STEP 1: Place two tablespoons of copper sulfate, Morton salt substitute, calcium | | chloride, borax, salt, and boric acid in a different section of the muffin pan. STEP 2: Dip six different cotton balls in the rubbing alcohol. STEP 3: Using the tongs pick up the cotton balls and place each in a different section. Make sure that each cotton ball is covered with the powder in each section of the muffin pan. STEP 4: Using the grill lighter ignite the cotton balls one at a time.
Explanation The color of each flame depends on the ingredient being burned. Borax will burn green, salt contains sodium and will burn yellow, Morton salt substitute contains potassium chloride and burns purple, and calcium chloride will burn an orange-red. Therefore, fireworks get their unique colors due to the ingredient added to the firework. ______________________________________________________________
Glowing Germs The spread of the H1N1 Flu "Swine Flu" is thought to spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Health officials encourage you to wash your hands often with soap and warm water. Here's an experiment that will prove you don't always wash all the germs completely off your hands.
Ingredients
 | | GlitterBug® Potion
|  | | UV Light
|
Instructions STEP 1: Squeeze some of the GlitterBug® Potion onto your hands and rub thoroughly. STEP 2: Wash hands as usual. STEP 3: Using the UV light examine your hands.
Explanation The UV light revealed glowing areas on your hands. These "glowing" areas are where |
| | germs reside. Health officials encourage you to wash your hands for 20 seconds. ______________________________________________________________________
Noisy Money Did you know you could create some strange sounds by using an assortment of coins and a balloon?
Ingredients
 | | 3 Transparent Balloon
|  | | Assortment of Coins
|
Instructions STEP 1: Push a coin through the small opening of the balloon. STEP 2: Blow up the balloon and tie off the opening. STEP 3: Place the tied off part of the balloon in the palm of your right hand, squeeze |
| | the balloon, and then move your hand in a circular motion.
Explanation The unique shape of the coin vibrated the walls of the balloon creating the strange noise. ______________________________________________________________________
Cup of Sounds Did you know you can create unique sounds by using some ingredients from around the house.
Ingredients
 | | Plastic Cup
|  | | Sponge
|  | | String
|  | | Water
|
Instructions STEP 1: Using a knife, create a hole in the bottom of the plastic cup. STEP 2: Cut about 2 feet of string and thread the string through the hole in the plastic |
| | cup. STEP 3: Tie a knot in the string big enough so the string will not pull out of the hole in the plastic cup. STEP 4: Wet the sponge, grab the string close to the plastic cup, and then pull downward.
Explanation You created sound by moving the wet sponge along the string. The sound was amplified as it passed through the plastic cup. ______________________________________________________________________
Egg in a Bottle Eggs aren't just for eating! Did you know you can do some cool science experiments with eggs?
Ingredients
 | | Hard-Boiled Egg
|  | | One Jar with a 1/2-Inch Round Neck
|  | | Matches
|  | | Paper
|
Instructions STEP 1: Light a small piece of paper on fire with the matches and immediately place the |
| | paper in the jar. STEP 2: QUICKLY put the egg on the opening of the jar and watch.
Explanation As the air pressure in the jar decreases the higher air pressure outside the jar pushes the egg through the small opening and into the jar. ______________________________________________________________
Crystal Hearts Here's a science experiment that your sweetheart will love!
Ingredients
 | | Red Pipe Cleaners
|  | | Thread
|  | | Water
|  | | Borax
|  | | Ruler
|  | | Container
|
Instructions STEP 1: Twist a red pipe cleaner into the shape of a heart. STEP 2: Using the thread, tie your pipe cleaner heart to the ruler. Place the ruler on the |
| | top of the container to see if the heart floats freely inside the container. STEP 3: Remove the ruler with the heart attached and add several cups of boiling water into the container. Add about 1/4 cup of borax for every 2 cups of boiling water. Stir the mixture until most of the borax is dissolved. STEP 4: Place the ruler back on the top of the container allowing the heart to float in the borax solution. Leave the heart in the borax solution overnight.
