Middle School, Chemistry Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 5)

From Dull to Dazzling: Using Pennies to Test How pH Affects Copper Corrosion

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Pennies are bright and shiny when they are new, but become quite dull with time. What causes such a drastic change? Oxygen in the air combines with the copper in the penny to form copper oxide, which makes the penny look dull and dingy. You can make the pennies look like new again by soaking them in water that is corrosive enough to strip off the copper oxide layer. It turns out, however, that the same process that makes the pennies shiny has bad consequences when it comes to copper pipes: it… Read more

Is Plant-Based Milk as Protein-Packed as Dairy Milk?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

What kind of milk do you drink in your household? Do you drink 2% dairy milk, whole dairy milk, or plant-based milk like almond milk or soy milk? Have you ever considered why you drink it? As more sustainable and alternative food options become increasingly available, people are interested in the nutritional value of plant-based foods. The US government dietary guidelines state that dairy milk is a good source of protein. Are plant-based milk sources also a good source of protein? In this… Read more

Measuring the Amount of Acid in Vinegar by Titration with an Indicator Solution

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wondered why some foods taste really sour? Vinegar is one example that you might know from salad dressings or pickles. They taste pretty sour, right? There are many different types of vinegar that you can buy to use around the kitchen for cooking and pickling. The chemical compound that gives vinegar its tart taste and pungent smell is acetic acid. Do you think all the different vinegars contain the same amount of acetic acid? Are there some that are more sour than others? How… Read more

The Chemistry of Clean: Make Your Own Soap to Study Soap Synthesis

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Soap comes in many varieties and forms—from bars to bottles to boxes. The uses for soaps are just as expansive—from cleaning our hands, hair, and faces to a variety of household cleaning jobs, such as dishes or laundry. One thing all these different soaps have in common is their chemical origin; they were all made by mixing fat or oil with a strongly basic solution, such as lye. In this chemistry science project, you will carry out the chemical steps needed to transform coconut oil… Read more

Big Pieces or Small Pieces: Which React Faster?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Some chemical reactions occur explosively fast, others may occur almost imperceptibly s-l-o-w-l-y. This project explores what effect the particle size of the reactants has on the speed of a chemical reaction: production of carbon dioxide gas by an Alka-Seltzer® tablet. Read more

Solar-powered Chemistry: Study Chemical Reaction Rates in Ultraviolet Beads

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Most of the ultraviolet (UV) light produced by the Sun is blocked by the atmosphere, but some UV light does still reach Earth. It can be detected using electronic devices, but can also be detected with something called UV beads. UV beads contain a pigment that changes color when they are exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. In this chemistry science fair project, you will use UV beads to study how temperature affects the rate at which they lose their color. Read more

Water to Fuel to Water: The Fuel Cycle of the Future

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Solar cells are popping up on rooftops everywhere these days and are a model for clean, renewable energy. Did you ever look at those solar panels and wonder how we can get electricity produced by solar cells when the sun is not shining? It is a great question because solar panels do not produce electricity when it is dark outside. One strategy to overcome this challenge is to store the energy produced by solar cells during the day in the form of a fuel that can be used at a later time. In this… Read more

Colorful Patterns in Melting Ice

STEM Activity

1

2

3

4

5

113 reviews

Have you ever wondered why ice cubes in your cold drink become gradually smaller, or why their surface becomes smoother as they melt? Does ice always melt this way? In this activity, you will use water balloons to create giant ice balls and observe how they melt. Can you predict the effect a bit of salt will have on your giant ice ball? Read more

The Chemistry of Hair Highlights

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever tried to make parts of your hair lighter than the rest of your hair? Perhaps the way you tried to do it did not lighten it or maybe it turned out a weird orange color? With this science project you can understand why. Read more

Blowing the Best Bubbles

STEM Activity

1

2

3

4

5

47 reviews

If you have ever tried to make bubbles using plain water, you may have seen that it does not work. This is because the surface tension of water is too high. When detergent is added to water, it lowers the surface tension so that bubbles can form. Other things can be added to this mixture, such as corn syrup or glycerin, to make a solution that is even better for creating bubbles. In this science activity, you will find out which solution creates the best bubbles! Read more

Middle School, Chemistry Projects, Lessons, Activities (91 results)

Explore Our Science Videos