Festive chemistry

However you celebrate the festive season, try these activities, experiments and resources to inspire your students and provide end-of-term lessons to remember!

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Festive chemistry

However you celebrate the festive season, try these activities, experiments and resources to inspire your students and provide end-of-term lessons to remember!

Read story

In the spotlight

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A Christmas tree made from lab equipment

Christmas, community and chemistrees

Deck the labs with boughs of glassware and celebrate a community of chemists

Light up your classroom

Try these illuminating experiments and demonstrations with candles and oils

An image of juice from a piece of orange peel burning

When life gives you lemons (or oranges)

Teach your students about volatile organic compounds with these juicy demonstrations

Chip pan fire demonstration

A flash in the pan

The chip pan fire demonstration

Numerous small candles or tealights burning against a dark background

The chemistry of candles

Learn about the chemistry behind candles and how they work in this article from ‘Avogadro’s lab’, including a test to try at home with safety instructions.

Example pages from teacher notes, student worksheets and example slides from the presentation that make up this resource

Candle burning investigation: planning an experiment

Concept cartoon and example investigation to practise developing a hypothesis, planning an investigation and evaluation skills

Experimenting on ice

From state changes and thermodynamics to crystal formation, explore the science of ice with your students

More festive ideas for your classroom

Chemistry at Christmas

Christmas class activities a5000431 300tb[1]

Christmas activities for your chemistry class

A hand holding a saucepan full of Brussels sprouts under water flowing from a kitchen tap

Blanching - what is the most effective method?

Christmas tree with bauble

O chemistree

Oxidation states

Demonstrating the chameleon redox reaction with a lollipop

  • Christmas activities for your chemistry class

  • Blanching - what is the most effective method?

  • O chemistree

  • Demonstrating the chameleon redox reaction with a lollipop

Explore the chemistry behind...

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Discover more themed activities and resources celebrating the chemistry of festive favourites

A close-up photograph of pieces of unusual chocolate bars with fruit, nuts and other ingredients in white, milk and dark chocolate

Chocolate chemistry

Investigate the science of chocolate and explore key ideas using these chocolate-themed resources, including experiments, worksheets and activities.

Fireworks moving in a circle

The chemistry of fireworks

Teaching resources and articles exploring the spectacular chemistry behind fireworks, featuring experiments and demonstrations, worksheets, activities and more.