Chemistry How-To Collection

Guide picks

This is a collection of easy-to-follow instructions for applying chemistry to

projects such as making plastic, volcanos, slime, tattoo ink, smoke, crystals, bath
bombs, and more!

Chemistry Activities for Kids

These are chemistry demonstrations, crafts, and projects that are suitable for
kids. Some activities require adult supervision.

Holiday How-To's
Here are chemistry activities that are just right for the holidays! Make fake blood
for Halloween, borax snowflakes for Christmas, and add fog to parties.

How To Build a Volcano

Okay, it's the kitchen equivalent of a volcano, not a real one. The 'eruption' is
cool all the same! It's also more or less non-toxic, which adds to its appeal.

How To Color Fire

Have you ever wanted to color fire? Here are simple, nontechnical instructions for
making your own colored flames. Add extra interest to your fireplace or campfire!

How to Create an Endothermic Reaction (Safely)

Most endothermic reactions contain toxic chemicals, but this citric acid and
sodium bicarbonate reaction is safe and easy.

How To Create an Exothermic Chemical Reaction

Exothermic chemical reactions produce heat. In this reaction vinegar is used to
remove the protective coating from steel wool, allowing it to rust. When the iron
combines with oxygen, heat is released.

How To Do Paper Chromatography with Leaves

Most plants contain several pigment molecules, so experiment with different
leaves to see the wide range of pigments.

How To Get Iron Out of Breakfast Cereal

Cold breakfast cereals are usually fortified with iron. What does the iron look like?
Find out here!

How to Grow a Big Alum Crystal

Do you want to grow a big single crystal instead of a mass of crystals? Then try
out these instructions for growing a big alum crystal. You can apply the
techniques used here to grow big single crystals of other substances, too.

How to Grow a Borax Snowflake

Do real snowflakes melt too quickly? Grow a borax snowflake, color it blue if you
like, and enjoy the sparkle all year long!

How to Grow Crystal Spikes in the Sun

Most crystals take days or weeks to form. Use this technique if you have a sunny
day and want crystals FAST!

How To Grow Silver Crystals

All it takes is silver nitrate and either copper wire or mercury to grow these
sparkling metal crystals.

How To Make a Classic Chemical Volcano

Here are the instructions for making the classic chemical volcano. This
demonstration uses ammonium dichromate to produce 'Vesuvius fire', with
glowing sparks and a cone of deep green ash.

How to Make a Fizzy Bath Bomb

Use your chemistry to make a fizzy, scented bath bomb. Make them for yourself
or give them as gifts!

How to Make a Lava Lamp - Non-Toxic Version

While real lava lamps and lava lites rely on trade secrets, you can get a similar
effect with simple household ingredients.

How To Make a Lava Lamp - Realistic Version

These instructions for making a lava lamp or lava lite are for the experienced
hobbyist, not kids or novices.

How to Make a Patriotic Density Column

This is a fun chemistry-type decoration for July 4th or any time you want a
colorful demonstration of density layers. Use different colored lamp oils and food
colors for other holidays.

How To Make a Snow Globe

The 'chemistry' part of this lies in choosing a good liquid and sealant for your
globe. Nontoxic and fun!

How To Make Bath Salts

Use chemistry to make gifts or to pamper yourself. These are instructions for
scented and colored bath salts.

How To Make Black Powder or Gunpowder

Black powder is used as a propellant for bullets, as well as for fireworks and
rocketry. Use these instructions for history, not practical application!

How To Make Bubble Solution

Save some pennies and make this bubble mix yourself! Most drugstores and
pharmacies carry glycerine.

How To Make Colored Chalk

This is cool colored chalk, for sidewalks or anywhere! Washes off with water, too.

How To Make Copper and Brass Cleaner

Use these easy instructions to combine common household ingredients to make
your own copper, brass, and bronze cleaner.

How To Make Edible Fake Barf

Making a simulant is a form of chemistry, right? Here are instructions for making
your own edible fake barf. Ick!

How To Make Electroactive Slime

This recipe makes cool, non-toxic slime that appears to have a life of its own!

How To Make Fake Blood

This results in a non-toxic, realistic stage blood.

How To Make Fake Glass

These instructions will result in either clear or amber glass, depending on the
cooking time used.

How To Make Fake Snot

This is a gooey, gross variation of the traditional slime recipe, great for Halloween
and other occasions requiring snot.

