Search Results

Visitors add drops of copper sulfate solution onto a steel nail. They observe the nail change color from silver to brown as the copper plates onto the nail.

In this activity (on page 2 of PDF), learners mix oil and water. Then, they add soap and observe what changes! The activity demonstrates how oil and water don't mix, except when soap is added.

Visitors test solutions of water, sugar, salt, and hydrochloric acid and the solids salt and sugar. They clip leads from the hand generator to wires immersed in each substance.

Visitors prepare six solutions combining vinegar and ammonia that range incrementally from acid (all vinegar) to base (all ammonia).

Learners compare the properties of two balls that appear identical. One ball bounces, while the other ball "thuds." The “bounce” ball is made of the polymer polybutadiene (-C4H4-).

Learners experiment with a commercial photo-sensitive paper (Sunprint® or NaturePrint® paper). They place opaque and clear objects on the paper and expose it to bright light, observing the results.

Visitors observe three beakers. One beaker contains an egg immersed in vinegar. Visitors observe carbon dioxide gas escaping from the shell as the calcium carbonate reacts with the vinegar.

Visitors observe a bottle with a balloon attached around the mouth. The bottle contains a solution of yeast, sugar, and water.

In this activity, learners explore temperature changes from chemical reactions by mixing urea with water in one flask and mixing calcium chloride with water in another flask.

In this hands-on activity, learners use heat to shrink samples of polystyrene plastic (#6 recycle code). Learners compare the size and shape of the plastic pieces before and after shrinking.

Learners mix a solution of luminol with hydrogen peroxide to produce a reaction that gives off blue light.

Using electrolysis, learners produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water molecules in a solution.

Learners explore how recyclers take advantage of the different properties of materials, such as magnetism and density, to separate them from a mixture.

Visitors observe a graduated cylinder with a golf ball floating about halfway in liquid. The bottom half of the cylinder contains a concentrated solution of salt.

Visitors mix urea with water in one flask and mix calcium chloride with water in another flask. They observe that the urea flask gets cold and the calcium chloride flask gets hot.

Visitors mix water and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in a large flask. They then add citric acid to the mixture and stopper the flask. The resulting reaction creates carbon dioxide gas.

Visitors separate a mixture of pebbles, salt crystals, and wood shavings by adding water and pouring the mixture through a strainer.

Visitors use heat to shrink samples of polystyrene. They compare samples from containers that were shaped in different ways during manufacturing.

Visitors incrementally increase the amount of iodate in three different test tubes containing the same amount of a starch solution.

Learners observe glow-in-the-dark objects in a homemade light-proof box. Objects can include glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark toys, and toys with fluorescent paint.