Explanation Borax is a crystal. When water is heated, the molecules move farther apart. This makes a lot of room for borax crystals to form. As the water evaporates, the crystals deposit on the pipe cleaner creating a crystal heart. ______________________________________________________________
Valentine's Day Carnations Here's an experiment that will show you how the stem of a plant is used to carry water to its different parts.
Ingredients
 | | 1 White Carnation Flower
|  | | Drinking Glass
|  | | Water
|  | | Red Food Coloring
|
Instructions Step 1: Fill the drinking glass half full of water and add red food coloring. Step 2: Cut the stem of the carnation at an angle and place the carnation in the drinking |
| | glass for 24 hours.
Explanation The colored water moved up the stem into the petals and changed the color of the carnation from white to red. ______________________________________________________________
Magnetic Money Did you know the dollar in your pocket is magnetic?
Ingredients
 | | Neodymium Magnet
|  | | United States One Dollar Bill
|
Instructions STEP 1: Hold the dollar bill steady allowing the money to hang freely from your fingers. STEP 2: Look for a place on the dollar bill that has a lot of ink and bring the neodymium |
| | magnet close to the dollar and observe what happens.
Explanation The dollar was attracted to the strong magnet because of the ink. To prevent counterfeiting dollar bills are printed with magnetic ink. ______________________________________________________________
Phlegm Here's an experiment that will teach the kids a lesson on why you shouldn't smoke.
Ingredients
 | | 2 Cups of Water
|  | | 1 Envelope of Plain Gelatin
|  | | 2 Cups of Sugar
|  | | 4 Rennet Tablets
|
Instructions STEP 1: Boil the water and then mix in the gelatin, sugar, and Rennet tablets. STEP 2: Let cool and then place in a container.
Explanation This slimy experiment represents the amount of phlegm a person with emphysema |
| | usually coughs up in one day. ______________________________________________________________
Tablecloth Science Trick Here's an experiment you can try at the dinner table and one that might get the entire family "Hooked on Science."
Ingredients
 | | Several Heavy Glass Dishes
|  | | Tablecloth without a Hem
|  | | Square Table with an Edge
|
Instructions STEP 1: Place the tablecloth on the table and then arrange the glass dishes on the |
| | tablecloth. STEP 2: Grab the edges of the tablecloth and pull down toward the floor quickly.
Explanation The dishes stayed as you quickly removed the tablecloth because of inertia. Inertia describes how all objects tend to resist change in motion. ______________________________________________________________
Christmas Science Ornaments Have you ever considered adding a little science to the Christmas tree? Using pipe cleaners and borax you can make ornaments that might get the entire family "Hooked on Science."
Materials
 | | Red and white pipe cleaners
|  | | Thread
|  | | Water
|  | | Borax
|  | | Ruler
|  | | Container
|
Instructions STEP 1: Twist red and white pipe cleaners together and form the shape of a candy cane. STEP 2: Using the thread, tie each candy cane ornament to the ruler. Place the ruler on |
| | the top of the container allowing the candy cane ornaments to float freely inside the container. STEP 3: Remove the ruler with the ornaments attached and add several cups of boiling water into the container. Add about 1/4 cup of borax for every 2 cups of boiling water. Stir the mixture until most of the borax is dissolved. STEP 4: Place the ruler back on the top of the container allowing the ornaments to float in the borax solution. Leave the ornaments in the borax solution overnight.
Explanation Borax is a crystal. When water is heated, the molecules move farther apart. This makes a lot of room for borax crystals to form. As the water evaporates, the crystals deposit on the pipe cleaners, creating a scientific Christmas ornament. ______________________________________________________________
Rocket Balloon They whine and buzz while flying through the air and at the same time Rocket Balloons teach kids a science lesson they won’t forget.
