An experienced chemistry professor used to say that it took about one explosion per week to maintain college students' attention in chemistry lectures. At that rate, we'd get in pretty big trouble with a lot of parents and teachers! Don't worry, our list of chemistry science and engineering projects still has lots of bubbles, fizzes, bangs, and color changes for you to explore.
Have you ever wondered how your cell phone or laptop keeps running once you unplug it? Sure, it is the battery that makes your portable electronics work, but how exactly does a battery do that, and from where does the electricity come? Generally, in a battery chemical energy is converted into electrical energy. In fact, many different types of batteries exist that are all based on a different set of chemical reactions. In this science project, you will explore a special battery variant called…
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Chem_p107
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Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of basic chemistry and familiarity with the concept of electrochemistry would be helpful.
Material Availability
This science project requires specialty electronics items. Specialty items are available in a kit from our partner
.
Cost
Average ($40 - $80)
Safety
Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin and eyes. When working with this chemical, make sure to wear eye and skin protection in case of any splashes or spills. In case of chemical contact, rinse skin or eyes immediately with plenty of water.
Instant cold packs are popular with coaches and parents for treating minor bumps and bruises. The instant cold packs are not pre-cooled—you just squeeze the cold pack and its starts to get cold. So how does it work? In this chemistry science fair project, you will investigate the chemical reaction that occurs in instant cold packs.
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Chem_p081
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
A few specialty items, including instant cold packs containing ammonium nitrate, are needed.
Cost
Average ($50 - $100)
Safety
Adult supervision is required. Ammonium nitrate is potentially hazardous, wear gloves and safety goggles when working with it. Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
When we get hot, we sweat. The physiological role of sweat is to cool us down. When the water evaporates, it removes energy from our bodies. This sort of evaporative cooling can also be used to cool homes, using what are referred to as swamp coolers. Evaporative cooling is also a potential source of energy waste in the kitchen because it increases the time it takes to heat water. In this chemistry science fair project, you will study how a variety of things cool down, whether for better or…
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Do you like your hair shiny and beautiful? The key to keeping your hair nice and clean is to use a good shampoo. But with so many different products in the store, how do you know which one works best for you? In this science project, you will put a variety of shampoos to the test, including your own self-made organic shampoo recipes. Do you think these will perform better than a store-bought product?
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Chem_p109
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
This project uses acetone for one test. Acetone is a flammable liquid. Keep away from open flames, sparks, or heat. Acetone is irritating to skin and eyes. Be sure to wear safety goggles and gloves. Work in an area with adequate ventilation. Adult supervision is recommended.
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 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 ends closed. …
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How do you like your mashed potatoes? Thin and whipped smooth? Or thick and mashed into chunks? Your mouth checks out not just the taste of your food, but its viscosity, or how it flows on your tongue, every time you take a bite! In this science fair project, you'll learn what viscosity is, and how to measure it in common liquids around your home.
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Chem_p055
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
The graduated cylinder must be ordered from a science supply store.
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
You should only test non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-volatile liquids. Adult supervision is recommended.
Watching a spacecraft launch is an amazing experience. It is thrilling to see it lift off and escape Earth's gravity. Did you know that it takes a chemical reaction to get a spacecraft into space? Every time you see a one blast off, you are watching chemistry at work. In this chemistry science fair project, you will also get to blast an object into the air. You will not be using the same fuel that NASA uses for the rockets that launch their spacecrafts; instead, you will use two simple…
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Chem_p086
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Very Low (under $20)
Safety
Wear safety goggles to prevent eye injury during launch.
Fill a jar a little more than half full with fresh water. Make a solution of salt water, and add a drop or two of food coloring to it. Pour the salt water solution into a plastic cup with a small hole in the bottom, and then place the cup in the jar with fresh water. (The only connection between the fresh and salt water should be via the hole in the bottom of the cup.) With the right combination of hole size and salt concentration, you will see an oscillating current develop in the jar. …
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A solution consists of a solute dissolved in a solvent. A solution is saturated when no additional solute will dissolve in it. You'll need a gram balance, a 100 ml graduated cylinder, three beakers or glass jars, three saucers, water, 50 g non-iodized salt (NaCl), 50 g Epsom salts (MgSO4) and 250 g sugar (sucrose). Method 1: Measure 100 ml water and pour into an empty beaker or jar. Weigh out the suggested amount of the solute to be tested. Add a small amount of…
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Have you ever watched your parents dress up for a big evening? They may even splash on a bit of aftershave cologne or dab on some perfume since it is special occasion. But did you know that using perfume and scents is an ancient activity? Perfumes and the art of making perfume is an art that is thousands of years old. In this chemistry science fair project, you will learn more about one way to make perfume, called enfleurage, and experiment with it to extract your own floral scents.
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Chem_p083
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Time Required
Very Long (1+ months)
Prerequisites
You need to have access to a stovetop to perform the enfleurage technique.
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Average ($50 - $100)
Safety
Minor injury is possible when using the stovetop. This science fair project requires using a small amount of alcohol to make perfume.
