Experiments and investigations
Inspiration and resources for experiments and investigations
From kitchen to classroom
Simple chemistry experiments using kitchen cupboard equipment.
Chalky spinach
Use this video and experiment in your classroom or set as an activity for students to try out at home to explore why eating raw spinach leaves makes your mouth feel chalky.
How to purify water
A video aimed at learners, kit list, instruction, and explanation about how to get clean water from contaminated water using the stages of the water cycle.
Demonstrations
Primary science demonstrations: separating mixtures
Fun demonstrations of different mixtures, including racing liquids and rainbow colours.
Primary science demonstrations: solids
Display some exciting solid properties to primary students: including biscuit bashing, dissolving and heavy sugar.
Primary science demonstrations: gases
Showing the properties of gases to primary students, with examples from: the leaky bottle and the sticky cups
Developing scientific skills
Help your pupils develop their scientific skills with these experiments and resources
Science concept cartoons: rusting
Use this conversation starter to get your pupils thinking about the process of rusting, and discussing different possibilities.
Science Concept Cartoons: Acid rain
Spark discussion and stimulate thinking about acid rain in a way that encourages pupils to share their ideas.
Science concept cartoons: condensation
Show this concept cartoon to your class to get them talking and thinking about condensation in new ways.
The science of ice cream
Heston Blumenthal discusses the science of ice cream in this selection of videos.
Enzymes and jellies
If you add certain fresh fruit such as pineapple to jelly, it will not set. The task in this resource is to investigate why.
Should beans be cooked with the lid on or off?
An investigation into whether having the lid on or off affects the colour of green vegetables.
Investigating surface tension with milk
Explore surface tension by making patterns in milk using items from the kitchen cupboard. Includes a video aimed at learners, kit list, instruction and explanation.
Kitchen roll chromatography
Have a go at paper chromatography at home or in the classroom with items from a kitchen. Includes video aimed at learners, instructions, and explanation.
How to make butter
Try making butter at home or in the classroom using items from your kitchen cupboard. Includes video aimed at pupils, kit list, instruction, and explanation.
Making bath bombs
Learn how to make fizzing bath bombs using ingredients from your kitchen cupboards. Includes video aimed at learners, kit list, instruction, and explanation.
Red cabbage rainbows
In this activity, learners create rainbows using homemade red cabbage indicator paper. Includes video aimed at learners, kit list, instruction, and explanation.
Putting fires out
How can we use vinegar and sodium bicarbonate to make a fire extinguisher?
Red cabbage rainbows
In this activity, learners create rainbows using homemade red cabbage indicator paper. Includes video aimed at learners, kit list, instruction, and explanation.
Insulation investigation
Which material makes the warmest jacket? Investigate the insulating properties of various materials with this activity for ages 7–14
Science concept cartoons: rusting
Use this conversation starter to get your pupils thinking about the process of rusting, and discussing different possibilities.
Science Concept Cartoons: Acid rain
Spark discussion and stimulate thinking about acid rain in a way that encourages pupils to share their ideas.
Science concept cartoons: condensation
Show this concept cartoon to your class to get them talking and thinking about condensation in new ways.
Primary science demonstrations: separating mixtures
Fun demonstrations of different mixtures, including racing liquids and rainbow colours.
Primary science demonstrations: solids
Display some exciting solid properties to primary students: including biscuit bashing, dissolving and heavy sugar.
Primary science demonstrations: gases
Showing the properties of gases to primary students, with examples from: the leaky bottle and the sticky cups
Insulation investigation
Which material makes the warmest jacket? Investigate the insulating properties of various materials with this activity for ages 7–14
Elements Top Trumps
A fun way to introduce the elements in the periodic table.
The life of water
Get hands on with H2O, changing states of matter and the water cycle. These experiments and investigations involve water in the context of space
Olympic composites (primary level)
Find out what composites are made up of and why they are so important sporting equipment for the Olympics.
Separation techniques
A video aimed at learners, instructions, and explanation to separate a mixture of water and solids at home or in the classroom with items from a kitchen.
Enzymes and jellies
If you add certain fresh fruit such as pineapple to jelly, it will not set. The task in this resource is to investigate why.
Use of salt in cooking, part 1
In this activity students devise and carry out experiments to test possible reasons for adding salt when cooking vegetables.
Sherbet and popping candy: edible experiments
What makes sherbet fizz and what makes popping candy pop? Discover the importance of chemistry in everyday eating experiences with this edible experiment.
Ancient Egypt: science ideas webs
A web of suggested ideas for linking science with the topic Ancient Egypt. You can learn history and science together with activities for different age groups.
Ancient Greece: science ideas webs
A web of suggested ideas for linking science with the topic the Ancient Greece. You can learn history and science together with activities for different age groups.
Bacteria and foods: kitchen science podcasts
Introduce your students to bacteria and how to stop food spoiling with this short podcast.
Chemistry in sport
Our very first global experiment compares the performance enhancement of student-made sports drinks vs water
Smart materials: lesson tips
Try these activities to help design your lessons on smart materials. Explore the topic using this simple demonstration of polymers and salt.
The life of water
Get hands on with H2O, changing states of matter and the water cycle. These experiments and investigations involve water in the context of space
Olympic composites (primary level)
Find out what composites are made up of and why they are so important sporting equipment for the Olympics.
Popular collections
Global experiments
Global experiments
Engage your students with hands-on, fully-resourced, group activities that are adaptable for all ages
Edible experiments
Edible experiments
Discover the importance of chemistry in everyday eating experiences with this collection of edible experiments.
That's Chemistry!
That’s Chemistry!
Discover the informative chapters of That’s Chemistry! Each chapter explains a chemistry concept and gives numerous ideas for activites to support students’ learning.