Chemistry Projects at Home

Chemistry experiments don't have to take place in labs with sophisticated science equipment. Using household items and even food, you can conduct fun chemistry experiments to bring the theories in textbooks to life. Home experiments are not only educational --- they also let you do the activities with family members and friends, and can be great bonding opportunities.
  1. Red Cabbage Indicator

    • Using red cabbage juice, you can make your own pH indicator. (pH is a figure expressing acidity or alkalinity of a solution.) Place grated red cabbage in a pot and pour just enough water to cover the cabbage. Boil the mixture for 20 to 30 minutes until the liquid turns dark purple. Strain the pot contents to remove the cabbage. This dark purple extract turns pink in acidic solutions and green in basic solutions because it contains a substance that reacts to pH changes. Try pouring about 1 tsp. of red cabbage extract into half a cup of vinegar (acid) or laundry ammonia (base).

    Layered Liquids

    • Some liquids such as oil and water don't mix. Known as immiscible liquids, they could create layers when poured into the same container, with the densest liquid sinking to the bottom. Prepare 1/4 cup each of dark corn syrup or honey, dish-washing liquid, water, vegetable oil and rubbing alcohol. Add different food colorings to water and rubbing alcohol. First, pour the dark corn syrup or honey into a clear 12-oz. plastic cup. Next add the dish-washing liquid, colored water, vegetable oil and colored rubbing alcohol. Pour carefully and slowly to create clear boundaries between the different liquids.

    Clean Silver

    • A simple chemistry experiment using common household items can clean tarnished silver. Line the bottom of a pan with aluminum foil, then place the silver item on the foil. Add water to fill another pan, boil it and remove it from the heat. Add about 1 cup of baking soda for each gallon of water. Pour the hot baking soda solution into the aluminum-lined pan to cover the silver item. The tarnish should fade away. This is because the chemical reaction turns silver sulfide, which is usually seen as tarnish on silver, back into silver.

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