Kitchen Chemistry Reaction Testing Lab
Test what happens when you mix common kitchen ingredients — baking soda + vinegar, milk + food coloring + soap. Set up a proper lab with safety gear and data recording.
What You'll Need
- 1Safety goggles
- 2Old shirt for lab coat
- 3Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice
- 4Whole milk, dish soap, food coloring
- 5Hydrogen peroxide (3%), active dry yeast
- 6Salt
- 7Small cups or containers for mixing
- 8Notebook and pencil for recording
- 9Tray for containing messes
What You'll Need
Safety goggles and an old shirt as a lab coat
Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice
Whole milk, dish soap, food coloring
3% hydrogen peroxide, active dry yeast
Salt, small cups, a tray
Notebook and pencil
How to Play
Set up a "lab" with safety gear, supplies, and a notebook.
Experiment 1: baking soda + vinegar. Record: bubbles, gas production.
Experiment 2: milk + food coloring + soap. Watch colors swirl and race.
Experiment 3: hydrogen peroxide + yeast in warm water = "elephant toothpaste."
Record each experiment: materials, observations, hypothesis.
Design your own: pick two ingredients, predict, test.
"What patterns do you notice across the experiments?"
The Science Behind It
Each reaction demonstrates a different chemistry principle. Baking soda + vinegar is acid-base (produces CO2 gas). Milk + soap is about surface tension (soap breaks the fat's surface tension, causing color to scatter). Hydrogen peroxide + yeast is decomposition catalysis (yeast speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen). Your child is running a multi-experiment chemistry lab.
Tips
Safety goggles aren't just for show. Hydrogen peroxide can irritate eyes, and vigorous reactions can splash.
The milk experiment works only with whole milk or cream. Skim milk has too little fat.
For elephant toothpaste, use a narrow-necked bottle for the most dramatic foam overflow.
Keeping a lab notebook is a real scientific practice. Date each entry, describe the procedure, and record observations.
The "design your own" step is the most important. It shifts your child from following instructions to thinking like a scientist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 45 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: safety goggles, old shirt for lab coat, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, whole milk, dish soap, food coloring, hydrogen peroxide (3%), active dry yeast, and 4 more items.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 8-12 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This is a more challenging activity that may require advance preparation, special materials, or closer supervision. The extra effort is worth it for the learning experience!
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