Exciting Kids Chemistry Experiments for Fun and Learning

exciting kids chemistry experiments for fun and learning

Chemistry has a unique ability to captivate young minds with its magical transformations, vibrant colors, and surprising reactions. It’s not just a subject limited to laboratories and textbooks; it’s a doorway to understanding the world around us. By introducing kids to chemistry experiments, you not only ignite their curiosity but also develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. At The Kids Point, we believe in fostering learning through hands-on activities, and that’s why we’re excited to share some thrilling chemistry experiments that combine fun and education.

Below, you’ll find a range of experiments suited for different age groups. These activities are designed to be safe, engaging, and enriching, helping children grasp scientific concepts effortlessly while having an unforgettable experience.

The Magic of Chemical Reactions

The Bouncy Egg Experiment

Ages: 5–11
Turn an ordinary egg into a bouncy ball using vinegar! This simple experiment demonstrates the effect of acid on calcium carbonate—the material that makes up an eggshell.

You’ll Need:

  • 1 raw egg
  • Vinegar
  • A glass or jar

Instructions:

  • Place the raw egg gently into a glass.
  • Cover the egg with vinegar, ensuring it’s fully submerged.
  • Leave the glass undisturbed for 24–48 hours.
  • Carefully remove the egg, rinse it, and gently bounce it on a table.

What’s Happening? The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with the calcium carbonate in the eggshell, dissolving it and leaving behind a membrane that makes the egg rubbery and bouncy.

Glow in the Dark Flowers

Ages: 7–14
Transform plain white flowers into glowing masterpieces using highlighters and water. This experiment demonstrates capillary action, where water travels up the stem of the flower.

You’ll Need:

  • White flowers (e.g., carnations)
  • Neon highlighter ink or glow-in-the-dark paint
  • Water
  • A jar or vase

Instructions:

  • Extract the ink from the highlighter by soaking it in water or cutting open the cartridge.
  • Mix the highlighter ink with water in a jar.
  • Place the white flower stem into the jar.
  • Wait for several hours and watch the flower petals change color and glow in the dark.

The Science: Water travels through tiny tubes in the plant via capillary action, carrying the highlighter ink up to the petals and causing them to glow under UV light.

Playing with Density and Polymers

Fizzy Lava Lamp

Ages: 5–16
This fun experiment combines art and science to create your own homemade lava lamp. It’s a fantastic way to learn about density and immiscible liquids.

You’ll Need:

  • Clear plastic or glass bottle
  • Water
  • Vegetable oil
  • Food coloring
  • Alka-Seltzer tablets

Instructions:

  • Fill the bottle about one-third full with water and add a few drops of food coloring.
  • Fill the rest of the bottle with vegetable oil, leaving some space at the top.
  • Drop an Alka-Seltzer tablet into the bottle and watch as bubbles form and float.

Why It Works: Water and oil have different densities, so they don’t mix. The Alka-Seltzer tablet reacts with water to produce carbon dioxide, creating bubbles that rise and fall.

Contact Solution Slime

Ages: 9+
Explore polymers with this DIY slime activity. Kids can learn about viscosity and how molecules interact to create stretchy, gooey slime.

You’ll Need:

  • Glue (clear or white)
  • Contact lens solution containing boric acid
  • Baking soda
  • Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

  • In a bowl, mix ½ cup of glue with a few drops of food coloring.
  • Add a pinch of baking soda and mix well.
  • Gradually add contact lens solution while stirring until the slime forms.
  • Knead the slime until it’s stretchy.

The Science: The boric acid in the contact solution reacts with the glue to create cross-linked polymers, resulting in slime.

Exploring Crystals and Colors

Borax Crystal Snowflakes

Ages: 5–8
Combine creativity and science by growing your own borax crystals. It’s an excellent introduction to crystallization.

You’ll Need:

  • Borax powder
  • Boiling water
  • Pipe cleaners
  • String
  • A pencil

Instructions:

  • Twist pipe cleaners into a snowflake shape.
  • Dissolve borax in boiling water (about 3 tablespoons per cup) and pour it into a jar.
  • Tie the snowflake to a pencil and hang it in the jar, ensuring it doesn’t touch the bottom.
  • Leave the jar undisturbed overnight to allow crystals to form.

What Happens? The hot water dissolves the borax, creating a saturated solution. As the solution cools, borax particles come together to form crystals on the pipe cleaners.

Egg Geodes

Ages: 9–16
Take geodes to the next level by growing crystals inside eggshells!

You’ll Need:

  • Cleaned eggshells
  • Borax
  • Food coloring
  • Boiling water

Instructions:

  • Dissolve borax in boiling water and add food coloring.
  • Place the eggshells in the solution, ensuring the hollow side faces up.
  • Let them sit for a few days to grow crystals.

The Thrill of Combustion and Reaction

Carbon Sugar Snake

Ages: 12–16
Create a rising black “snake” from a fiery reaction using baking soda and sugar.

You’ll Need:

  • Sugar
  • Baking soda
  • Sand
  • Alcohol (or lighter fluid)
  • Lighter or matches

Instructions:

  • Mix sugar and baking soda on a fireproof surface, like a sand mound.
  • Soak the sand with alcohol and light it carefully.
  • Watch as a black “snake” rises from the reaction.

Caution: Always conduct experiments involving fire under adult supervision.

Copper-Plated Coins

Ages: 9–16
Teach kids about electroplating by turning coins into copper treasures.

You’ll Need:

  • Vinegar
  • Salt
  • Copper wire
  • Battery
  • Coins
  • Alligator clips

Instructions:

  • Mix vinegar and salt in a bowl to create an electrolyte solution.
  • Connect one clip to the battery’s positive side and another to the negative side.
  • Submerge a coin and copper wire in the solution, ensuring the wire is connected to the positive side.
  • Watch as the coin becomes coated in copper.

Colorful Demonstrations

Pencils Through Water

Ages: 5–12
This simple experiment teaches the concept of refraction and surface tension.

You’ll Need:

  • A clear plastic bag
  • Water
  • Sharpened pencils

Instructions:

  • Fill the bag with water and seal it tightly.
  • Carefully poke sharpened pencils through the bag without spilling water.
  • Observe how the water stays sealed, thanks to the plastic’s elasticity and surface tension.

Chemistry experiments are not just about fun; they’re a gateway to critical thinking, problem-solving, and a lifelong love of science. By combining simple materials and guided curiosity, these activities transform into unforgettable learning experiences. At The Kids Point, we’re committed to inspiring creativity, curiosity, and a love for learning through activities like these. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, these experiments offer the perfect opportunity to engage kids in hands-on science. Let’s ignite the spark of discovery and exploration in every child—because science truly is for everyone!