Ingredients
 | | Rocket Balloon
|  | | Hand Pump
|
Instructions STEP 1: Using the hand pump inflate the Rocket Balloon. STEP 2: Hold the end of the Rocket Balloon so the air does not escape from the Rocket |
| | Balloon. STEP 3: Pointing the Rocket Balloon away from your face and others release the Rocket Balloon.
Explanation The air rushing out of the balloon forces the Rocket Balloon through the air. This experiment is perfect for teaching Newton’s Laws of Motion.
 | | Newton’s First Law of Motion – Newton’s First Law of Motion states that the | | | velocity of an object can be changed only if an unbalanced force is applied to it.
|  | | Newton’s First Second Law of Motion – Newton’s Second Law of Motion states | | | that acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass, and the greater the mass of an object, the greater the force needed to accelerate it.
|  | | Newton’s Third Law of Motion – Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for | | | every action there is a reaction equal in strength and opposite in direction.
| ______________________________________________________________
Spooky Fog With a little dry ice you can create the spookiest Halloween ever!
Ingredients
 | | Dry Ice
|  | | Warm Water
|  | | Bowl
|  | | Gloves
|
Instructions STEP 1: Fill the bowl half of the way with warm water. STEP 2: Put the gloves onto your hands and place a piece of the Dry Ice into the warm |
| | water and observe.
Explanation When you placed the Dry Ice into the warm water a cloud formed above the bowl. Dry Ice is frozen carbon dioxide and is -109.3°F. As Dry Ice breaks down it turns directly into carbon dioxide gas. In science this process is called sublimation. ______________________________________________________________________
Lava Lamp It's a groovy way to get "Hooked on Science" and all you need are a few items from the kitchen.
Ingredients
 | | Plastic Bottle with Cap
|  | | Vegetable Oil
|  | | Water
|  | | Food Coloring
|  | | Alka-Seltzer Tablet
|
Instructions STEP 1: Fill the plastic bottle three quarters of the way with vegetable oil. STEP 2: Fill the plastic bottle the rest of the way with water. STEP 3: Place several drops of food coloring into the plastic bottle. STEP 4: Break the Alka-Seltzer tablet into two pieces. STEP 5: Place each of the pieces of Alka-Seltzer tablet into the bottle.
Explanation This experiment proves water and oil doesn't mix. The carbon dioxide gas created when |
| | you dropped the pieces of Alka-Seltzer tablets into the mixture causes the colored water blobs to push to the top through the oil. ______________________________________________________________________
Naked Egg Here's a Hooked on Science experiment that will show you what happens when you remove the shell from around an egg.
Ingredients
 | | 2 Uncooked Eggs
|  | | 2 Cups of Vinegar
|  | | 1 Tall Drinking Glass
|
Instructions STEP 1: Place the eggs in the tall drinking glass. STEP 2: Pour the vinegar over the eggs and let sit for 24 hours. STEP 3: 24 hours later rinse each egg under the facet. STEP 4: Using your fingers rub each egg until the shell is completely removed from the |
| | egg. STEP 5: Hold your naked egg up to a light and take a peek inside.
Explanation The vinegar is an acid that breaks down the calcium carbonate in the eggshell. This chemical reaction reveals the invisible membrane hiding under the shell that keeps the contents from oozing outside the egg. ______________________________________________________________________
Carbon Dioxide Explosion What happens when you mix vinegar with baking soda?
Ingredients
 | | 1 Cup of Warm Water
|  | | Zip-Lock Sandwich Bag
|  | | 2 Tablespoons of Baking Soda
|  | | 1/2 Cup of Vinegar
|  | | Toilet Paper
|
Instructions STEP 1: Place two tablespoons of baking soda onto a piece of toilet paper. Fold the |
| | piece of toilet paper so the baking soda is on the inside. STEP 2: Pour the warm water and vinegar inside the zip-lock bag. STEP 3: Place the baking soda toilet paper square into the mixture and zip up the top.
