Chemistry Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 15)

Capable Carbon Filters

STEM Activity

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Do you filter your tap water before drinking? Maybe at home you have a water filter on your faucet, in the fridge, or use special pitchers that have a filter unit in them. You have probably heard in commercials that these filters are supposed to make your water cleaner and safer to drink. But have you ever wondered what, exactly, these filters are doing and if the water is really cleaner in the end? Find out about the cleaning power of water filters in this activity; but for results you can… Read more

Diaper Science: How Hydrogels Absorb Water

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Many disposable diapers contain a polymer, called sodium acrylate, which is useful for absorbing water. Do background research to learn about sodium acrylate, and how it reacts with water. Make sure that you understand the terms hydrophilic, polarity, hydrogel and hydrogen bonding. Cut out the middle, padded section of a disposable diaper. Cut this into equally-sized square pieces, approximately 10-12 cm on a side. Remove some of the stuffing material so that you can staple the open… Read more

Does It Sink or Float? Depends on the Soap!

STEM Activity

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If you’ve ever had to wash dishes, you know that the right dish soap can make a dirty job a lot easier. Have you ever wondered how dish soap is able to clean dishes so much more effectively than water alone? Like many household cleaners, dish soap is a surfactant – it helps break up leftover food on plates by making it easier for food particles to dissolve in water. The dish soap also breaks up the water molecules themselves, which leads to some pretty interesting kitchen science… Read more

Dye Eggs Using Silk Ties for Egg-cellent Colors

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever dyed eggs? Turning eggshells from white into different, dazzling colors can be a lot of fun! To do this, most people buy dye tablets to make different colors in a liquid bath. They then dip the egg into the liquid and wait till it turns the desired color. You can dye eggs in many other ways, and one neat method uses silk ties. Sounds strange to use clothing to dye eggs, right? But it actually works really well! In this science project, you will dye eggs with old or used… Read more

E-factor: Environmental Impact Factor for Chemical Reactions

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-12th

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In this lesson, students will do a simple exercise with M&Ms to understand what environmental impact factor (E-factor) is, how it applies to chemical processes, and how waste from chemical reactions can be reduced by applying the principles of green chemistry. Learning Objectives Students will: Understand strategies for reducing waste Perform an exercise which has them practice E-factor Relate the exercise to chemical processes NGSS Alignment MS-PS1-3. Gather and make… Read more

Explore the Effects of pH on Lead Testing.

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Lead is a very hazardous element. Even very small amounts can cause health problems, especially in babies and young children. One way to determine if a household item, such as a toy or a piece of jewelry, contains lead is to soak the item in a solution, and then test the solution for lead that might have leached out of the item. The goal of this chemistry science fair project is to determine how varying the pH of the test solution affects its ability to dissolve lead, which is a critical step… Read more

Folded or Flat Paper Towel: Which One Absorbs Most?

STEM Activity

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It’s fall, which means flu season. We all know that washing hands a few extra times a day can help keep colds and flu at bay, so we wash hands frequently and use a paper towel…then another one, maybe even three or four to dry them off. Because who likes to go out with wet hands in cold fall weather, right? But could there be a way to conserve some of that paper, and get a paper towel to go the extra mile, allowing you to dry your hands with just one single sheet? This… Read more

Freeze Your Fruit With Science!

STEM Activity

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Pop Science Quiz: What happens to water when it reaches 0°C (32°F)? Answer: It freezes! But does water always freeze when it reaches 0°C (32°F)? Believe it or not, water can sometimes be cooled to temperatures below its freezing point and still remain liquid. In this state the water is supercool. How can this happen? In this activity you will create your own supercool water, and initiate its transition from liquid to solid. All while making a tasty snack! Read more

From Black to Clear with the Magic of Photochemistry

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The rates of some chemical reactions can actually be increased by adding light. Light sometimes interacts with one or more of the chemicals and provides an "energy boost" that dramatically speeds up a normally slow reaction. In this photochemistry science project, you will experiment with the effect of light on a chemical reaction. The reaction converts iodine, which forms a dark-orange solution, to iodide, which is colorless! Read more

How Heavy Is Your Air?

STEM Activity

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If you’ve ever accidentally let go of a Helium balloon while outside, then you know that some gases are less dense than others. In the case of your Helium balloon, it most likely floated away before you could catch it, because Helium is much lighter (or less dense) than the air in our environment. We don’t often think about gases having density, but they do! In this activity you’re going to explore the different densities of some common household gases, including the air that… Read more

Chemistry Projects, Lessons, Activities (186 results)

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