Chemistry Videos Showing Demonstrations and Experiments

These are chemistry videos that show how to make chemicals and perform cool chemistry demonstrations and experiments.

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Glowing Water Video

This glowing water video shows you two ways to make water glow. One is suitable for making glowing fountains or other decorations while the other can be used to make glow-in-the-dark drinks.

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What Glows Under Black Lights? - Video

The quinine in tonic water causes it to grow bright blue under a black light. Anne Helmenstine

Black lights are lights that emit ultraviolet radiation. Since you can't see ultraviolet light, the lights can be invisible or "black" to your eyes. Many materials that absort black light re-release less energetic light in the visible spectrum, causing them to glow. This video looks at common materials that glow in the dark under black lights.

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Slime Video

You can make polymer slime using common household ingredients. — Dr. Helmenstine holds some polymer slime that you can make yourself using common household ingredients. Anne Helmenstine

Slime is fun material that you can make yourself using common household ingredients. See how to make slime at home, and learn about the chemical process that occurs to form it.

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Make a Smoke Bomb

This homemade smoke bomb is easy to make and only requires two ingredients. Anne Helmenstine

Smoke bombs are the easiest and safest do-it-yourself firework project. You only need two inexpensive, non-toxic ingredients and it only takes minutes to make. Watch and learn how you can cook up a smoke bomb at home.

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Make Hot Ice (Sodium Acetate)

You can supercool sodium acetate and cause it to crystallize on command. — You can supercool hot ice or sodium acetate so that it will remain a liquid below its melting point. You can trigger crystallization on command, forming sculptures as the liquid solidifies. The reaction is exothermic so heat is generated by the hot ice. Anne Helmenstine

All you need are two common kitchen ingredients to make hot ice - a non-toxic chemical that crystallizes when you touch it into a material that looks like ice except it gives off heat. See how to make hot ice and get ideas for fun hot ice activities.

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Green Fire

If you've been wanting to make colored fire, but weren't sure quite what to do or what to expect, then watch my new green fire video tutorial. You can make the fire in pretty much any color you like simply by substituting one of the other colored fire chemicals for the boric acid used to make green fire.

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Make Homemade Rock Candy (Grow Sugar Crystals)

Here's a stick of red rock candy. Anne Helmenstine

You don't have to visit a candy store to get colorful rock candy. See how easy it is to grow your own sparkling (and tasty) rock candy crystals at home.

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Burning Money Chemistry Trick

This $20 is on fire, but it is not being consumed by the flames. Do you know how the trick is done?. Anne Helmenstine

Here's a chemistry trick where you set your money on fire, yet you don't actually burn it. Are you wondering how it's done? See what to do!

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Make a Chemical Volcano

This chemical volcano creates a dramatic eruption with colored lava. Anne Helmenstine

The baking soda and vinegar volcano is the classic chemical volcano that you see at science fairs. Watch how easy it is to make a chemical volcano that produces a memorable eruption.

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Cabbage pH Test Strips

These pH paper test strips were made using coffee filters dipped in red cabbage juice. — These pH paper test strips were made using paper coffee filters that had been cut up into strips and dipped in red cabbage juice. The strips can be used to test the pH of common household chemicals. Anne Helmenstine

Have you ever wanted to make your own pH paper test strips? This is an easy project that you can complete in a few minutes. Here's a video that guides you through the steps of making pH paper test strips yourself.

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Grow Alum Crystals

This is a crystal of alum, a kitchen spice. Alum crystals are easy to grow and can become quite large. Anne Helmenstine

If you've ever wanted to grow crystals, but were afraid they wouldn't work, then this is the perfect crystal-growing project for you. Alum crystals are beautiful, non-toxic and are easy and quick to grow. See how you can grow your own alum crystals.

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Handheld Fireball Video

You can produce a flame cool enough to hold in your hand. Anne Helmenstine

All fire is not created equal! If you apply a little chemistry know-how, you can make a fireball cool enough to hold in your hand. See how it's done, then try this simple fire project yourself.

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Colored Fire Pinecones Video

All it takes to make a pinecone burn with a green flame is to sprinkle a little boric acid onto it. Anne Helmenstine

All it takes is one common chemical to make pinecones burn with a colored flame. The colored fire pinecones can be added to a campfire or a wood-burning fireplace to add interest to your flames.

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Borax Crystal Snowflake Video

Borax crystal snowflakes are fun and easy to make. Anne Helmenstine

You can grow a borax crystal snowflake overnight! The crystals are beautiful and can be used as decorations for the holidays or anytime you need a sparkling snowflake.

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Fire Breathing Video

Eric is breathing a fireball, the most common shape formed during firebreathing. Anne Helmenstine

You don't have to join the circus to learn how to breathe fire. See how using a simple kitchen ingredient allows you to safely breathe fire.

