Written by an award-winning author of science books for children, this engrossing book enables youngsters (ages 7 to 13) to do 38 safe experiments at home or in the classroom with such common items as a teaspoon and saucer, paper towels, aspirin, baking powder, plastic straws, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol. The language of the text is clear enough for grade-school children yet is consistently (and technically) accurate and informative. Directions for simple experiments describe how to write "invisible messages" with home-made phenolphthalein, how to clean pennies with salt and vinegar, how to break aspirin into its components and how to perform a variety of other experiments involving carbonates and acids, precipitates, crystals, emulsions, catalysts, hydrogen, copper plating, chemical indicators, color flame tests, and much more. Easy-to-follow instructions, accompanied by abundant and clearly detailed illustrations, distinguish a book which not only provides children with fun-filled scientific challenges, but also serves as a valuable aid to parents, teachers, and other adults working with youngsters interested in science.

Why do newspapers turn yellow? How does bleach make colors disappear? Why can't you mix oil and water? Find out the answers to these and other mysteries of chemistry inthis fascinating collection of ideas, projects, and activities thatteach the basics of chemistry theory and practice. Turn steel wool into a glutinous green blob. Separate an egg fromits shell without breaking the shell. Make copper pennies turngreen. Have fun while you learn simple chemistry from a solution ofcolored water, and the behavior of gases with the help of a sodabottle. Through these and other activities, you'll explore thestructure of matter, the workings of acids, gases, and solutions .. . and much more. You'll find most of the materials you need around the house orclassroom. Every activity has been pretested and can be performedsafely and cheaply in the classroom, at a science fair, or athome. Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave: * ASTRONOMY FOR EVERY KID * BIOLOGY FOR EVERY KID * DINOSAURS FOR EVERY KID * EARTH SCIENCE FOR EVERY KID * GEOGRAPHY FOR EVERY KID * GEOMETRY FOR EVERY KID * THE HUMAN BODY FOR EVERY KID * MATH FOR EVERY KID * PHYSICS FOR EVERY KID.

These easy and fun chemistry experiments use easy-to-obtain household materials and are excellent starting points for students to devise their own science fair projects. Readers are guided through applying the scientific method to conduct experiments, such as examining Brownian motion of smoke particles, building an electric cell, and separating substances in a solution. Through clear instructions and scientific illustrations, students will gain a better understanding of the basic concepts demonstrated by each experiment. This book also contains safety tips to educate students on the code of conduct expected when conducting experiments, an appendix listing science supply companies, a glossary, further reading with books and websites, and an index.

"First published in 2004, is an unabridged, newly reset republication of the edition published by Little, Brown and Company, Boston, in 1920"--T.p. verso.

Acclaimed book discusses how to keep a child's curiosity alive. Topics include importance of questions and appropriate climates for learning, need for instructive play and free exploration, use of outdoors as a laboratory, more. "A must for parents, teachers, circulating libraries and young minds on the threshold." — Publishers' Weekly.