft drink (diet drinks are easier to clean up because there is less sticky sugar residue)
• A funnel, tube, or roll of paper large enough for the candies

To perform the soda fountain experiment, follow these steps:

1. Working in a large outdoor area, open the bottle of soda and place it on a stable surface
2. Using your finger, block the end of the funnel or tube
3. Fill the funnel or tube with all the mint candies
4. Carefully put the end of the funnel over the bottle of soda
5. Remove your finger, allowing the candies to fall into the soda
6. Step back quickly and watch the fountain

This experiment creates a volcano effect, but not because of the mixing of acids and bases. The soda volcano is created by:

• Opening the soda bottle, which allows the carbon dioxide gases in the beverage to expand
• Adding candies, which have a large surface area that triggers the rapid release of gases

Anything with a large surface area will cause the soda fountain to form, including sand or sugar. Try this experiment with smooth and rough candies and see what happens.

Grow Your Own Crystals

Growing crystals is a classic at-home science experiment that fascinates new generations of kids. Here is how to grow sugar crystals and make rock candy at home. This experiment requires handling very hot water, so an adult may need to help or supervise. You will need the following:

• 3 cups of white sugar
• 1 cup of boiling water
• Clean glass or jar
• A wooden skewer
• Flavoring extracts like cherry or cinnamon (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)

To make sugar crystals, follow these steps:

1. Add the sugar to the boiling water and stir to dissolve completely. You may need to pop it into the microwave for more heat to get the liquid wholly dissolved and clear
2. Add a few drops of flavoring and/or food coloring if you choose to
3. Pour the sugar solution into a clear glass or jar
4. Place a wooden skewer into the solution
5. Set the solution aside and leave it for a few days. You may wish to cover it with a paper towel or coffee filter that will allow water evaporation while keeping the solution free of dust or debris

Observe how the crystals form over time. If you see crystals forming against the glass at the top of your jar, you may want to remove them: they will reduce the amount and size of crystals that form along the skewer

Once your skewer is covered with candy crystals, remove it and enjoy! If you wish to save it for later, store it in an airtight container

This experiment is a great way to learn about saturation and precipitation and invites many variations for further experimentation. For example, the amount of sugar that will dissolve in water increases as you heat the water. See how much sugar dissolves in cold water, hot tap water, and boiling water. Once the solution is saturated, crystals form as they precipitate from the solution. Try cooling the liquid more quickly to see how rapidly crystals form. You can also form crystals from other household items, like salt or baking soda. And younger children may enjoy experimenting with food coloring combinations and learning more about color and light during the process.

Make a Density Jar

Density is an important concept in chemistry, and it is fun and easy to learn at home. To make the simplest form of a density jar, you will need the following:

• A clean, empty glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
• Clean water
• Cooking oil
• Food coloring (optional)

To make your density jar, follow these steps:

1. Add water to fill your glass jar about halfway
2. Add a couple drops of food coloring (optional)
3. Add cooking oil to fill the jar, leaving a little room at the top

Notice how the liquids stay separate, even when you seal and shake the jar. Find small items around the house and drop them in the jar (a coin, a small toy, a plastic bead, etc.). See what kinds of things will float at different levels in the jar. Try this experiment with other liquids like honey, dish soap, salt water solutions, rubbing alcohol, milk, and more.