Outreach

The Self-Carving Pumpkin: It's Not Just for Halloween!

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 05/02/2023 - 18:48

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Learn the chemistry behind the reaction between calcium carbide and water...melon...?!

The Pumpkinator

Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 10/17/2022 - 17:09

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This Pumpkinator is a fantastic orange-to-blue-to-orange chemical reaction that will make a great addition to your Halloween-themed chemistry demonstrations.

The Chemistry of Lightning

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 09/20/2022 - 09:42

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Learn a bit about the chemical reactions that occur during a lightning strike, and how you can demonstrate these reactions in your classroom.

Chemical Mystery #20: Magic Kool-Aid

Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 07/11/2022 - 10:05

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You can solve Chemical Mystery #20 if you know your chemistry...and your magic!

Effect of Temperature on the Whoosh Bottle

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 07/05/2022 - 13:45

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Why does the "Whoosh Bottle" experiment behave differently at different temperatures?

How Does the Rainbow Candy Experiment Work?

Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 02/08/2021 - 07:10

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Have you seen the rainbow candy experiment? It's a very simple experiment that involves pouring water into a plate that has M&M's candies or Skittles arranged in a pattern. Very curious shapes of sharply divided regions form spontaneously. How does this happen?!

Holiday Reflections on the Silver Mirror Demonstration

Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 12/28/2020 - 17:26

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Tom Kuntzleman tests to see if Powerade can be used as a source of reducing sugars in the classic silver mirror demonstration, and reminisces about Christmas days past when doing so.

Color Changing Coke and Mentos

Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 09/02/2020 - 03:07

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What's a better way to start the new school year than with some new experiments? Learn how to use a variety of color changing experiments to teach students about the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment, acids, bases, chemical and physical changes, and climate change.