Explanation When you mixed the baking soda with the vinegar you caused a chemical reaction that created carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas filled up the zip-lock bag so much so that it popped. ______________________________________________________________________
The Collapsing Can Did you know you can crush a can by using air? It's another experiment that might get you and your family "Hooked on Science."
Ingredients
 | | 1 Empty Soda Can
|  | | Hot Plate
|  | | Bowl
|  | | Water
|  | | Ice
|  | | Tongs
|
Instructions STEP 1 : Fill the bowl with ice and water. STEP 2 : Place 1 tablespoon of water into the empty soda can. Turn the hot plate on |
| | high and place the soda can on the hot plate. STEP 3 : Once the water vapor appears above the can use the tongs and grasp the can. STEP 4: QUICKLY flip the can and dip the can into the cold water.
Explanation You removed the air from inside the can by heating the water and then dipping the can into the icy water. Once the air is removed the air on the outside is so strong it crushes the can. ______________________________________________________________________
Fireproof Balloon Did you know you can hold a flame next to a balloon and the balloon will not burst? Here's another experiment that might get you and your family "Hooked on Science."
Ingredients
Instructions STEP 1: Blow up a balloon and tie the end so the air stays inside the balloon. STEP 2: Have an adult light a match and place the flame under the balloon. What |
| | happened? STEP 3: Place 1/4 of a cup of water into a balloon. STEP 4: Carefully blow up the balloon and tie the end so the air and water stay inside the balloon. STEP 5: Have an adult light a match and place the flamed under the balloon. What happened?
Explanation The water absorbs the heat from the flame keeping the balloon from bursting. ______________________________________________________________________
Air Cannon Did you know you can build your very own air cannon by using a few items from around the house?
Ingredients
 | | 32 Gallon Trash Can
|  | | Shower Curtain
|  | | 2 Bungee Cords
|
Instructions STEP 1: Using a knife have an adult cut a 5 inch hole in the bottom of the trash can. STEP 2: Cut a large square from the shower curtain. Make sure this square is large |
| | enough to stretch over the top of the trash can. STEP 3: Stretch the piece of shower curtain over the top of the trash can. STEP 4: Secure the piece of shower curtain with the bungee cords.
Explanation The air cannon proves that air takes up space. When you hit the shower curtain the pressure on the inside of the can increases and pushes the air out of the trash can. The smaller the hole in the bottom of the trash the faster the air will push out of the trash can. ______________________________________________________________________
Balloon Blow-Up What happens when you mix vinegar with baking soda?
Ingredients
 | | Vinegar
|  | | Baking Soda
|  | | Balloon
|  | | Bottle with a Narrow Neck
|
Instructions STEP 1: Add 3 teaspoons of baking soda to the balloon. STEP 2: Fill the bottle 1/3 full with vinegar STEP 3: Without dropping in the baking soda, fit the balloon over the bottle opening STEP 4: Hold up the balloon and let the baking soda fall into the vinegar and watch.
Explanation When you mixed the baking soda with the vinegar you caused a chemical reaction that |
| | created carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas caused the balloon to expand. ______________________________________________________________________
Diaper Genie Windbag How many breaths of air will it take you to blow up a six foot long Diaper Genie windbag? Here's another experiment that might get you "Hooked on Science."
Ingredients
 | | Diaper Genie Refill
|
Instructions STEP 1: Remove about six feet of Diaper Genie refill and cut. STEP 2: Tie a knot in one end of Diaper Genie windbag. STEP 3: Using two fingers and two thumbs hold open the end of the bag that is not tied. STEP 4: Holding the bag six to twelve inches from your mouth and blow a stream of air |
| | into the bag.
Explanation As the stream of air from your mouth blows into the bag it pulls more air from the atmosphere into the Diaper Genie bag creating a super breath. ______________________________________________________________________
Squeaky Clean Science Some of you might use in the shower, but have you ever considered putting it in the microwave? We're talking about Ivory Soap! It's a squeaky clean science experiment that might get you "Hooked on Science."
