Science is indeed an exciting topic even for kids but, not all Science experiments are kid-friendly. However, there are some Scientific experiments that do not require fancy laboratory chemicals or dangerous elements. So, if you are planning an excellent way to spend the weekends with your kids, a kid-friendly Science kitchen experiment is one of your best bets. With that, aside from cooking foods or blending your next baby food, you can now utilize your kitchen as a makeshift laboratory this weekend!
In this article, we will see some of the coolest science experiments and projects that you can do even in the confinement of your kitchen. Read along to find out!
Oobleck!
You may be wondering what an Oobleck is? Well, an Oobleck is a substance that is neither a liquid nor solid. Instead, it is a suspension of water and cornstarch. Interestingly, the Oobleck can behave like a solid or like a liquid. The interesting part is when you try to apply pressure against it. For instance, try grabbing some of it in your hands. If you do that, it will form a solid ball on your palm. However, if you release the pressure, this solid ball will melt and flow out between your fingers! Oobleck is also known as a non-Newtonian fluid since it has properties that are not described by a constant viscosity.
Here’s what you will need to create an Oobleck:
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Pan or bowl
- Measuring Cups
- Spoon
- Food Coloring (if preferred)
If you have all the ingredients listed above, you can now start your experiment. Below are the step-by-step instructions in mixing the ingredients:
- Put one and a half cups of cornstarch in a bowl or pan.
- Next is to add a cup of water.
- Stir the mixture until you get the mixture that tears when you scrape your finger through it.
- Lastly, you can add food coloring to the mixture if you wanted a colorful Oobleck. Congratulations! You have created your first Oobleck.
Invisible Ink
Making invisible ink is so much fun! Plus, you can use it if you are going to play pretend as a secret agent.
In doing this experiment, the ingredients you will be needing are:
- Lemon
- Water
- Spoon and Bowl
- Cotton Buds
- A white paper or a bond paper
- A light bulb or a lamp
How to make invisible ink using lemon?
- After completing all the ingredients, squeeze the lemon into the bowl.
- Add a few drops of water to the lemon juice.
- Next is to dip the cotton buds into the lemon juice and water mixture.
- Use the cotton buds as a pen and write something on the white paper.
- Wait for it to dry
- If you are ready to reveal the secret message to someone else, hold the paper close to a light bulb, and voila! The message is now visible.
Rubber Egg
Did you know that you can produce a rubber egg using Science? Well, yes! But you may be asking yourself, how can an egg turn into rubber? The answer is that the chicken eggs are covered with a shell made out of calcium carbonate. Meanwhile, regular vinegar is made out of acetic acid.
When these two are mixed, it creates the same reaction when you mixed vinegar and baking soda. That is why you’ll be most likely to see bubbles or foams when you leave the egg soak in the vinegar. Afterward, the egg will go through a process called osmosis, which will inflate the egg.
Here are the ingredients you will be needing in turning that egg into a rubber one:
- A cooked or raw egg
- Tall drinking glass
- White vinegar
How to make a rubber egg?
- The first thing you should do is to put the egg in a tall drinking glass.
- Next is to pour the vinegar into the glass. Pour just enough amount until the egg is covered.
- Let it soak overnight. During this time, you will notice that there will be lots of bubbles or foams.
- After the bubbling or foaming seemed to slow down, rinse the egg with water.
- Cover the egg with vinegar for the second time and wait for six days before rinsing it again with water.
- During this time, the egg should lose its shell.
- Test your invention by gently squeezing the egg. You can also try dropping it from a few inches or more.