Wholly irresponsible experiments!

Wholly irresponsible experiments!

Sean Connolly

Cambridge: Icon Books 2007 | Pp191 | £9.99 | ISBN 978 1 84 046812 0 

Reviewed by Hal Sosabowski

This book presents experiments that budding scientists can try at home, which I welcome and applaud. Although billed as 'wholly irresponsible experiments', many of the experiments are actually quite responsible. 

Divided into seven chapters, the book covers demonstrations in chemistry, physics and biology. The chapter titles are slightly cryptic, eg Core concerns, How moving!  and Mad science, and to gain an insight into what the theme is in each chapter one has to read the experiment titles. There are 65 demonstrations including the cola/Mentos fountain, the vinegar and bicarbonate of soda volcano and the 'Viking funeral'. However, there is some repetition with the underlying science, ie a concept such as the reaction of vinegar and sodium bicarbonate is covered in three experiments. Each experiment has a 'You will need' section, a detailed method, the 'Scientific excuse' (ie why you would want to do it) and a 'Take care!' (health and safety) section.