Ingredients
 | | Ivory Soap
|  | | Microwave
|
Instructions STEP 1: Put one bar of Ivory Soap on a paper towel and place it into the microwave. STEP 2: Heat the soap for 5 minutes and watch what happens.
Explanation The heat causes the air molecules inside the Ivory Soap to bounce around. When this |
| | occurs the Ivory Soap expands into an incredible size. ______________________________________________________________________
Film Canister Rocket Have you ever wanted to create your own rocket? You can and it's easy!
Ingredients
 | | Film Canister with Snap-On Lid
|  | | Water
|  | | Alka-Seltzer® Tablet
|  | | Safety Goggles
|
Instructions STEP 1: Fill the film canister 1/2 of the way full with water. STEP 2: Place one of the Alka-Seltzer tablets in the film canister and quickly turn the |
| | canister so the top is on the surface and wait for your rocket to take off.
Explanation Carbon dioxide gas builds up so much pressure it forcibly launched the film canister into the air. With an Alka-Seltzer tablet, the CO2 is produced as a result of a chemical reaction. ______________________________________________________________________
Glue Slime It's gooey, slippery, sticky, and kids love it. We're talking about slime and all you need are a few items from around the house to make your own batch.
Ingredients
 | | 1/4 Cup of Glue
|  | | 1/4 Cup of Borax
|  | | Warm Water
|  | | 2 Beakers
|  | | Stirring Rod
|
Instructions STEP 1: Dissolve eight tablespoons of Borax into one quart of warm water. STEP 2: Place 1/4 cup of glue into the bowl and slowly add the 1/4 cup of Borax solution. STEP 3: Stir the mixture until a soft ball forms and then using your hands, work the ball |
| | until it is smooth and elastic.
Explanation Glue Slime is a polymer which is a long chain of molecules. The Borax linked the glue's molecules together creating the slime.
Source: http://sciencekit.com ______________________________________________________________________
Soaring Toilet Paper Did you know a leaf blower can be used to rapidly unroll an entire roll of toilet Paper?
Ingredients
 | | Leaf Blower
|  | | Toilet Paper
|  | | Dowel Rod
|
Instructions STEP 1 : Place the toilet paper on the dowel and unroll the tissue. STEP 2 : Hold the dowel horizontally with the roll unrolling away from you. STEP 3: Turn on the leaf blower and aim the stream of air just over the top surface of |
| | the roll.
Explanation Bernoulli's Principle states that the pressure of a liquid decreases as its velocity increases. Increasing the velocity over the surface of the paper, lowers the pressure of the air pushing on the toilet paper. The paper is lifted because there is a sufficient number of air molecules striking the lower side of the toilet paper to overcome the downward pull of gravity and the lower air pressure on the upper side.
Source: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning ______________________________________________________________________
Leak Proof Bag Here's an experiment that will have your friends going wow.
Ingredients
 | | Several Round Pencils
|  | | 1 Plastic Ziploc Bag
|  | | Water
|
Instructions STEP 1: Fill a plastic Ziploc bag about three quarters of the way with water. STEP 2: Stick a sharp round pencil through the bag.
Explanation The Ziploc bag is made out of polymers. Polymers are long chains of molecules and |
| | when the sharp pencil is pushed through the bag these molecules seal up around the pencil, which prevents the water from gushing out of the bag.
Each Hooked on Science experiment is safe to perform with an adult present. If not performed correctly the experiment could be dangerous. Jason Lindsey, Hooked on Science, and ALL Hooked on Science affiliates expressly disclaims all liability for any occurrence, including, but not limited to, damage, injury or death, which might arise as consequences of the use of any experiment(s) online or on air. The guardian of the child and the performer of the experiment assume all the liability and will use these science experiments at their own risk!
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