How To Make Fake Wounds

Let's combine chemicals (ingredients) to make fake wounds suitable for
Halloween or other special events.

How To Make Fruity Putty

These are step-by-step instructions on how to make fruity putty.

How To Make Gel Air Fresheners

Feeling crafty? If you can make Jello, then you can make your own gel air
fresheners. It's easy and fun. You can choose your own scents and colors. For
holiday fun, consider layering different colored gels or using seasonal fragrances
(e.g., pine or cinnamon for Christmas).

How To Make Gelatin Plastic

Colorful gelatin shapes can be used to make jewelry, mobiles, decorations, and
more!

How To Make Glow in the Dark Ink

These are instructions for making glow in the dark ink. However, the instructions
are presented as a curiosity or for information only, NOT for use.

How To Make Gunk

This is sort of like slime, but drier and very non-toxic if left uncolored.

How To Make Invisible Ink - Baking Soda

These are quick and easy instructions for making non-toxic invisible ink using
baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

How To Make Invisible Ink - Corn Starch

The writing for this invisible ink technique is done using corn starch. An iodine
solution is used to reveal the message.

How To Make Invisible Ink - Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is acidic and weakens paper. When paper is heated, the remaining
acid turns the writing brown before discoloring the paper.

How To Make Koolaid Playdough

This recipe results in an edible, fruit-scented playdough.

How To Make Lickable Stickers

This is a recipe for non-toxic sticker glue.

How To Make Metamucil Flubber

This recipe makes a non-sticky sort of 'rubber' or gelatinous slime.

How To Make Natural Easter Egg Dyes

These are easy instructions for making your own natural Easter egg dyes, using
fruits, vegetables, and spices.

How to Make Natural Plastic from Dairy

Plastics are generally produced from petroleum, but they can come from other
sources as well! All that is really required is the ability to join molecules
containing carbon and hydrogen together, which you do whenever you curdle
milk.

How to Make Natural Toothpaste

It's fast, easy, non-toxic, and fluoride-free! Use these instructions to make your
own natural toothpaste.

How To Make Non-Toxic Glue from Milk

Use common kitchen materials to make your own glue. Add vinegar to milk,
separate the curds, and add baking soda and water. Glue!

How To Make Non-Toxic Gravy Fingerpaints

These finger paints are just right for aspiring artists! Use soap and water for
clean-up. Be aware that the food coloring could stain fabrics and furniture.

How To Make Non-Toxic Paste

This is the classic, simple flour paste.

How To Make Non-Toxic Smoke or Fog

While renting a smoke machine is a reliable option, here are fog instructions for
the do-it-yourself types.

How to Make Red Cabbage pH Indicator

Make your own pH indicator solution! Red cabbage juice indicator is easy to
make, exhibits a wide range of colors, and can be used to make your own pH
paper strips.

How To Make Resin Papier Mache Paste

This papier mache paste dries to a hard finish.

How to Make Silver Polishing Dip

Why use elbow grease to remove tarnish from silver when all you need to do is
dip it in this easy-to-make nontoxic solution? I've also included some tips for
preventing tarnish in the first place.

How To Make Singing Cake

This is the recipe for a singing cake. The cake sings while baking and then it is
ready to eat!
How To Make Slime
There are lots of recipes for slime. Since most recipes are easy, look for one
using ingredients you have on hand.

How To Make Soap

These are the instructions for making your own gentle hand or face soap. It's
work, but worth the effort!

How To Make Sparkly Paint

This non-toxic paint uses starch and salt for its glittery effects.

How To Make Your Own Wave Tank

Wave tanks use liquids with two different densities that won't mix together.
Here's an easy, non-toxic method.

How To Mix Tattoo Ink

If you understand sterilization techniques, some of the safest and best tattoo inks
may be those you mix yourself.

How To Perform a Quick Saponification Reaction

Making your own soap can be a time-consuming process, but you can
demonstrate the saponification reaction quickly and easily by reacting oil of
wintergreen and sodium hydroxide to make sodium salicylate.

How to Prepare Gases

Here are simple instructions for preparing common gases from ordinary
chemicals. The gases include carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, methane, nitrous
oxide, chlorine, and several others.

Rock Tumbler Instructions

Here are instructions for tumbling rocks using a rotary drum tumbler and a
vibratory tumbler, as well as instructions for polishing jewelry in a rock tumbler.
Helpful tips are included for improving the polish and troubleshooting problems.

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