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Homemade Stink Bomb Video

David is trying a homemade stink bomb made uses matches and ammonia. Anne Helmenstine

Setting off a stink bomb is a classic prank! This video shows you how to make a homemade stink bomb using common household ingredients.

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Writing a Lab Report Video

Chemistry calculations can be challenging. — Chemistry calculations can be challenging, but they are easier if you consult worked examples and if you practice working different types of problems. Jeffrey Coolidge, Getty Images

Get step by step instructions showing you how to write a lab report.

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Chemistry Lab Safety Video

This is a collection of different types of chemistry glassware containing colored liquids. Nicholas Rigg, Getty Images

This video shows you how to play it safe in the chemistry lab. Critical safety rules are described and explained.

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Balancing Equations Video

Orange Liquid in a Flask - Old Nassau Reaction or Halloween Reaction. Siri Stafford, Getty Images

See how to set up a chemical equation with reactants and products and balance the equation so that both sides contain the same number of atoms of the elements.

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How to Grow Copper Sulfate Crystals

Copper sulfate crystals are good crystals to grow because they grow quickly, have an interesting diamond shape and are naturally bright blue in color. This video shows how you can grow copper sulfate crystals yourself.

21

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Non-Toxic Lava Lamp Video

You can make your own lava lamp using safe household ingredients. Anne Helmenstine

The original lava lamp actually isn't something you would want to make or break open since you would have to contend with electrical wiring and toxic chemicals. Fortunately, you can make a facsimile of a lava lamp without the risk of electrocution or poisoning. See how to make a non-toxic rechargeable lava lamp. More »

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Salt Crystal Garden VIdeo

These crystals were grown from a mixture of laundry bluing, ammonia and salt. — These crystals were grown from a mixture of equal parts Mrs. Stewart's Laundry Bluing (which is Prussian blue or iron(III) ferrocyanide), ammonia and salt. Anne Helmenstine

This is a classic chemistry demonstration in which salt crystals are grown on a cardboard tube. See time lapse photography of the crystal growth. More »

23

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Glowing Mentos Fountain Video

If you use diet tonic water, you can get a glowing mentos and diet soda geyser. — If you use diet tonic water instead of diet cola and shine a black light on the bottle, you can get a glowing mentos and diet soda geyser. Anne Helmenstine

If you drop Mentos candies into diet cola you get a shooting fountain of liquid. You can use another liquid to get a fountain of liquid that glows in the dark! More »

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Magic Milk Color Wheel Video

Add a few drops of food coloring to a plate of milk. Wet a cotton swab in dishwashing detergent and dip it in the center of the plate. What happens?. Anne Helmenstine

Add drops of food coloring to milk. If you touch the milk, your finger gets wet but nothing really happens. If you add the secret ingredient, the milk will swirl the colors around, as if by magic. More »

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Pepper and Water Science Magic Trick

All you need is water, pepper, and a drop of detergent to perform the pepper trick. Anne Helmenstine

This video shows how you can cause pepper sprinkled on ordinary water to skitter away from your finger. The project is a nice way to illustrate the concepts of emulsifiers and detergents. More »

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Dry Ice Crystal Ball Video

This is a dry ice bubble. — If you coat a container of water and dry ice with bubble solution you will get a bubble that sort of resembles a crystal ball. Anne Helmenstine

This video shows how to use dry ice and bubble solution to make a stable 'crystal ball' filled with swirling fog. More »

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Green Fire Jack-o-Lantern Video

Use colored fire in your Halloween pumpkin. Anne Helmenstine

Ordinary Halloween jack-o-lanterns are pretty awesome, but a jack-o-lantern filled with green fire is even better. This is a simple effect to achieve, relying on basic chemistry. More »

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Alum Crystal Time Lapse Photography

Alum crystals are popular crystals to grow. — Alum crystals are popular crystals to grow because the ingredient may be purchased at the grocery store and the crystals only take a few hours to grow. Todd Helmenstine

Alum crystals are some of the easiest and quickest crystals you can grow. This is a time lapse video that shows you what to expect when growing alum crystals. More »

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How to Do a Flame Test Video

Flame Test - Copper Sulfate — Flame test performed on copper sulfate in a gas flame. Søren Wedel Nielsen

See how to do a flame test and how to use the results to help identify an unknown chemical sample.

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Difference Between Baking Powder & Baking Soda

This video discusses the chemistry behind baking powder and baking soda. Learn what these kitchen chemicals are, how they are used and why they aren't interchangeable in recipes.

31

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How Mood Rings Work

Mood rings come in a variety of shapes. This heart-shaped mood ring has the domed stone typical of a 1970s ring. Anne Helmenstine

Mood rings are jewelry that contains liquid crystals that change color, supposedly in response to your mood. This chemistry video takes a look at the science behind mood rings. Learn whether mood rings actually work and see the colors associated with the moods.

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How to Remove Fluoride from Water - Video

Water is one of the most important molecules in chemistry. — Water is one of the most important molecules in chemistry, particularly biochemistry since water is essential for life. John Foxx, Getty Images

Learn about the methods that are effective at removing fluoride from water, as well as those that will not affect fluoride concentrations. This video also discusses common sources of fluoride in the diet.

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Drinking Too Much Water - Video

Drinking Water. ballyscanlon, Getty Images

Yes, it's possible to drink too much water! This chemistry video takes a look at the causes of water intoxication or hyponatremia as well as the symptoms and treatment options.

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Types of Chemical Reactions Video

Chemical reactions may be categories according to the way that they occur. This chemistry video takes a look at the major types of chemical reactions and offers examples of common chemical reaction types.

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Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter Video

Learn about the difference between physical and chemical properties of matter and see examples of these properties.

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Tips for Growing Sugar Crystals

You can make rock candy any color or flavor you like. Anne Helmenstine

Sugar crystals are great crystals to grow because they are inexpensive to make and you can eat them! Sometimes, however, growing sugar crystals can be a challenge. This video describes some of the common problems that you may encounter when growing sugar crystals and explains how you can avoid or solve these problems.

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See Magic Rocks Grow

You can grow an underwater chemical garden while you watch. — Sodium silicate is the 'secret' ingredient in Magic Rocks that allows you to grow an underwater crystal garden while you watch. Anne Helmenstine

See Magic Rocks grow through the magic of time-lapse photography. Modern Magic Rocks grow more quickly than the old Magic Rocks, plus the colors seem more vibrant. This video compresses 12 hours of crystal growth into a minute and a half. More »

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Blue Color Change Chem Demo

Many copper complexes are bright blue. — The vivid blue of this solution results from an amino-copper complex produced from mixing copper sulfate with dilute ammonia. Anne Helmenstine

See how to perform a blue color change chemistry demonstration using household chemicals. The reaction goes from pale blue to opaque sky blue to translucent royal blue. More »

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Mood Ring Colors and Meanings

Most mood rings change from black to yellow, green and then blue. A black mood ring may indicate the ring is cold or that the crystals have become unresponsive. Anne Helmenstine

This video examines how mood rings work as well as what common mood ring colors are and what mood ring colors mean. More »

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Green Copper Flames

These green flames are produced by the emission of excited copper ions. — These green flames are produced by the emission of excited copper ions when copper sulfate is added to burning alcohol. Anne Helmenstine

Learn how to use a common copper-based household product to produce vivid green flames. This video shows you what to do and what to expect. More »

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Crystal Ice Bulb

Make a glowing ice bulb using an LED and watch battery. Anne Helmenstine

This video explains how to make a crystal ball of ice that glows lit from within by LEDs. The ice bulb can be used in drinks, fountains or anywhere you like. The ice bulb can be made in any single color or you can make a multicolored sphere. More »

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Fire in a Glass Project

Pour water into a shallow dish, light a match in the center of the dish and cover it with a glass. The water will be drawn into the glass. Anne Helmenstine

This is a video of a science "trick" where you place a glass over a flame that is sitting in a dish of water. When the flame is extinguished, the level of the water in the glass rises as if by magic. More »

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Burning Money Video

Light a bill on fire, yet it won't burn! Actually, it will burn unless you know how to do the trick. This video explains the science behind the burning money trick and shows you what to expect. More »

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What Glows Under Black Light? - Video

This glowing jellyfish is the moon jelly. — This glowing jellyfish is the moon jelly, Aurelia aurita. Proteins in many jellyfish fluoresce or appear to glow when exposed to ultraviolet light. Hans Hillewaert

Here's a look at some of the materials that glow when exposed to a black light, including living organisms and common everyday chemicals. More »

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Fire Ball Magic Trick Video

This video shows you how to make fireballs that burn with a flame cool enough that you can juggle them or use them for other types of fire displays. More »

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Smoking Fingers Video

Make your fingers smoke, as if by magic. However, there's science behind this trick, not magic. Anne Helmenstine

See how to make your fingers smoke, without any fire. Also, if you perform this project in the dark, your fingers will glow an eerie faint green. This video shows you how to perform the smoking fingers trick. More »

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Violet Flames Video

It's easy to make violet fire. Just ignite a mixture of salt substitute and methanol. Anne Helmenstine

You can gain information about the chemistry of a compound by the color of flame it produces. This video explains how to use common potassium compounds to produce violet flames. More »

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Crystal Frost Window Project

Paint a window with a solution that turns into crystal frost right before your eyes. Anne Helmenstine

This video shows how to make an easy window paint that will coat the glass with crystals that resemble frost. Footage includes time-lapse photography of crystal frost growing on a window. More »

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How to Grow Alum Crystals - Video

Alum crystals grow within a few hours. Anne Helmenstine

This video tutorial demonstrates how to grow your own alum crystals, plus time lapse photography shows you what to expect from the first few hours of crystal growth. More »